Safest Online Payment
Nowadays, more and more Filipinos are making the most of online payment methods. There are many reasons behind this, not the least of which is convenience. Indeed, with online payment methods, you can make purchases and pay your bills without leaving the comfort of your own home.
Online payment methods are not limited to the “basics” such as online shopping and settling unpaid balances for your utilities, either. Depending on the platform or application, you can also use online payment methods to transfer money, invest in the stock market, and build your savings. You can even use online payment methods on this page, where you can choose a secure online casino in the Philippines. With how things are going, it won’t be long until you can pay for literally everything online.
The only real issue with online payment methods are cybersecurity threats. With continuously improving technologies to detect and prevent threats together with user vigilance, however, it’s quite easy to stay safe. For those who are still a little worried, below is a list of some of the safest online payment methods you can try.
Third-Party Services
Perhaps the most popular third-party payment service is PayPal, although there are also many other platforms available such as Payoneer, Skrill, PayMaya, G-Cash, Dragonpay, Alipay, Stripe and Transferwise.
They’re generally safer than using your credit card directly because you only have to provide your information to one entity. This is extremely helpful if you often use your credit card to shop in multiple online stores or pay different bills. By minimizing the parties who “know” your information, you also minimize the risk of being found by hackers. In addition, should something go wrong, it’s easier to track your transactions. Payment services also offer other security features to further improve safety.
Credit Cards
You can also use your credit card directly to shop online or make payments. Instead of logging in to your third-party payment account, you simply input your card details and confirm the payment. Credit cards have robust security and anti-fraud features, and there are also safeguards against fraudulent transactions.
The key to ensuring your safety when paying online using your credit card is to check the website’s URL. It should start with https: and NOT http: only. There should also be a padlock icon on the address bar. For added protection, you may also want to use a VPN for browsing and shopping. Usually, the check-out or payment pages of websites also have a verification badge. This assures customers that the website uses security features to protect sensitive information.
Debit Cards
Using your debit card for online payments is also possible. The process is similar to paying with a credit card, although do note that not all websites have this option. What’s great is that with a debit card, you can spend only the amount that’s in the account. If a hacker acquires your details, for whatever reason, they can’t do anything too serious if your debit card has no available balance. For this reason, it’s best to have a debit card that you will use exclusively for online shopping and payments.
E-Wallets
Digital wallets or e-wallets are perfect for both banked and unbanked customers. After creating your account, all you have to do is top it up through online banking or partner establishments. You can then use it for online shopping and payments, as well as other functions such as transferring money to banks. This online payment method is a great way to secure your credit and/or debit card details since you will be using your e-wallet account number to pay.
Just like debit cards, you can only spend the amount that’s currently available in your e-wallet. This prevents you from overspending and also protects the rest of your money that’s not in your e-wallet account.
Online Banking
There are some online merchants and utility companies that allow online banking transfers as a payment method. All you have to do is to input the correct account number into the banking website or app, along with the amount you’re going to pay, and you’re all set. Most banks also have the option to generate a QR code that corresponds to a bank account. If you want to avoid mistyping an account number, scanning a QR code is a simple and effective solution.
For added security, banking websites and apps ask you to input a 4- or 6-digit OTP or one-time password that is sent to your mobile phone. If you don’t input the OTP (or enter the wrong one), the transaction won’t push through.
There are also so-called payment gateways, which combine online and offline elements. Once you complete the transaction through a website, you will be given a reference number. You will then use this reference number in convenience stores, pawnshops, or other payment partners. Again, it’s not completely online. Nevertheless, it’s also quite safe because you aren’t linking any bank accounts through this method.
Banks, financial companies, and payment services work hard to continuously improve their security features to keep your accounts protected. Nevertheless, you still can’t be 100% safe on the internet. Be extra careful and install the necessary software to secure your accounts as best as you can.
