Secure Online Shopping with Visa

Verified by Visa provides extra peace of mind for online shoppers. It is a password-protected authentication system designed to confirm the identity of the cardholder when a Visa card is used to make a safe purchase online.

By requesting a password known only to the cardholder, the bank can verify that the genuine cardholder is entering their card details into an eCommerce website. The password may be one that you nominate yourself and must remember, or, it could be a code the bank sends you via SMS when you are about to make an online payment. It helps to prevent fraudulent transactions and gives all parties in the payment process greater peace of mind for safe online shopping, especially when used in conjunction with all the other security features offered by Visa.

How Visa protects you when you shop online

Learn how Visa keeps your online shopping experience secure

Graphic of a customer using their Visa card to make a safe online shopping transaction

Register

Through the bank that issued your Visa card, register for Verified by Visa in just a few minutes. Upon activation, Verified by Visa protects you at every participating online store. When you shop online at a participating merchant, your card will be automatically recognised as protected by Verified by Visa.

Graphic of a customer who shops safely online with Visa using their smartphone

One-time password

You will be asked to authenticate yourself in a Verified by Visa window displayed on the site using your Verified by Visa password or the one-time password issued to you.

Validation

Once you have entered your Verified by Visa code, simply follow the steps as you normally would to complete the transaction. Your issuer will verify your entries and the transaction will be completed upon successful validation.

Q + A

: You can register any Visa card to be protected by Verified by Visa as long as the service is offered by your card issuer.
: Yes, you can register all your Visa cards to shop safely online as long as your Visa card issuer offers Verified by Visa.
: Find out from your issuer how to register your card. It can be as simple as going online to the issuer’s website or sending an SMS.
: Verified by Visa works for the both of you. You will each register and create your own password. Once a Visa account is registered with Verified by Visa, all cardholders will need to register and create their own passwords before shopping at participating online store.
: Verified by Visa is only offered to protect Visa cards.
: The added protection of Verified by Visa is available as soon as your card issuer confirms that your registration is successful. With many issuers, this is done instantly while you are in the process of shopping so you can benefit from the security of Verified by Visa immediately.
: You will find all the details on how to use Verified by Visa when shopping online at the Verified by Visa online shopping demo. Watch the video linked here.
: No. All you need is an internet connection and a browser such as Internet Explorer. Most web browsers are compatible with Verified by Visa.
: You can use Verified by Visa on any computer that has an internet connection and browser such as Internet Explorer. Most web browsers are compatible with Verified by Visa.
: When you register for Verified by Visa, some issuers may ask you to create a Personal Assurance Message or Personal Message. When you pay online, always look for this Personal Assurance Message or Personal Message – it is your assurance that it is your card issuer that is authenticating you.
: While Verified by Visa can be used over mobile devices with connections to the internet, only some Visa card issuers are offering this service. Please check directly with your Visa card issuer.
: Look for the Verified by Visa mark at participating online stores.
: Participating online stores will automatically recognise your Visa card number if it is registered for Verified by Visa.
: If you forget your password, contact your card issuer customer service to reset your password.
: Contact your Visa card issuer immediately.
: No. However more and more online stores are offering Verified by Visa. In the meantime, if an online store you trust is not yet participating, use common sense and follow our online shopping tips.

Shopping tips

Register for Verified by Visa - Verified by Visa is a service that allows you to use a password or code to protect your Visa card when you shop online, giving you added reassurance that only you can use your Visa card. Some issuers may already have their cards pre-registered for Verified by Visa. Please check with your card issuer for details.
Visit secure sites - Look for an "s" after the "http" in the web page address or URL of the online store you are visiting.
Keep your password secret - Some online stores require you to register a user name and password before making a purchase. Just as you keep your ATM code secret, keep your Verified by Visa password secret.
Compare then buy – Check out products and prices in different online shops before you buy.
Protect your card details - Only give your Visa card details when making purchases. Never reveal them for any other reason.
Check delivery and return policies - Before completing an online transaction, read the delivery and return policies on the online store’s home page. Find out if you can return items and who bears the cost.
Never send payment information via email - Information that travels over the internet (such as email) is not fully protected from being read by outside parties. Most reputable merchant sites use encryption technologies that will protect your private data from being accessed by others as you conduct an online transaction.
Keep a record of your transactions - Just as you save store receipts, you should keep records of your online purchases. Back up your transaction by saving and/or printing the order confirmation.
Review your monthly account statement thoroughly - Monitor your monthly statements, especially after an overseas trip. Check all transactions, even the small ones, because criminals test out stolen accounts by buying inexpensive items rather than large ones. Immediately report suspicious activity to prevent any possible additional fraud from occurring. Promptly notify your financial institution of any suspicious email activities.
Only open and respond to emails that pass some basic tests* - Is the email from somebody you know? Have you received emails from this sender before? Were you expecting email with an attachment from this sender? Does email from this sender with the contents described in the subject line and the name of the attachment make sense? Does this email contain a virus?
* From "Common Sense Guide for Home and Individual Users", Internet Security Alliance.