Are Credit Cards Safe on the Internet?

My wife uses Pay Pal. I just use AmEx, or Visa. Never had a problem.

So are you saying that if it shows HTTPS that nothing can go wrong?

No one can ever say that "nothing can go wrong". But the "S" of HTTPS" should indicate a secure site. If the "S" is missing, it is certainly NOT a secure site.

I use both credit cards and paypal, never had a problem from online usage...I have had my credit card number stolen a few times, but the bank sends me an email and calls, because the usage does not fit my profile(what ever that means), they then ask if you made the charges, when you say no that's the end of it.... You are not liable for these charges and the bank does not charge you, they just cancel the card and send you another, takes about 5 days...If you have several cards it's not an issue...

I use credit cards often and never had a problem. I use a visa card that specifically doesn't hold me accountable for identity theft.

Another thing I do, and this requires phone calls to the credit card company to prevent them from automatically raising my limit, is to force them to keep my credit limit at $5000. Part of it is about identity theft...................the other part, is that if either me, or my wife, gets stupid enough to go beyond that, we're cut off. I had an ex that taught me that lesson.

One more option is to go to your bank and get a secured credit card. You deposit $500-$1000 in a separate account and the card is good for whatever the balance is. It's a great way to minimize your risk and yet still be able to make online credit card purchases.

I had a 'Bank card' a couple years ago and used that. I paid something to get the card, maybe $10. I could only get $500 on the card, and that had to be used up in one year, otherwise the bank would "rob" the card so much a month until it was used up. I don't really want to do that again.

TYPICALLY THE 'NEW' BANK CARDS OR 'GIFT CARDS' DO NOT HAVE THIS DRAWDOWN FEATURE ON THEM ANYMORE, SO YOU AREN'T LOSING MONEY EVERY MONTH. WHEN YOU PURCHASE ONE OF THESE CARDS NOW, THE LABEL OF THE CARD IDENTIFIES WHETHER THERE ARE ANY 'CHARGES' ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

Sites such as Amazon and the like will typically 'save' your payment method (credit card, pay pal info, etc.). I use a credit card for such purchases, but after I'm done, I delete the payment method. My theory being that if it's not easy to get to, there's that much less risk.

For all interweb transactions including PainPal, I use a prepaid visa card. I just load it with whatever amount I need to carry out the transaction and that's that.

As I limit the amount of money that is in the "account" my liabilities on unauthorised transactions are limited as well. The card has a maximum load limit of $1000 a month. Though that could be extended to $10000 with a "verified" card

Yes there are charges but they're not outrageous.

Gotta ask yourself, how safe do you want to be? And what is that worth to you...

PainPal? is that a freudian slip?

When i used a Credit card, i only used it on well known sites.

I've had a card stolen off the Internet and the company gave me a "heads up" that it was stolen. I had some of my info stolen from a list. I think it was one of two pieces of info like SSN and B-day but no name. Large companies as well as small whether or not you use the internet or not are susceptible.

I had someone claiming to be "my cousin" wanting a card in another state and the bank had us both on the phone at the same time.

Someone bought a laptop with my CC info and wanted it shipped somewhere else. it got squashed.

Then someone bought some suitcases and train tickets and successfully charged them.

Lately, though my issuing bank and or CC company has suspended or placed it on alert/verification account because of "suspicious" purchases like $1.00 overseas.

The really bad one was, when I signed up on the Internet for something, I was unable to print the transaction, unable to reverse the transaction by phone or otherwise and it kept showing up every month like $100 or so. Finally, the bank got fed up and cancelled the card.

100% of the time, the card has been in my possession when it was used.

There is an advantage to using gift cards. There are some services on the internet that take a monthly payment and if you decide you no longer need them they can still ding your credit card every month until you get them to stop. With a gift card you can only spend the amount on the card and when its spent, thats it, they cant come along and keep taking payments. I know some credit cards may protect you but its still a PIA having to deal with them. My point is once you give them your credit card number you are at their mercy.

AND GIFT CARDS ARE TAX DEDUCTABLE....ANOTHER BONUS.

I've used both credit and debit cards for many years on the internet with no problems. The only time I ever had a serious problem, I physically handed the card to the culprit or his/her accomplice.

It should be obvious that you NEVER use a card (or give any personal information) on the internet unless YOU initiated the transaction.

