The first and easiest thing to look for in deciding weather to give your payment information online is simple. Look at the address bar on your browser. Make sure it is a secure site when they ask for information. This is shown by having https:// verses just http://. If you want to know more keep reading! In the world today the internet is becoming more and more a way of life and not just a side thing people do for fun. With this comes more options to buy online, subscribe online, and in general do things that would once require us to leave the comfort of our living room to go and meet and actually talk to someone. If you plan on buying or subscribing to anything online you will want to make sure of quite a few things.

1. You can use standard locations that have a track record of fulfilling orders and a penalty process if they don't. Places like Ebay, Rhapsody, ITunes, etc. These places have a long history and often allow you to check the rating of the person you plan to buy from. You can check their ratings for previous customer satisfaction and I highly recommend doing so before you ever give your information out.

2. Paypal is of course the standard option. Many people love this method, while I will be honest I hate it! From someone who has accepted payments I know that they are often very difficult to work with, and many times I have been unable to use them for purchases either. That is just my personal opinion though so many love it there has to be something there and they are a good way to protect yourself. But don't rule out someone just because they don't take Paypal, that is not 100% indicative that something is wrong.

3. I mentioned the secure site above. This is the most important thing you can do to be safe with your information online. If ANY site asks you for personal information without being secure run and run fast! This is a simple thing to look for, simply make sure that there is a "S" after the http in the address bar. So it should show "https://". You will also see a lock symbol in the bottom of your screen. (Please refer to the picture.) This is a good rule of thumb to use with anything not just your credit cards.

4. Look for a phone number contact for the group or individual. Call it! Make sure it works! If it doesn't I would stay away. A lot of places make it impossible for you to reach customer service and they can jerk you around quite a bit. The good things with Credit Cards is you can call the card company and they can file for you.

5. If you do have to file a complaint with your credit card company make sure you use the right terms. (I know this because I used to work for a company very versed in getting around the charge-backs and if it is a sketchy company I assure you they have someone ready to fight your charge back.) So make sure you follow these steps. If you think something is questionable I suggest using a specific card that you track online. If you see a problem or don't get what you expected you have to call and report (write this down): Goods or Services not rendered. DO NOT claim Fraud. While it seems like fraud because you did not get what you expected that is not going to hold up, you signed electronically and I assure you they have fulfilled their fine print. So it is not fraud, it is misrepresentation of goods to you the consumer. You have to know the game to beat them at it.

6. Read the fine print. If you are buying from someone you have never dealt with, make sure that you read everything. The biggest thing people get caught on is that they sign up for something thinking they are getting an item when they are agreeing to a monthly subscription to whatever. You have to make sure that you know what you are getting before you continue.

7. Some locations will go so far as to offer discounts for cash, wire, or checks. I highly recommend against these, they are much harder if not impossible to fight. Unlike the Credit Card companies if you sign a check or give your account information the only way they can do anything is to shut down that account and open a new one. You are better to not have this happen! Wires, once sent can't be brought back, you are out of luck unless the person decides to send it back and if you got taken I wouldn't hold my breath there either. Cash is the same as a wire.

8. Make sure to go over your monthly statements from the credit card closely. One of the newer things going on is that companies get you to agree to something and in the fine print they charge you a subscription fee, or some just flat out sell your information to others (yes there is big money in this), these others will charge minimal amounts, generally under $5, and never a round number to your account monthly. Doesn't sound like much, but if they charge $4.73, to 1000 people per month you are looking at $4730 per month that is illegally gotten!

Credit cards are a great way of protecting yourself in general, and I use them often online. If you use some common sense, along with the tips above you should be OK. Things like if they require you to fill out your info before continuing around their site, something is up! If half of their site is dead links, not a good idea to give them your CC info! Mostly though credit cards and the internet have made life much easier and it is easier to track online what is happening with your cards which also helps.