Safe online shopping: How to protect your money and your personal data

Contents:

• Online shops and sellers: What should you look out for?

• Additional costs and returns policy: What you need to know

• Secure payments: Which payment method is right for you?

• Extra protection when paying by card

• After placing your order: How to stay on the safe side

• Spotted an unauthorised card charge? Here’s what to do

• Conclusion: Shopping securely online

Online shops and sellers: What should you look out for?

You come across an interesting offer on a major online marketplace or via an advert on social media. At first glance, everything looks trustworthy. But who is actually behind the offer?

There are two things you should check before placing an order:

• Take a close look at the seller: On large sales platforms, products are often offered by independent retailers. Make sure you know who you’re actually buying from and how you can contact the seller.
• Choose the right way to shop: Where possible, open an online shop via its official website or app, rather than clicking on links in unexpected messages.

If you’re buying from an unknown seller for the first time, it’s worth doing some extra checking. To find out which warning signs point to fraud and how to spot a suspicious shop, read our article ‘Fake shops: How to protect yourself when shopping online’.

Additional costs and returns policy: What you need to know

You’ve found the perfect gift and the price is right – but just as you’re about to pay, additional costs suddenly appear. Particularly when ordering from abroad, what seems like a bargain can quickly turn into a more expensive affair.

It’s worth doing a quick check before you buy:

• Check the total price: Keep an eye out for delivery charges and any import duties. For deliveries from abroad, VAT and customs clearance fees may also apply.
• Read the returns policy: What if the item you’ve ordered doesn’t fit or you don’t like it after all? In Switzerland, there is no general statutory right of withdrawal for online purchases. Whether you can return an item depends on the seller’s terms and conditions.
• Spot hidden subscriptions: Cheap trial offers may conceal paid subscriptions. You should therefore check whether you are making a one-off purchase or agreeing to regular payments.

Secure payments: Which payment method is the right one?

Your shopping basket is full; all that’s left is to pay. But which payment method is the safest? Especially when ordering from an online shop for the first time, it’s worth taking a closer look at the available options.

These payment methods have different advantages and disadvantages:

• Payment on account: You usually pay only after receiving the goods. Before placing your order, check when the invoice is due and whether any additional fees apply.
• Credit, debit or prepaid card: If the goods are not delivered or an amount is debited twice, you can dispute the payment with the card provider. It is important to note the applicable time limits and to keep the relevant receipts. A refund is not guaranteed.
• Prepayment by bank transfer: Particular caution is advised here. If you transfer money to a fraudulent seller, it is often very difficult to reverse the payment.
• TWINT and PayPal: Both offer convenient online payment options. PayPal provides buyer protection for legitimate purchases. With TWINT, particular caution is advised when making payments to unknown private individuals, as these cannot usually be reversed.

When making a payment, also ensure you are using an encrypted connection. You can recognise this by the ‘https’ in the web address. Whilst this protects data transmission, it is not in itself proof that the shop is reputable. Many online shops offer to save your card details for your next purchase. With retailers you use only rarely, you can choose not to do this and simply re-enter the details when needed.

Protecting your customer account and devices: Your customer account also deserves some attention. Use a separate, secure password for each online shop and, where possible, enable two-factor authentication. Also, keep your browser and smartphone up to date. For shopping and payments, it is advisable to use a secure internet connection rather than an open public Wi-Fi network.

Extra protection when paying by card

You’ve entered your card details and are ready to complete your purchase. Suddenly, a prompt appears on your smartphone asking you to confirm the payment. What’s behind this?

With Swiss Bankers, Mastercard Identity Check provides extra security. For online purchases that are protected in this way, you must authorise the payment in the Swiss Bankers app. This checks whether you have access to your smartphone and can log in to the app. This makes it more difficult for fraudsters to make purchases using only stolen card details.

What should you look out for? Before authorising any payment, check the amount shown and the retailer. If you receive a payment request even though you haven’t ordered anything, do not confirm it under any circumstances.

The security settings in the Swiss Bankers app can also help. If you do not currently need your card for online purchases, you can temporarily disable online payments and re-enable them when required.

Good to know: Mastercard Identity Check is automatically activated as soon as you add your Swiss Bankers card to the app. Whether additional confirmation is required for a purchase depends on the online shop in question.

After placing your order: How to stay on the safe side

You’ve placed your order and are now waiting for your parcel. But suddenly you receive a text message: ‘Your delivery could not be made. Please pay CHF 2.50 for a new delivery attempt.” It sounds harmless, but it could be a scam. Criminals use messages like this to try and get hold of your card or personal details.

It’s worth staying vigilant even after you’ve made your purchase:

• Keep your order confirmation: Save the invoice and order confirmation until you have received and checked your goods.
• Question parcel notifications: Don’t click on links in text messages or emails without thinking. It’s better to check the delivery status directly on the courier’s official website.
• Enquire if there are any problems: If your order does not arrive or you receive the wrong product, contact the retailer first. It is best to put your complaint in writing.

You can find out more about fraudulent parcel messages in our article ‘Smishing: How to protect yourself from fraudulent text messages’.

Spotted an unknown card charge? Here’s what to do

You’re checking your card statements and spot a charge you can’t recognise. Is this a sign of fraud? Not necessarily. Sometimes an online shop may appear on your statement under a different merchant name. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t simply ignore an unknown payment.

These steps will help you:

• Check the payment: Compare the amount, the date and the merchant name with your recent orders. Order confirmations in your email inbox can also help you identify the transaction.
• Secure your card: If you suspect your card details have been misused, contact your card provider immediately. With Swiss Bankers, you can initiate the necessary process in Switzerland and Liechtenstein using the ‘Replace card’ function in the app. When abroad, contact customer services.
• Disputing a charge: If you cannot match the payment to a purchase, report it as soon as possible. Swiss Bankers provides a dispute form for this purpose. Have your payment receipts and other relevant documents to hand.

If you have also entered passwords on a suspicious website, you should change them for any other affected accounts as well. In the event of fraud, you can also report the matter to the police and notify the Federal Office for Cyber Security (NCSC) of the incident.

Conclusion: Shopping online safely

When shopping online, it’s worth taking a closer look before you pay. Keep four things in mind: check the retailer, check the total price, choose a secure payment method and act immediately if you suspect fraud. This will help you avoid many unpleasant surprises – and you can approach your next online purchase with greater peace of mind.