How To Prevent Credit Card Fraud Online

Preventing credit card fraud online can be very challenging, even more so than brick and mortar credit card fraud, if you are not using the right tools for the job. What makes it inherently more difficult to stop credit card fraud online is that you are not in the physical presence of the thief. You have no photo ID to compare to the face behind the credit card, and as such, you have to rely on more technologically sound methods to detect and prevent. Unfortunately, technology is not foolproof, especially if you are playing with the wrong bank identification number database.

Preventing credit card fraud starts with establishing identification. While many people rely on the three digit code on the back of the card as proof that the person using the card actually has ownership of it, this doesn't prevent against lost or stolen cards. While a bin database purports to stay on top of card numbers that are being used in questionable ways, many fail to keep their rolls updated the way that they should. Keeping a good database costs money, and many companies would rather inflate their profit margins and leave you in danger of chargebacks, rather than pour in the necessary resources to run a good product. Be leery of those businesses that are able to severely undersell their competition.

If you run an online business, then you must, must, must, invest in a reputable bin database. That's the only way you'll be able to tell if the customer has put any holds on the card because of a lost or stolen criteria. It is your responsibility to make sure that you know about these measures, even as it is the customer's responsibility to report their card lost or stolen the moment it comes to their attention. Just like customers may be financially liable for forgetting to do so, you could lose the merchandise and the sale if you do not follow due diligence as well.

So the key to preventing credit card fraud online is that you must invest in the safety of your business, not only for your customer's well being, but your own as well. The economy is far too tough for you to be reckless with business practices, and if you do go the extra mile to protect against online fraud, then you will likely make it back through consumer confidence and a higher number of completed transactions. And with each new transaction that comes your way, that's more profit you can add to the bottom line. It really is a win-win when you lash out against fraud. And in the online world, you'll need to be ever more vigilant against the perpetrators of these crimes.

Search Your Name Online: Be Prepared for a Shocking Discovery   How To Protect Your Digital Information Products From Online Thieves   Changing Your Password To Improve Your Website Security   How To Keep Users and Data Safe On The Web   Reality Overtakes Fiction: We Are Already at War, Albeit Electronic, But War All the Same   Protect Your Privacy With Reputation Management   

How to Check Who to Trust Online

Which profession scores pretty low in terms of trust measurements? Politicians, certainly, journalists, often, but these days it's a pretty safe bet to say that bankers are the bottom of the heap. Everywhere you look there is criticism of those champagne swilling, bonus grabbing toffs from Wall Street or the City of London.

So where might "Internet Marketers" fit into the trust league tables? Or "Social Media Gurus"? Or "SEO Experts"? Well, here's the second safe bet of the day - you are bound to have seen websites offering you some really generous promises, such as "getting you to number one on Google in 24 hours" or "helping you make a million dollars in a month". How often do you fall for them? Most of us, of course, do not reckon much to such sites - though there are enough gullible people in the world who do, otherwise how could such "businesses" exist?

And how do you stop yourself being gullible in the first place? How can you spot the difference between a true search marketing expert and a charlatan?

Easy-peasy, according to new research; ask what social class they are in. The study found that the MOST UNETHICAL people are those in the highest social classes. In other words, some of those posh bankers, perhaps..! Yes, such people are much more likely to be unethical than that bloke who turned up at your front door, uninvited, offering to tarmac your drive.

Of course, as with all studies it is not quite as simple as that. It turns out the element which actually predicts unethical behaviour is attitude to greed. If you think greed is OK, you are much more likely to be unethical. And, it seems that such attitudes are more prevalent in the higher social classes.

So, what about those Internet Marketers and SEO Gurus...? Well, if they focus on the money you can make, show you their yachts and their flash cars, the chances are they are more OK with greed as a concept. And that means you should steer clear because they are much more likely to be unethical.

But then you probably already knew this. When you visit a website and all you see are pictures of the "guru" on the beach with captions saying "you too can have a lifestyle like this" you probably get a sense that all is not quite as it seems. Your "gut instinct" usually tells you to get out of there. All this new research does is tell us why your gut is right. People who think greed is OK exhibit more unethical behaviour than those who have a different attitude to making money. Remember, profit is OK, greed is not.

The only problem is, greed tends to display itself much more in higher social classes. So aren't you glad you are not too posh yourself?

Search Your Name Online: Be Prepared for a Shocking Discovery   How To Protect Your Digital Information Products From Online Thieves   Changing Your Password To Improve Your Website Security   How To Keep Users and Data Safe On The Web   Reality Overtakes Fiction: We Are Already at War, Albeit Electronic, But War All the Same