How Do Use A Debit Card Online – Nowadays, debit cards and credit cards are in use instead of cash. It has its pros and cons, and one should know how to use this mode of money and transactions safely. A debit card comes with many conveniences, but it has some risks that you can overcome by following some tips and using it safely.
Tips for using debit card safely:
Protect the PIN:
A PIN is the personal identification number and is provided to you when you have a debit card. It is necessary to protect, and on every purchase you make, you have to enter the PIN code. Whenever you make a purchase, all of the information first goes to the issuer. Entering a PIN is an additional verification step, and only the debit card owner knows the PIN.
So you have to protect the PIN code at all costs and do not give it to anyone. This four-digit code can drain all the money from your account if it’s given to somebody else. Be careful with the pin. Don’t leave the pin code in your wallet or purse. Please do not write it in a place where everyone could see it, for example, diaries or memory notes. Even while entering the code in shopping, try to enter it without anybody noticing it. The pin is the key to the debit card, so you have to be careful and protect it.
Don’t link Debit card:
Try not to link your debit card with your primary bank account. Why? Because in case someone has access to your debit card, or they try to hack you and find your details, then along with the money on the debit card, your money in your bank account is drained too. To avoid such a colossal loss, try to take strict measures before and not Link your debit card with the bank account. If you face debit card fraud, then at least the money in your bank account is saved.
Secure online shop:
Buy from a secure online shop, but how to know that a shop is closed? Look out for reviews on the shop. Reviews are a great deal, and you can see a lot about the product and services of that shop, and you can get an idea of whether the shop is a scam or an actual shop. Out of 10 reviews, if four are subpar or negative, then reconsider buying it. They might sell you a fake or used product and charge you money. Most often, the shops that don’t sell goods or sell cheap products are a scam and might have ulterior motives to access the card you are using.
In the case of debit cards, we cannot ask for a refund from the issuer. Only in the case of credit cards, the issuer will try to refund the money, but this does not happen in debit card cases, and you lose all your money to a fake product and lose your credentials. Online scamming is very common these days. Don’t rely on the attractive pictures of the products; instead, look out for genuine reviews. One review can save you from a vast scam. Also, if you are unsure while ordering but you still want to order, then at least buy a cheap product first and check it, if it satisfies your product quality need or not.
To search for the same product from different e-commerce stores
Also, do not order in bulk online stores. More scheme is a product or two if you order in bulk. They think that you will not get to know about it. Also, while checking reviews, make sure that you check the shop’s contact number for if they have any addresses. If it’s an honest shop and not a scam, then they will add a correct address. Try to search for the same product from different e-commerce stores. The one with better reviews is probably the trusted one and is serious about their business, unlike some shops that will sell products to access debit card credentials.
• Often, gaming websites or entertainment purpose websites demand age verification. For age verification, they require a credit or debit card number. Do not fall for this scam, and these websites get access to your debit card via this age verification scam. If there were needed verification, they would have asked for a National identification number, or another number secured and have no risks. Some websites offer you a free subscription for a month, and in vain, you give them your debit card number. Through this, they can access your debit card and cut the fee for subscriptions. Try to stay away from such scams to protect your debit card.
• Nowadays, card association companies like MasterCard provide another password for debit card transactions for online use. It is an additional layer of security to your online transactions. Only the owner knows the password, and you have to enter It every time you make a purchase or even send funds to anybody online. Please don’t give this password to anyone around, and don’t write it in unnecessary places.
These statements include all of the transactions and purchase history
• Even if you have a hectic schedule, do remember to monitor your debit or credit card statements weekly; if not weekly, then at least do it in a month. These statements include all of the transactions and purchase history. If you see any extra or trade, you didn’t report it to the bank as soon as possible. Reviewing your statements is essential to be protected from any fraudulent charges. Try to write it within 30 days so that banks can accelerate the process according to their policy.
Just report the bank of the transactions you didn’t make, and the rest bank will handle it. Most banks offer a period of action of 30 days too. Even if you don’t monitor your statements weekly, do it for at least a month. Do save your receipts as well. For example, in some shops, meaning in grocery stores, you pay through the online system, but the seller will give your ticket in hand, so do place them in a safe box. Also, do save the receipt of your online transactions. So that in case of fraudulent transactions, you can show the ticket to the bank.
Install an antivirus:
Hacking through viruses is very common these days, and it is a matter of seconds for hackers to have access to all your debit card and bank account details. Sometimes there is nothing wrong with your cards or your online system, the thieve does not even have access to your credentials, but something is wrong with your computer or any device you are using to operate a credit card or debit card. A crucial step to protecting and safely using your debit card is installing an antivirus and always using the debit card on the device, which is protected by a firewall.
Hackers often install a virus in your device why an email or WhatsApp file or a scam message. They usually send you spyware, and if you click on the link, then all your data is with the hackers. Within a few minutes, the hackers will have access to your debit card and drain your bank account. They do this by phishing attacks and monitor your screen 24/7. The moment you enter your credentials on a website or an online app and the hacker can track it. So always look for signs of a virus in your device; for example, it becomes slow, it becomes heated without any usage, the battery drains quickly, unknown websites open, anonymous apps are being installed, etc.
