When making a purchase, it's no longer necessary to have cash on hand; you can simply use an electronic payment system. These methods help make purchases in online stores and make payments in online banking.
Often, electronic wallets are used on internet resources, which need to be registered on specialized sites. It's better to choose well-known systems to avoid becoming a victim of fraudsters.
Online Wallet Security
An online wallet has the properties of a regular wallet, where personal information and virtual funds are stored, and such wallets are susceptible to cybercriminal attacks. Moreover, the owner finds out about this when the money disappears from the account. To avoid such tragic cases, you should use the online wallet protection function, which includes several measures:
- it is necessary to set a high-quality complex password for accessing the online wallet;
- constantly respond to software updates for the wallet's operation;
- digital wallet applications should be downloaded only from official sources on the internet;
- be attentive when conducting online payments.
How to Protect Against Fraudsters in Payment Systems
The first and effective way to protect payment systems from fraudsters is an application downloaded from the bank's official website.
When creating such a payment system, it is necessary to set up reliable protection in the form of a complex password. Try to create a password that is not used in other applications or devices. Do not use known sets of numbers, such as:
- date of birth,
- home address,
- pet's nickname,
- child's name,
- other easily accessible materials.
The most reliable way to unlock an electronic wallet is the function of face or fingerprint recognition - this provides a high level of protection for the electronic wallet and significantly complicates the possibility for fraudsters to hack it.
Signs of Fraud in Payment Systems
One method of stealing money is skimming. Fraudsters create clone cards that give them the opportunity to withdraw money or transfer it to the desired account. To recognize skimming, just carefully inspect the ATM from which money is withdrawn, to see if additional devices are connected and where the camera filming the user is directed.
Another sign of fraud in payment systems is clone sites that copy real bank sites and send fraudster links to these sites. If you register on such a resource, the attacker will obtain the user's personal data and be able to commit theft from the bank card using the copied information.
Having information about the card, its PIN code, and security codes, fraudsters can set up automatic debits of money in small amounts to test whether the victim has accounts with large resources.
Online Wallets and Financial Security
When making payments on payment platforms, first of all, you need to worry about the security of your own digital wallet so that fraudsters do not get personal information.
When paying for goods or services, it is necessary to ensure that the site or store is reliable; for this, a small investigation should be conducted:
- browse the site and go to the page that allows payments;
- read customer reviews;
- consider what payment systems are available, with an emphasis on well-known and widespread payment systems worldwide, which guarantee data security and confidentiality.
To ensure the highest level of security, it is necessary to update the operating system.
Fraudsters in Payment Systems
A common method of fraud in payment systems is attracting clients through phishing - a method that allows fraudsters to write in email, messengers, or SMS with threatening information. With content that the card is blocked and you need to immediately follow the sent link. By following it, the victim will definitely end up on a fake site, and to view information and unblock it, the system created by the attackers will suggest entering personal data or credentials, which will automatically be recorded, and the fraudster will have this information.
A person will react to such information, and in a moment of panic, will definitely click such a link; this method easily affects a person.
Most fraudsters are good psychologists and understand that at such a moment, a person may take unconsidered actions.
How Not to Become a Victim of an Online Fraudster
When receiving phishing emails, do not follow the link. The best way is to contact bank representatives, clarify the situation with a consultant or the bank's security service.
Do not spread confidential information about your financial wallets, both banking and virtual, on social networks or in phone conversations.
To access the payment site, set up additional protection when moving to an electronic wallet - two-factor authentication.