Protection Benefits

Visa gives you easy access to your money and allows you to do so much more than cash ever could.

You can pay, simply and securely, in person, online, over the phone or through the mail. You can keep track of your spending. You can manage your money. And you can stay in control.

With Visa you’re also protected from fraud, loss and theft.

We constantly work to develop new security-led products and features, and to reduce the impact of fraud when it happens. And, thanks to technologies like chip & PIN, fraud rates are as low as they've ever been.

Online shopping is as safe as the high street and it’s reassuring to know:

If you’re the victim of online fraud
If your order is not delivered
If you receive the wrong item
If your order is delivered damaged
If your travel company or airline goes under before your trip or whilst you are away

AND you have paid with your Visa card, you can get your money back (subject to your bank’s terms and conditions).

Giving you complete confidence

Visa provides the Verified by Visa service to add an additional layer of security to your transactions.

Verified by Visa protects your card against unauthorised use. Look out for the Verified by Visa logo on your favourite websites.

If you want to use your Visa card on a website that isn’t offering Verified by Visa yet, then you should follow these simple safeguards:

Make sure that your card details will be encrypted securely before being sent across the Internet – look for an unbroken key or lock at the bottom of your browser window or check the website address, which should begin https:// rather than http://
Use the latest version of your browser's software and check to be sure your computer's operating system software is up to date.
Shop with retailers you know about, or research them first to ensure they are reputable and reliable.
Keep a record of your Internet transactions, including the retailer's website address. Many online stores send customers e-mails summarising the purchase details – make sure you save or print these.
Before buying, read the delivery and return policies that should be on the retailer's website. Can unsatisfactory items be sent back? If the items are faulty, can you get a refund or a credit note?
The retailer's website should also have information about delivery arrangements and costs, currencies they accept and taxes that apply.
Look for a telephone number or e-mail address and note them down in case you have any queries.

Watch out for fraudsters

Had an e-mail or call claiming to be from 'Visa' or the 'Visa fraud department'? Well, this was fraudulent activity by criminals. Visa will never e-mail or telephone cardholders to ask for their account number or other card, personal or security details.

You should never give your account, security or personal details in response to unsolicited communications claiming to be from any financial institution.

Phishing

'Phishing' is the term used for the activities of criminals who create and use fraudulent e-mails and associated websites. These are designed to look like e-mails and websites of well-known legitimate businesses, financial institutions, and government agencies.

These e-mails and websites are created to deceive internet users into disclosing their bank and financial account information or other personal data such as mother's maiden name, addresses, usernames and passwords. This information could then be used for criminal purposes, such as identity theft and fraud. The threat from phishing is small, but it is always better to be alert – especially during this busy seasonal shopping period.

What should you do if you receive a suspicious email?

If you receive an e-mail claiming to come from Visa, your bank, or any other organisation, requesting personal account information, do not provide the details. Instead, contact your card-issuing bank to determine whether or not the e-mail was sent from them. You can also forward the message to us for further investigation, to [email protected]

Using your card abroad

Visa cards are a safe and easy way to pay abroad. Here are some simple tips for carrying and using your Visa card when travelling.

Before you leave:

Check the expiry date on your Visa card
Make sure that you have enough funds in your account, or that your card payments are up-to-date
Photocopy your Visa card and passport, but keep the photocopies separate
Write down the telephone numbers for our assistance call centres - these can be found on our I've lost my Visa page.

When you get there:

Try not to keep cards and cash in the same place - that way you won't lose everything
In crowded places, hold bags or wallets close to your body - and whilst it may not be very stylish, a money belt can be very useful
When you pay with your Visa card, check the information on the sales voucher before you sign or enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN)Use safety deposit boxes or room safes in hotelsKeep a copy of all sales receipts and check them against your statement
Memorise your PIN if you plan to get local currency from an ATM - and make sure nobody is looking when you withdraw money.

A Secure Home

Many a trip away has been ruined by crime. You could prevent your holiday from turning into a disaster, by following these simple security tips:

Think like a burglar. Ask yourself – how would I break into my own house, If you can answer your question easily, make it harder
Keep any hard-earned cash you have saved in the bank for as long as possible rather than at home
Always use available alarm systems, even during the night
Make good use of security lights, both inside and outside of your property and make sure they are in good working orderIf you think you will be returning home after dark install a timer on an inside light to automatically switch on at dusk and welcome you home. A house in darkness is an open invitation to burglars
Don't put empty boxes from expensive electrical or other items outside your home, keep them stored in a safe place until the refuse collectors are due to call
Make sure all doors and windows are secure, especially downstairs, and place small portable items such as handbags, wallets, keys and mobile phones in a secure place when you go to bed
Once you discard all the packaging from your new purchases remember to remove the labels on boxes from online purchases to keep your personal information safe.