What options are there to pay online? And how safe are they actually? This article gives you an overview of common payment methods on the Internet. We'll also show you how safe these methods are and what to watch out for when buying online.
General tips for paying online and protecting against fraud
If you follow our ten golden rules , nothing should go wrong when paying online:
- Beware of phishing scams! Fraudulent emails , so-called phishing emails, are often sent. These look like they came from a certain reputable online provider. When you open the phishing email, you will often be asked to enter your login details with this online provider or even to return your bank details . The rationale for this is that your account has allegedly been banned and needs to be verified. Most of these e-mails then contain a link via which you should enter the data. Under no circumstances should you reply to these e-mails or click on the link , as your sensitive data , such as bank details, be stolen . In some cases, you will also download a virus . If you have any concerns, contact your bank to verify your bank account.
- Never pass on your payment details in chats or the like! Many online sales platforms offer the option of contacting a customer service representative via email or chat . Reputable websites will never ask for your account information. So if you are asked to enter your account details in a help chat , do not go into it under any circumstances. Most providers now also point this out at the beginning of a chat.
- Check the seriousness of the provider! If you want to buy something from a third party , such as Amazon.de or eBay.de , you should always check the supplier . Claims the provider is in Germany to be located, are as business address but an address abroad (eg. In Hong Kong) on you should steer clear of it lassen.Genauso it behaves with vendors that enticing discount deals divulge, but itself very few or no reviews to have. In the best case scenario, these are actually people who are squandering offers. Often, however, it is fraudsters who want to sell non-existent or stolen goods . With the help of buyer ratings , you can also see whether a seller sends the goods, for example, only after multiple requests. So be sure to check out a buyer's reviews .
- Check the shop and return policy! If you want to order something from a webshop, you should look around for the terms and conditions of business and return , as well as an imprint . A dubious shop may have hidden them very much or not at all on the website. When you find the terms, read them carefully . It could be that these are perhaps not legally valid under German law . An example of this is a business online provider that does not allow returns despite mass production . In contrast, a private provider can who offer handmade jewelry, for example, exclude a return from the start.
- Note the shipping options! You should always make sure that your shipment has a tracking number . You can then enter this on the website of the shipping service and track your package . This gives you the security that your shipment has actually been sent. Some providers advertise particularly fast shipping. In some cases, however, the alleged arrival date can only be met for a high surcharge .
- Do not hesitate to block a possibly compromised account! If you feel that your account has been hacked , contact the operator of this service immediately and have your account blocked . This way you can be sure that your money is not stolen. In this article, we will explain how to protect your online accounts from hacker attacks.
- Make sure you have a secure connection! If the address of a website does not only start with http: // www. starts, but with http s : // www. (i.e. an s after the http), the connection is secured . However, some hackers have already managed to bypass these security certificates .
- Look out for security seals! You should also always pay attention to seals such as those from Trusted Shops or TÜV . These seals are displayed on verified sales websites . A verification date is displayed for genuine seals . In addition, you can check individual sales pages of these trust brands via the website to check the authenticity of the seals .
- Keep your browser up to date! Every time a browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge is updated, its security is improved . So if you want to make online purchases, make sure that your browser is always up to date . Usually your browser downloads the updates automatically .
- Use an up-to-date virus protection! An anti-virus program is also important for safe online shopping. Because even if the seller and website are trustworthy , your payment details can be stolen . This is the case when your computer is already infected with a virus of this kind . The Defender is preinstalled on a Windows computer and the Gatekeeper on a Mac . There is also a firewall in each case . Windows Defender is normally switched on automatically . How to turn it on manually can be found here. There In-house virus scanners are exposed to most hacking attacks, it is advisable to install an external anti-virus program , e.g. the virus protection program from Avira.
Overview and security of various payment methods
In the following we list the advantages and disadvantages of the most common payment methods such as payment by invoice , prepayment , direct debit , credit card , GiroPay , iDeal , PayPal , cash on delivery or prepaid card .
The highest level of security is of course provided by invoices . As a buyer, you can first examine your goods and then decide whether you want to keep the item and then pay for it. If this is not the case, you can easily return the item without having to transfer any money beforehand. However, the recipient of the money can also see your bank details as the sender details when the money is received ..
