Visa and MasterCard offer online protection

New advice has been issued to protect people who plan to shop for Christmas presents online, using security systems offered by credit card providers Visa and MasterCard.

The UK card payments association APACS has said that almost half of UK adults (21 million people) will shop for Christmas presents online this year.

With this in mind the association has pointed consumers to the online security systems offered by MasterCard and Visa.

"Cardholders can minimise their chances of suffering from online fraud this Christmas by registering for Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode," said Katy Worobec, head of risk management at APACS.

"By participating, they can add to the combined fight against online fraud and shop online with safety."

Both systems offer cardholders the chance to register for a password, which does not appear on the card, so they can verify their identity when they make a purchase.

Most internet card fraud happens after cards or card details are stolen in the real world and then used by criminals online, APACS points out.

Other tips offered by APACS for secure online Christmas shopping include ensuring that the security icon (the locked padlock or unbroken key symbol) is showing in the bottom right of the browser window before sending card details or passwords; keeping records of all transactions online; checking card statements for irregular payments; and keeping pin numbers and passwords secure.