Joanna James
Most people use their debit or credit card for online purchases; this is a very scary gesture, as you give out all personal information pertaining to your card. This includes the card number, expiry date and even the CVV pin. So, what other secure methods are there? Do read on and learn.
This is a 200% secure transaction where no bank details or personal information is required. With the Cash on Delivery (COD) option all you need to give out is your office or home address for delivery. Hence, this should be your choice, every time it's available. Once the product is delivered, you hand over the cash to the delivery person and end your online transaction safely. The reason online shopping in Sri Lanka is so popular can be attributed to the COD system being favoured, especially when purchasing from local sites such as Clicknshop.
This option is not available in all countries, but you can check with your bank and use the option whenever possible. UPI stands for Unified Payment Interface; it is a digital payment method which does not require the use of a credit or debit card to make a transaction. You need to download the UPI app to your mobile; this can be provided by your bank, if not download a third party UPI app via Google, PayTM etc. If your bank does not provide you with the UPI and you go for a third party UPI your mobile number serves as your virtual private address (VPA). When making a payment using VPA, you get a message indicating the payment to be made, and only once you tap on the transfer funds button will the money go through. Do check with your bank or online for more details on using UPI for online purchases. Similarly, Sri Lanka offers eZ Cash, etc.
PayPal is a secure method of not only making an online purchase but for transferring funds between countries. You can receive funds into your account via PayPal, and likewise make money transactions to other accounts as well. Ideal for both local and international entrepreneurs to receive payments; PayPal is an internationally popular favourite when it comes to safe online transactions.
A lot of sites today accept payment wallet transactions; a very popular option for making online purchases in Sri Lanka, this method is more secure than giving out your debit or credit card details. Linked to your mobile phone and very similar to UPI payments, you have many options in Sri Lanka, with the likes of mCash from Mobitel.
Wire transfers, RTGS payments, NEFT, etc. are all safe and secure methods of making payments. Although a wire transfer is not always a popular option for online payments you will find some merchants, especially in the hospitality industry are open to bank transfers, where funds can be deposited in the given account.
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