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29th April 2022
12:58pm BST
Summer is just around the corner and with it comes the lure of sun holidays, weekend breaks, festivals and events, which many of us will shop and pay for online.
If you’re already planning your next trip along with that all-important summer wardrobe, you’ll know that keeping your finances and personal details safe as you shop online has become more important than ever before.
So it’s reassuring to know that when you pay with Visa, your payments are secure and protected. Working with your bank, Visa uses multiple layers of security to prevent fraud and protect your data; more importantly, they can help you get your money back if someone uses your card without your permission.
Travel and lifestyle guru Nadia El Ferdaoussi is no stranger to online shopping and knows a thing or two about keeping her payments, and data, safe.
“I make a mental checklist of what I need to do before I click to pay, so paying safely has become second nature,” says the Dublin native. “One thing I always do is check that a website starts with HTTPS and not just HTTP. Friends are always surprised by this brilliant tip; the ‘s’ indicates it’s a secure connection, which can be very easy to miss if you don’t know to look out for it.”
As a travel writer, Nadia really missed her trips during the pandemic and has been making up for lost time booking flights online to Tenerife and Marbella and accommodation a little closer to home in Co Clare.
“I’ll always pay with my Visa card, as I know there are protections in place so that I could get my money back if there are any unauthorised or fraudulent charges on my account. I’ve also developed a new habit of checking my bank account through my mobile app every couple of days, particularly when I’m travelling abroad, just to make sure there’s nothing going through that I don’t recognise. It only takes a minute and it’s a simple thing we can all do.”
And Nadia is not alone. 51 per cent of those surveyed in Ireland keep a regular eye on their online transactions following the rise in online shopping.*
Nadia says that what she loves about online shopping is that she can support small Irish companies, wherever they are in the country. “It’s really important to buy Irish whenever possible and I actively seek out small Irish businesses when shopping online. The added advantage is that I can pick up amazing things from places I may not have an opportunity to visit in person and for me, this is a great way to shop.”
Nadia loves the personal touch that accompanies many local deliveries: “There’s something quite joyous about a package arriving, often beautifully wrapped and with a little thank you from the business owner, which is such a lovely touch.”
But like many people in Ireland, Nadia is a savvy online shopper and advises against rushing into a purchase, however tempting it might be.
“The temptation is real, but I know how important it is to give yourself time and space to shop safely. I make a habit of checking out a company or brand’s online reviews and I regularly change my passwords. A great tip for added peace of mind is to ask a friend if they’ve shopped on a website that’s new to you; I sometimes even turn to my followers who are really clued in.”
Keeping payments safe is a priority for Visa, and the good news is that not only does Visa help protect you if a purchase goes wrong, it also protects you from being left out of pocket as a result of fraud or scams with its Zero Liability Policy.
Nadia El Ferdaoussi says that knowing her payments are protected allows her to shop online with confidence. Her most recent internet purchases, she reveals, include a walking trip to the Camino, outdoor gear for the daily treks and a summer dress, which received lots of positive comments when she posted a pic to her Instagram page.
For more tips on savvy and safe shopping online, check out Visa.ie
*Research commissioned by Visa and conducted by Red C with 1,004 nationally representative adults in Ireland in December 2020.
Nadia El Ferdaoussi was remunerated for her collaboration on Visa’s safer shopping online initiative.
Case studies, comparisons, statistics, research and recommendations are provided “AS IS” and intended for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for operational, marketing, legal, technical, tax, financial or other advice. Visa Inc. neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this document, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information. The Information contained herein is not intended as investment or legal advice, and readers are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required.
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