BUYING:Deal with reputable sellers: pick good sellers, especially when buying from private individuals.
Look for evidence of a physical address and telephone contact details. Use an appropriate, safe means of online payment to get some protection against non-delivery.
Use a secure website: Make sure you use a secure website to enter credit card information.
Look for a padlock symbol in the bottom right of the browser window and for the website address to begin with "https://" Beware scams: If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Cross-check information on the internet and see if anyone else has had problems. Also be extremely wary of anything that is offered in an unsolicited mail/spam.
SELLING:Validate new customers and suppliers using published information (eg, address or phone number).
Obtain a credit status report before shipping goods on credit.
E-commerce businesses are liable for any fraud on cards they accept (unless they are using 'Verified by Visa' or 'Mastercard Sercurecode'. These systems can help protect businesses from chargebacks that result from fraud).
Using the Address Verification System (AVS) and Card Security Code (CSC) checking systems will significantly reduce the risks from e-commerce fraud. Authorisation does not guarantee payment and so businesses must do all checks to validate the customer and delivery.
