Nowadays, so much is happening online – from entertainment to shopping, to work. Because we live such digital lives, we sometimes share personal and banking details online multiple times a day. And that makes each of us attractive prey for hackers, phishing scammers, and other ill-intended people online.
Sharing some details online can’t be avoided altogether, but at least when it comes to your banking details, you can take back some of your privacy by ditching you classic credit and debit card and going for a prepaid alternative. Here’s how that helps your online safety.
- No personal details required
When you pay online or register for a subscription or service with a credit card, you need to share your banking and personal details. With prepaid credit cards, that’s not the case.
Prepaid credit cards come in many forms. Some of them require you to make an account and share some personal details. Others, however, don’t. Especially if you want to make a payment of under GBP 50 online, prepaid cards such as paysafecard make that very easy. All you need to do is purchase a prepaid code (e.g. on a platform like mobiletopup.co.uk). You can use that code directly as a payment method on thousands of websites and entertainment platforms. No further details need to be shared.
This way you can still pay online while keeping your financial information private. There’s nothing for fraudsters to steal.
- You’re safe(r) from online fraud
Prepaid credit cards are not connected to your bank account, so your financial information is not at risk if the card is lost or stolen. Even if someone gets access to your prepaid credit card code, they can only spend the money that you have loaded onto the card. This means that you are not at risk of being charged for a lot of money that you didn’t spend.
In the event that you do lose your prepaid credit card code, most providers can transfer the amount on the prepaid card to a bank account of your choice.
- You can stay in control of your spending
Online safety is not just about keeping your details safe. It’s also about the ability to control your online spending. Classic credit cards are easy to use – perhaps a bit too easy, as sometimes you spend more than intended, and more than you have. With prepaid credit cards, your risk of overspending is minimal. Since you pre-load an amount on the card, you can only spend as much as you pre-loaded. You can of course alwasy top up the prepaid card with more money, but it takes an extra step. An extra step gives you extra time to consider if you really do want to spend more.
Keep this in mind when using a prepaid credit card
There are a few things to keep in mind when using a prepaid credit card. First, be sure to load enough money onto the card to cover your anticipated purchases.
Second, check the card’s fees and terms before you use it to make sure you understand how the card works. Some prepaid card providers start charging a fee if you don’t use your card for a certain period of time. Others may never charge a fee. To make sure you choose the best card for yourself, take the time to review proivider terms.
Finally, keep your card in a safe place and keep track of your balance so you know when it’s time to reload. You can also set a reminder for yourself to top up in regular intervals, if you intend to use the card for recurring payments.