The authorities should incorporate some protective measures to prevent cloning from card number,security code,xerox copy of card etc. In Malaysia a couple of years ago the receptionist from a hotel got my card and said come later and collect. Later bank informed me that a chinese had purchased some goods on my card. I don't know how he got my card number,whether from Malaysia,India or Srilanka. The Police/Interpol/ Governments should inform outlets,shops,hotels etc that if they take xerox copy,note card number or note security code etc for cloning or fraud their licence be cancelled and jailed.

You might look into something BOA calls 'SHOPSAFE'.

http://consumerist.com/2007/11/shop-online-safely-with-temporary-credit-cards.html

You simply logon, set an exact amount (or plus a few bucks), indicate an expiration date and they send you a temporary number. The number is only good for the first merchant that uses it. Never had a problem.

(If it ain't broke, the warranty must still be good)

I have used cc, PayPal, Xoom,.... There is risk with everything. What us your comfort zone.

I've had my card number stolen once. Card company noticed before I did and refunded all the erroneous charges. Now I keep a card with a small limit (like $5000) on it for web purchases, just in case.

I have to say, if a charge is out of the ordinary, they will lock out your card where you have to call to release/unlock it

NO NOT SAFE

DHAYANANDHAN

a few years ago, i bought a some items from an internet company using a mastercard. i ended up buying three tickets to istambul instead.

i think paypal has the securest card.

I have had my card "used" to buy several expensive items without my knowledge.
When this was pointed out to me (by the card company) it came as a shock -
because I still had my card in my wallet!

The money was very kindly refunded by the card company. (capital)

They informed me a common failing of using a credit card over the internet or telephone
was not insisting that the information you give to the seller -
your name, card number, and rear side security code, should be entered
directly and immediately into the computer or machine.

Principally, these details should NEVER be written down. (a common practise.)

When written down (to copy into the machine at a later time) your info. can be casually
discarded, -and become a welcome gift to any thief. (so I am informed.)

This is assuming that whoever accepts your details is "innocent." (usually are)

For what it's worth, I would advise you to always check that everyone you give your details
to is actually entering them, at that time, into their machine, and NEVER allow them
to write your details down. (which is a common practise with many sellers.)

Hope this helps.

jt.

In God we trust, everyone else.....

i don't think paypay sends personally information to the seller. instead they "paypal" seems to guaranty payment to the seller then paypay alone uses your personal information to bill you.

The buyer is usually well protected but may be responsible for the first $50.00 of lost cards. It is the vendor that holds all the responsibility of fraud. If I as a vendor sell you something on the internet and send that item out, and you turn out to be using a lost or stolen number, the vendor will have the credit card money deposited to his account taken right back out without warning. The vendor has no hope of getting his merchandise back. The credit card people don't even go to the expense of having a fraud department. So my advice to you, if you are buying not so bad. If you are selling be very careful and be sure the money has been deposited for a week or so before you release the product. If you see something really cheap on eBay that you know is likely wrong, it probably is wrong. If you use your credit card to buy this cheap (but normally expensive) product, I assure you your credit information will be used to scam another internet vendor. Been there as a vendor. So be very careful vendors and take that extra step of precaution. Call the credit card company, wait several days, best a week or more (especially if out of country) and call the credit card company again. I would sooner have a customer wait than get caught in a fraud. Credit car companies carry no responsibility and are never out a red cent. Makes you wonder why a credit card company charges 2% or more on each sale to the vendor.

For the vendors in question, yes. Many of our customers use Allied, Avnet, Mouser, Digikey , and other Franchise Distributor online websites to buy components everyday. I have never heard of any problems. Our buyers also utilize their online systems, however, we purchase through a credit account.

If you are buying components frequently, or plan to, have you considered opening an account with a reputable distributor? If that is a viable option for you, Digikey is very easy to set up.

Instead of showing the signature on creditcard,they should store the fingerprint in their computer for each card holder and when they scan his finger print(thump impression) in the vendor's outlet the computer should accept only if the fingerprint matches.

My personal experience with PayPal has not been good. Hackers were continuously trying to get my details. Once I didn't catch them and they got hold of my account. I didn't loose any money, but had to make a lot of changes to my purchasing habits. Now I use credit cards on secure sites and no PayPal. I've had to limit my eBay purchases because they make it difficult to use methods other than PayPal.

Thanks everybody for your input!

I've used credit and debit cards on the Internet for years without an issue. However with the decline in the economy, I chose to get a prepaid VISA card that I fund strictly for Internet purchases. They are available from Walmart, CVS and I'm sure other retailers. Adds an extra sense of security.