We can’t blame you if you’re worried about using your plastic card to shop online. The risk of online fraud is still considered high, regardless of how secure your account is. 

Banks and other alternative finance companies have come up with virtual and prepaid credit cards to reduce the security risk of transacting online. By using these types of credit cards, you can have better control over your finances and limit your exposure to losses in case your account gets compromised.

Here are the best credit cards for online shopping:

1) Bank prepaid credit cards

Aside from the standard credit cards that banks offer in South Africa, they also have prepaid credit cards that can help you control your spending better.

The banks that offer prepaid credit cards include:

• ABSA
• African Bank
• Capitec Bank
• FNB
• Investec
• Nedbank
• Standard Bank

You’ll get the physical plastic card that looks like an ordinary credit card. The difference is that you can link it with your savings account to make reloading more convenient.

2) VCpay

VCpay provides you with a prepaid Virtual MasterCard® that you can safely use for online shopping.

VCpay works by registering on the platform and creating a virtual bank account for free. You can fund the account through electronic transfer, cheque, or credit card.

The company complies with PCI DSS guidelines to ensure your personal information isn’t disclosed to third-party entities without authorisation.

What makes VCpay unique and extremely safe is its prepaid funding feature. This means you can budget expenses and avoid getting into debt. You also get to choose between two types of virtual cards:

•   Single-use card

The card can only be used once for transactions equivalent or less than the amount on the card.

•   Normal card

A normal virtual card can be reused up to the amount it was created for.

These two types of virtual cards from VCpay ensure hackers won’t be able to use your card number for unauthorized transactions.  

To apply, all you need is a valid South African ID. That’s it!

VCpay is available in the Google Play, App Store, and Windows Phone for mobile download.

3) FASTACard

FASTACard is the brainchild of Fasta, a digital lending fintech company, along with institutions like Mastercard, Standard Bank, and Tutuka.

This new entry in the virtual credit card space will give you access to a digital card that can be used for online and in-store purchases. The virtual card replaces the physical plastic card and is recognized wherever Mastercard payment is accepted.

With a FASTACard you’ll have a 16-digit card number, a security code, and a card expiry date like those found on a physical credit card. You can use this for online purchases just like you would with an ordinary credit card.

For in-store purchases, you can link your FASTACard account with Samsung Pay, SnapScan, or VodaPay.

To get your FASTACard, you can apply on Fasta’s official website. All you need is a South African ID and permission for Fasta to access your transactional banking details. There’s no need to forward piles of supporting documents to get approved.

What makes FASTACard exceptional is how it allows you to set your credit limit and repayment options. This gives you the flexibility to decide how repayments should be done to make sure they fit your monthly budget.

Conclusion

The best online shopping can be done using prepaid or virtual credit cards. These cards provide you with better control over your finances.You can securely shop around all the most popular online shopping sites in South Africa. They also mitigate the damage in case your card gets hacked because the amount in the account is limited. 

Still, you must always be on guard when transacting online. No matter how tight the security of a website is, there’s still the possibility of it getting hacked.

Always monitor your card transactions to ensure every money spent is accounted for. When you see any unauthorized entry that you’re unfamiliar with, contact your bank immediately to proceed with the appropriate action