On platforms like eBay.de you can often pay in advance . This means that the seller gives you his bank details and you then send him the money via bank transfer . This is relatively safe in itself , as in this case the seller cannot debit more money than agreed. There are two disadvantages : you can not easily reverse a bank transfer you have made yourself and the recipient can also see your bank details when the money is received.
Often the figures as is direct debit or direct debit available. To do this, enter your account details with the provider and allow them to debit your account through a so-called SEPA mandate . A major disadvantage of this payment method is that you have to reveal your account details online . If you do this with a dubious seller , they could misuse your data. However, you can reverse the direct debit at your bank within eight weeks and are therefore more on the safe side with this payment method..
Many websites also allow you to pay directly by credit card . Especially when making purchases in foreign online shops, you often have no other option because no other payment method is offered. However, paying by credit card comes with a number of risks : In theory, the seller could misuse your credit card details . Often this credit card fraud is only noticed on the monthly statement - and by then it is probably too late.
GiroPay offers an alternative option to online payment . With GiroPay you do not have to create an account , but select the service in the online shop as a payment option . If your bank works with GiroPay, you can then log in with your online banking data as normal . The entire transaction runs through your bank. This means that your account details will not be sent to the merchant . Your bank only transmits your IBAN to the merchant in the event of a return and the associated reimbursement .
The online transfer service iDeal works similarly to GiroPay . All you have to do here is enter your IBAN and perform two-factor authentication . A major disadvantage of iDeal, however, is that you are not granted any buyer protection at all . If you pay by this method and you fall for a scam, there is no refund option . Even so, some banks use this system. Most of them are not larger German banks, but foreign credit institutions. The ING bank is an exception.
PayPal is a particularly uncomplicated way of paying on the Internet. This service requires you to create an account that you either load money directly into or that you link to your bank account or credit card . A great advantage of PayPal is the buyer protection : If you are the victim of fraud , you have 180 days to report this to PayPal and get your money back . However, this buyer protection does not always apply , because PayPal has to decide for itself in every dispute whether the chargeback should be made. The biggest advantage of PayPal, however, is that your bank details are not passed on to the seller . He only sees the email address to which your PayPal account is linked.
Another option is to pay by cash on delivery . This means that you pay for the items you have ordered directly from the parcel deliverer upon delivery. In this way you avoid the risk that an order will not be sent to you despite payment and you keep your bank details out of the Internet. However, you must always have enough cash on hand to pay for your items. In addition, you can not appraise the product until you have handed over the money.
An alternative to the regular payment methods are prepaid cards , which you can easily buy in various shops. These have the advantage that you do not have to give out your confidential data online . However, most prepaid cards are only available with prepaid amounts . So you probably always have a small remaining amount in your online shop customer account. This is particularly annoying when it comes to a one-off purchase. In addition to the provider- specific prepaid cards, there is also the paysafecard . You can also purchase these at certain retail prices obtain. The disadvantage here, too, is that the amounts involved are prepackaged. In addition, many large providers such as Amazon or eBay have not yet offered a direct option to pay with the paysafecard.
Information on creditworthiness
Even if you have ample payment options on the Internet, that does not mean that you can use them. This is due to the credit check. The creditworthiness is the ability and willingness of a customer to meet his future payment obligations in full and on time. To protect themselves against fraud or unpaid bills, merchants can therefore check their creditworthiness before they can make an online purchase.
This credit check usually takes place when you have the option to purchase on account online. The test assesses your personal and economic creditworthiness. Current conditions and your payment history from previous purchases are included. You may even need to provide proof of income. If your credit rating is not particularly positive during this check, you cannot use invoice payment. This can also happen with other means of payment, especially when large sums of money are involved.
Possible fees for online payment methods
Of course, you don't want to spend extra money on top of paying online. Usually this is not the case either, as most of the presented payment methods are free. However, there are sometimes exceptions. For example, some service providers require a flat-rate or percentage fee for certain payment methods. You should also be careful with PayPal if you make payments in a currency other than euros, as the conversion and conversion with PayPal often requires a fee.
To avoid such additional fees, do not rely on a single payment method. Because if you have an alternative ready, you can usually still pay free of charge. As of January 13, 2018, online retailers are no longer allowed to charge separate fees for card payments. This applies throughout Europe and includes the most common means of payment such as giro cards or credit cards. The same applies to SEPA transfers. So you should be on the safe side with these payment methods.