To open the system and access your debit card account
Remember to close your tabs off money after using it from your browser. It is even better to encrypt the website or app in your device settings. Encryption means that you will have access to your website or app through a password or your fingerprint. In this way, if the hacker is not monitoring, he won’t be able to open the system and access your debit card account.
Install antiviruses in your device, search up for the best antivirus and protect your device. An excellent antivirus nowadays is Avast. To protect your debit card credentials from virus, then perform these steps every week, for example, installing antivirus software, performing a security scan in your device, be aware that you don’t have to open unknown links, do not open strange emails, if you receive a file from untrusted source then delete it immediately from your system.
Have a separate email:
Having separate email accounts can be confusing and hectic, but it is a significant step for debit card security. Why a separate email for net banking purposes? Because you often sign up for websites for a brief time, for example, sites for research material, education purposes, entertainment websites, shopping, gaming purposes, etc. When you use one email, then all these sites have your email. The parties behind these sites sell your email to third parties; for example, it can be an ad agency or a group of hackers or thieves. The hackers or ad agencies send you offers via your email.
These emails often contain some attractive offers which compel you to click on them. Within minutes all your data on email is in the hands of a third party as you use the same email for bank purposes, so your bank statements and passwords are with the hackers. So it’s better to keep a separate email from that banking and professional life and make another spam email to sign up on these websites.
Check security of websites:
While using the internet and web surfing, carefully look at the web address with HTTPS and a lock pad in their web address. The ‘s’ stands for ‘secure.’ If there is only HTTP and no ‘s’ is there, then reconsider your choice of using the websites. If there is no HTTP, then the website might be a scam website or a virus. So never use such websites as the party behind it might get access to your credentials.
Do not enter your debit card details on websites that don’t have HTTPS and a lock in the web address. If you enter the data on some other web address, then it is a high chance that your information is not going to the bank’s system; instead, it is going to a third party. Also, the updated version of browsers has a green sign. It means when your website is opened, the address bar will turn green, ensuring that the website in use is a secured one.
Don’t use unknown Wi-Fi:
Logging into your debit card account or entering your details, remember to use your Wi-Fi or data connection—a wide using the Wi-Fi connection of any public place for safety purposes. Public relations are mostly not secure enough. If there is an emergency and you have to check something in your account, then make sure you use public Wi-Fi is password supported. It means the one who owns the Wi-Fi does not give access to public use.
Use only one debit card:
Keep only one debit card for online transactions. So even if you become a victim of a debit card scam or your account is hacked, only one debit card information is with them. In this way, your other cards are protected, and not your whole account is drained out of money.
Own security profile:
If you are using mobile for your debit card transactions, then go in settings and make your security profile. It is similar to encryption, encryption requires a password of your own, and a security profile requires an answer from you. Make any answer up in your mind; for example, many security profiles are like ‘Who is your childhood Best friend?’ or ‘what school did you go to?’. Don’t write the correct answer because if the thief is someone you know, he might know the answers.
So make up any answer in your mind and write it somewhere so that you don’t forget about it. Every time you will do a debit card transaction, this question will pop up, and you have to answer it. It is just an additional layer of security to your debit cards. Remember, not all apple o android versions give this option.
Don’t give information in emails:
Never give your debit card information in an email. Emails are stored in both the accounts of the sender as well as the recipient. In case of hacking, the data is with them. Also, whenever a brand or company asks for your debit card credentials via an email for a transaction, then know that it is a fake one. No professional business will ever ask for your credentials through an email. They will always have a secured website for the use and entry of debit card credentials.
Don’t leave tabs open:
Remember to close your monetary tabs and clear your browser history after every time you use your debit card. Also, trust your device for transactions; never use someone else’s account for transactions. Even if you enter your details into someone else’s device, make sure that you clear their browser history and log out from the online account as well. Debit cards are a sensitive matter, so use them only when you trust the next person.
Why do financial experts recommend using a credit card instead of a debit card for online transactions?
Avoid using a debit card for online purposes and use a credit card instead because, in case of credit card fraud, you are only liable to $50. There is a truth in the lending activities for credit card users, which states that if fraud is reported, the Credit card company will not make you responsible for the debt. You will have to pay $50. But in the case of the debit card, there is no such law, and even if there is the law, then the time limit is very short to report the case.
For example, if you report on the same day of an unrecognized transaction, you will not be held responsible. If you say within two business days, your loss will be $50, and if you register within 60 days, then the loss is $500.
Also, if you face fraud, then the money on a credit card is not yours, it belongs to the bank, and the issuer will deal with it, but in the case of a debit card, the money belongs to you. The cash on a debit card is the cash you deposited or the money you lose from the linked bank account. So stay aware, take security measures, and try to avoid debit cards for online transactions if possible.
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