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COMPASS MAGAZINE, January 2003.

But Is It Safe to Use My Credit Card Online? By Darby C. Doll

       As you browse over your credit card bill from the previous month, you notice some purchases you don¡¦t remember making: $350 at an art gallery in Paris, over $500 at a department store in Berlin and nearly $200 at a restaurant in Rome. You don¡¦t remember spending that money because you were in Taiwan working like a dog last month!

       Then it hits you ¡V you used your credit card to buy a DVD player online ¡V two months ago and you still haven¡¦t received it. You¡¦ve been swindled!

       Online fraud is frightening but how often does it really happen? The answer is sometimes ¡V but it¡¦s much less often than you may think. In fact, online fraud is no more common than it is offline. Just take some simple precautions and you can use your credit card to purchase an amazing variety of products and services online.

Here are a few basic steps you can take to ensure safe online credit card transactions:

¡P If you want to charge it, make sure to do so on a secured web page. You can tell if a web page is secure by looking for the little lock icon at the bottom of your web browser.

¡P Use a credit card that allows you to go online and check recent transactions. That way you can conveniently keep an eye on your recent transactions. Make a habit of checking your account on a regular basis.

¡P Avoid sending credit card info by e-mail or instant message service (e.g. MSN Messenger, ICQ, etc.). Only send credit card details via a secure web page or by telephone.

¡P Use a personal firewall and anti-virus software to protect yourself from hackers and viruses that could release personal information stored on your hard drive.

       One last important thing is to get to know the website you¡¦re shopping on. If you¡¦re shopping on a reputable site, you can feel safe using your credit card. If you¡¦re new to a site, find out as much as you can about the company and read the security policy before using your credit card. Companies like ebay (ebay.com.tw) or Sportingbet (sportingbet.com, sb28.com) that are listed on major stock exchanges, and have well known brand names, have a vested interest in protecting your safety.

       You wouldn¡¦t give your credit card information to just any guy on the street but that doesn¡¦t mean credit cards are unsafe. The same applies to the Internet. Be smart and there¡¦s no reason to fear using your card for online purchases.

       Darby is a consultant for Upstream Asia, a public relations/marketing consultancy which provides communications, brand development and events management to tech-driven companies in Asia Pacific. For more information on Upstream Asia, visit www.upstreamasia.com.