The fourth text in the “SITip” series! Szymon Kwasniewski from the Support and Service Department will point out practical tips and answer questions such as how to protect yourself from unauthorized transactions? What to do to reduce the risk of theft in online payments? What is chargeback?
In an era of increasing cashless transactions and online shopping, payment card protection is becoming an essential part of keeping financially secure. Fraudsters are constantly looking for new ways to defraud you of your data or account funds. That's why it pays to know how to protect yourself - both in everyday life and when using digital services.
Security in public places
It is easy to lose vigilance when using your card at points of sale or on public transportation. To reduce the risk of theft:
- Keep your card in a safe place - closed pockets or purses protect against theft.
- Use wallets with RFID protection - these protect against unauthorized reading of contactless data.
- Cover the terminal keypad when entering your PIN to prevent peeking.
Online shopping - rules of caution
On the Internet it is easier to fall victim to fraud, so:
- Use reliable stores and sites - make sure the site has an SSL certificate (padlock icon).
- Pay attention to website addresses - avoid suspicious sites with errors in name or design.
- Pay through trusted payment gateways such as PayPal - they offer extra layers of protection.
How do you protect yourself from unauthorized transactions?
Securing your card against third-party use is a must:
- Set transaction limits - limit the amounts that can be used without your permission.
- Activate notifications for each transaction - immediate information allows you to react quickly.
- In case of suspicion, block the card in the bank app - this is often the fastest way to act.
Mobile payments - a modern and secure alternative
Apple Pay, Google Pay and other forms of mobile payments offer a number of advantages:
✔Tokenization - a one-time token is used instead of a card number.
✔Biometric confirmation - authentication by fingerprint, face or PIN.
✔No physical card - minimizes the risk of loss or theft.
Mobile payments are becoming more common and secure, but it is worth remembering to secure the phone itself as well.
Practical rules for safe use of cards
- Regularly check your transaction history - this will help you spot irregularities faster.
- Don't use public Wi-Fi networks for payments - data can be intercepted.
- If you lose your card, block it immediately - preferably in the app or by contacting your bank.
- Keep your system and apps up to date - this is a key step in protecting against cyber attacks.
Chargeback - additional protection of transactions
When buying online or paying with a card, it is worth knowing the possibility of using the chargeback procedure - this is a form of refund to your account in case of:
- non-delivery of goods or services,
- receipt of a product not in accordance with the description,
- making a transaction without your consent.
Chargeback is offered by payment organizations (e.g. Visa, Mastercard) and executed by the bank - this is an effective protection of consumer rights, which is not offered, for example, by BLIK payments.
Summary
Payment card security requires conscious measures - from physical card protection to online vigilance. Modern tools, such as mobile apps and contactless payments, give us many opportunities to protect ourselves from unauthorized transactions. It's worth taking advantage of them - for your own peace of mind and to protect your finances.
