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Is It Safe to Pay Bills Online?

R. Kayne
R. Kayne

One of the most convenient things about the Internet is the ability to pay bills online. Luckily, today’s websites make electronic bill paying as secure and safe as possible. Paying bills online saves time, paper, stamps and gasoline, and can also prevent the mistake of accidentally missing a payment. There are, however, a few rules to follow and precautions to take.

Most banking institutions offer Internet banking as an added value service, free of charge. To begin, simply visit the bank’s website and follow directions to sign up for online banking. The process involves creating a set of credentials that you will use to login to your private account pages. Once successfully logged in, you can do nearly anything that you could do inside a branch office. Check your balance(s), transfer money between accounts, pay credit cards issued from the bank, and so on.

When a URL begins with https, know that the "s" means secure.
When a URL begins with https, know that the "s" means secure.

There are two different methods to pay bills online. There is automatic bill paying, and manual bill paying. If you opt for automatic bill paying, money is electronically transferred from your banking account each month to pay creditor(s). You can assign as many or as few of your bills as you like to automatic bill paying. It does not have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. The other option is to manually pay bills online as they become due by logging into the necessary institution(s) and completing the transactions.

Always use your own computer to pay bills online.
Always use your own computer to pay bills online.

Online financial transactions are accomplished through a point-to-point encryption protocol. Everything sent from your computer to the website is encrypted before leaving your computer, and visa versa. Data gets decrypted upon arrival at either endpoint, making it unreadable en-route. Webpages that use point-to-point encryption have addresses that start with https, the “s” indicating the connection is secure, allowing you to safely pay bills online.

With banking websites doing their part, you'll also need to take a few precautions to make the process safe. Following the four tips below will go a long way to reducing risks.

A person should always use their own computer to pay bills online.
A person should always use their own computer to pay bills online.

1. Avoid clicking on email links to get to financial institutions. Malicious emails are designed by thieves to get you to reveal passwords and other sensitive information by appearing to come from your bank or other financial institutions. Clicking on embedded links can take victims to look-alike websites (called phishing sites) where visitors unknowingly compromise their own security by providing personal information like usernames, passwords and account numbers to thieves. To avoid falling prey, if you need to go to a financial institution, use a bookmark or utilize a search engine to navigate there.

Be wary about protecting account information when paying bills via mobile devices tied into unsecured wireless networks.
Be wary about protecting account information when paying bills via mobile devices tied into unsecured wireless networks.

2. Assume that all email requesting personal or “updated” information is a scam, even if it appears to come from a legitimate source. Email "from" addresses can be spoofed (faked) to appear to come from a real business. If you really think an email might be legitimate, call the institution that supposedly sent the email. Use your phone book or a bill to get the phone number. Do not call phone numbers included in the email, as these can be manned by scammers posing as employees of the institution. Note that banks do not use email to ask for personal or updated information.

Paying bills online saves time and postage, both of which are needed when mailing a check.
Paying bills online saves time and postage, both of which are needed when mailing a check.

3. Use your own computer to pay bills online. The company computer, a friend’s computer or a public computer might have rootkits or keylogger programs present without the owner’s knowledge. These programs can record keystrokes to a secret log, stealing usernames, passwords, account numbers, credit card numbers and more. The logs can be retrieved remotely by thieves without the owner's knowledge whenever the computer is online, which brings us to the final tip.

Some people prefer to pay bills online from the comfort of their home.
Some people prefer to pay bills online from the comfort of their home.

4. Scan your computer for viruses and malware before beginning online banking. Most people have a firewall and anti-virus program installed, but fewer have anti-spyware or programs that scan for rootkits and keyloggers. Check with credible websites like PCWorld, PC Magazine, TuCows and CNet to get the scoop on recommended scanners. Many of these programs are freeware. Choosing an established program with a solid reputation is a must, as many so-called scanners actually install spyware while masquerading as “cleaners.” If a scanner has to be run manually, it’s a good idea to re-scan your computer every month before preparing to pay bills online.

In today’s electronic world hackers will always remain a threat, but banks have a large stake in keeping you safe. They key is to practice good habits, minimizing risks while maximizing benefits: if you pay bills online, your checks won’t get delayed or lost in the mail; you won’t have to stand in lines to transfer money; you can see all of your statements, balances and due dates with a few clicks of the keyboard; and you can make direct payments in your swimsuit from a vacationing shore, or in your pajamas from your favorite recliner. You can’t say that about traditional banking.

Discussion Comments

Bhutan

Latte31-I also wanted to add that you should not provide any information to anyone sending you an e-mail.

These phishing scams look real, but what they do is they get you to update your information and they steal your identity.

The emails that they send look real, but they really use your information that you provie to access your account. Since the emails look real some people don't think about it because they thought it was a legitimate source.

Most banks are very careful when they need information and if you're not sure the thing to do is to call the bank and ask them if they need any information. They will tell you that I don't need the information and it will save you from the potential identity problem. This happens a lot with eBay. There is an eBay phishing scam where you receive an e-mail anyone ask you to update your account information.

Please do not do this. A friend of mine did and he used her credit card fraudulently. Luckily she caught it quickly and was able to close the account and get a new credit card.

latte31

Anon59112- I totally agree with you. This article is very informative. I have to add that free online bill pay is offered by most banks and it is very convenient, and you never have to worry about missing a payment.

Most online bill payment services are free. In order to pay credit card bills online or any bill for that matter, you have to set up online banking with your bank and provide the banking account information in order to authorize the monthly withdrawal.

This limits the need for writing a lot of checks and you never have to worry about not having money to pay your bill because your bills because they get paid on a schedule every month. This service is very safe and lets you become organized with your finances.

anon59112

Great information!!

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    • When a URL begins with https, know that the "s" means secure.
      By: sp4764
      When a URL begins with https, know that the "s" means secure.
    • Always use your own computer to pay bills online.
      By: Vladimir Gerasimov
      Always use your own computer to pay bills online.
    • A person should always use their own computer to pay bills online.
      By: LoloStock
      A person should always use their own computer to pay bills online.
    • Be wary about protecting account information when paying bills via mobile devices tied into unsecured wireless networks.
      By: Ammentorp
      Be wary about protecting account information when paying bills via mobile devices tied into unsecured wireless networks.
    • Paying bills online saves time and postage, both of which are needed when mailing a check.
      By: sepy
      Paying bills online saves time and postage, both of which are needed when mailing a check.
    • Some people prefer to pay bills online from the comfort of their home.
      By: Serg Zastavkin
      Some people prefer to pay bills online from the comfort of their home.