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Shopping Safely
Although VPayments safeguards, encrypts and protects your information, there are some things you can do to prevent your details from accidentally falling into the wrong hands.
Never enter your bank details to any site other than the secure VPayments site (https://secure.zss.co.zw/vpayments) – merchants and vendors do not need your bank details to process a secure payment – so never enter them even if they ask you to. If a merchant web site (in Zimbabwe) does ask you for this kind of information, let us know at comments@zss.co.zw.
Remember – VPayments is for Zimbabwean web sites only – so do not try to process payments on VPayments for non-Zimbabwean sites!
Never, ever, ever click on a suspicious looking email
VPayments does not send demanding emails insisting you login immediately or else have your account shut down. So, if you do get one of these emails, it's not from us. The only time VPayments will ask you to perform an aciton in an email is to dispute a BuySafe delivery.
If you receive an email that did not address you by your first name and surname and then asks you to click on a link and log in using your details, you may well be revealing your details to a fraudulent website. Instead, open your browser, type in https://secure.zss.co.zw/vpayments and then login.
Get Chrome, Fire Fox or Internet Explorer 7+
Upgrading
your browser will greatly reduce your chances of experiencing web forgery
(sometimes called 'spoof' or 'phishing'). If you visit a known fraudulent site
in a newer browser, you will be alerted and in many cases, the browser will close
the site automatically. The encryption techonology used on VPayments is NOT compatible with Internet Explorer 6.
Treat yourself to a newer browser version. They are free.
How does online fraud work?
Online fraud usually begins with someone sending millions of phishing emails disguised as messages from a trusted company or brand.
The typical phishing email will contain a story concocted to lure you into taking an action, such as clicking a link or button in the email (or less often, calling a phone number).
These links or buttons will take you to a fraudulent website which will also mimic the appearance of the well-known company's website. You will then be asked for personal information, like your bank details, credit card number, National ID Number, or account password. So you think you're giving information to a trusted company when, in fact, you're sharing it with criminals.
Sender's email address
To give you a false sense of security, the 'From' field may include an email address which looks like it is from a trusted brand. Beware, email addresses can be altered easily.
Generic email greeting
A typical phishing email will use a generic greeting for everyone, such as 'Dear User' or 'Dear Customer'. All VPayments emails will greet you by your first and last name.
False sense of urgency
Most phishing emails threaten that your account will be in jeopardy if you do not undertake some action immediately. An email that urgently requests you to supply sensitive personal information is usually an attempt at fraud.
Fake links
Many phishing emails have links which look valid, but send you to a fake site. Always check where a link is going before you click: move your mouse over the URL in the email and look at the URL in the browser. As always, if it looks suspicious, don't click it. Open a new browser window and type in the VPayments URL.
Attachments
Attachments in phishing emails are dangerous. Never click on an attachment in a suspicious or unusual email: it may download spyware or a virus on your computer. VPayments (and most reputable companies) will never email you an attachment or a software update to install on your computer.
First, the basics: computer security
Safe shopping starts with a safe computer. First, use a current Web browser that is fully patched. Do not use an old browser. IE 6 users, I'm looking at you! Microsoft has an up-to-date, modern browser.
Next, ensure your antivirus software (AV) is up to date on your computer. Out of date virus definitions and/or AV engine can sometimes be just as bad as no AV program. And if you do not have antivirus, then drop everything and get something installed ASAP, regardless of what operating system you are using. If you're unsure, just ask your friendly neighborhood geek. Ideally, your AV program should also detect and clean up spyware and malware.
Last, don't share your computer. Why? Because personal information such as names, addresses, what sites you've visited, and potentially even payment information like credit card numbers, can get lodged in little caves on your computer with techie names like cookies, files and caches.
If you must share your computer, it should only be with your spouse/significant other. And even then, it's best to set it up to use different user accounts.
The absolutely strict rule on computer use is not to use a public computer to shop online. Pretty much, you should think of a public computer in this way: "Don't touch it, you don't know where it has been!"
Beef up your browser's security
When you're surfing the Web, it's almost impossible to tell just by visually examining a site whether or not it's dangerous or run by a dishonest operator. Luckily there are tools to tell us - while we're surfing - if those sites are (or are potentially) dangerous.
Evaluate the vendor's website
Many online shopping websites sport 3rd-party certification-like images such as those from BBB and TRUSTe. Be a bit wary of those, as it is very easy for vendors to include the logos/images on their websites without actual certification.
Ensure the vendor is actually listed in those certifying databases - a good test is that the image/seal is clickable and takes you to their profile page on the 3rd-party certifier's site. However, also keep in mind another unlikely but possible scenario: the vendor can become certified then decide later on to turn to unscrupulous practices.
Next, check that they have disclosures and policies listed on their website. In particular, look for privacy, shipping, return, and refund policies. Vendors that don't have these scream amateur or worse, scam. Yes, I know you're not going to read them end to end, but at least skim them. Please.
Last, they should have a phone number and a real mailing address listed on their website. Try calling the phone number and just say you wanted to see if they were legit. At best, you might get a laugh. At worse, you'll find out it doesn't work and/or it goes to voice-mail.
Be a detective: find dirt on the vendor
Still not sure about the vendor? Well if they've been around for more than a few weeks, there's an excellent chance that someone has used them and has had a few choice words about them.
Despite all of these warnings, don't be completely scared off by small companies. Sometimes, you get a much better experience with them because they're hustling harder than their giant brethren to win new customers. I know I've found some amazing deals from small vendors over the years.
Beware of scams & too-good-to-be-true prices
This is especially true in the high-end software market where in-demand, but expensive titles are pirated, just copied and sold at highly discounted prices.
One quick way to tell if a price is suspect is when you see a number of reputable vendors selling the product at about the same price, give or take a few percentage points, but then there's an outlier that is selling it for 20% or more less than the average.
If you still can't get that 'great deal' out of your head, then send the vendor an e-mail and ask them directly how their price is so low. Their response (or lack thereof) will tell you a lot as to their credibility.
Purchase and checkout
If you need to create an account with the vendor, use a throwaway password or at least one that you don't use for important functions like banking and e-mail.
Save and/or print the order confirmation page just in case you don't get a confirmation e-mail.
Finally, review your bank statement the minute you get it to ensure that you were charged exactly what they said they would charge you. Better yet, log into your bank account online and check it immediately.