Online shopping on Amazon is incredibly convenient. With just a few clicks, you can purchase almost anything you need and have it delivered straight to your door. However, with convenience comes risk. When shopping online, you have to provide personal and financial information that could potentially be accessed by fraudsters. So what is the safest way to pay on Amazon?
You can shop on Amazon without worrying about your safety because I’ll show you the safest ways to pay in this detailed guide. I’ll also talk about some riskier ways to pay and give you tips on how to keep yourself safe while shopping on Amazon.
Secure Payment Methods on Amazon
Here are the most secure ways to pay on Amazon that I recommend using:
Amazon Pay
Amazon Pay is Amazon’s own digital wallet that allows you to check out quickly and securely on Amazon.com and at millions of other online stores that accept Amazon Pay.
With Amazon Pay, you don’t have to enter your credit card information every time you checkout. Instead, you can store your payment methods in your Amazon account and use them with just a few clicks.
Amazon Pay offers multiple layers of security:
- Encryption technology to protect your personal information during transactions
- No sharing of full card details with merchants – only necessary info is provided
- Compliance with PCI DSS standards for securely handling payment data
- 24/7 fraud monitoring by Amazon’s protection systems
- Purchase protection through Amazon’s A-to-Z Guarantee
I strongly advise you to use Amazon Pay when you shop on Amazon because it offers the highest level of security. Customers can use it for free, and millions of online stores accept it.
Credit Cards
Major credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are also very secure payment options on Amazon. Here are some of the safety features they offer
- Encryption technology to protect your card details during transactions
- Zero liability policies that protect you from fraudulent charges
- Alert systems to notify you of suspicious activity
- Virtual card numbers you can generate for online purchases
- EMV chip technology on cards themselves for in-person security
Make sure you only use credit cards you know you can trust. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card are two cards that I think you should use when shopping on Amazon because they don’t charge any foreign transaction fees.
Amazon Gift Cards
Another safe way to pay on Amazon is with an Amazon gift card. When you buy an Amazon eGift card with cash or another safe form of payment and then use it to pay for things on Amazon, it protects your real payment information from the things you’re buying.
Gift cards are also useful for controlling your spending. You can only spend the amount loaded onto the card, so there’s no risk of overspending.
Amazon Reload
Amazon Reload is a newer option that allows you to use cash to add funds to your Amazon account balance. You simply take cash to a participating Western Union location and the agent will instantly reload your Amazon funds. There are no fees for reloads up to $500.
Since no bank account info is provided, this is an anonymous, secure way to pay on Amazon. It’s perfect if you want to stick to a budget or gift Amazon funds to someone else.
Riskier Ways to Pay on Amazon
On the flip side, here are some payment methods I recommend avoiding when shopping on Amazon due to security risks:
Debit Cards
While debit cards are convenient, they come with serious security risks. If your debit card is compromised, thieves have direct access to the money in your checking account. You could be on the hook for hundreds or thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges.
Debit cards also lack the robust fraud protections and zero liability that credit cards offer. For example, your maximum liability for unauthorized charges on a credit card is $50, while for a debit card it could be $500 or even unlimited.
Wired Payment Services
Services like Western Union and MoneyGram that allow you to wire cash to a recipient are risky because they’re completely irreversible. If you become victim to a scam and wire money to a fraudster, there’s no way to cancel the transfer and get your money back.
I don’t recommend ever using wire transfers to pay a seller you don’t personally know, even on Amazon.
Digital Wallets Other Than Amazon Pay
Third-party digital wallets like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are not directly integrated with Amazon, so I don’t recommend using them there. While they’re secure for other websites, entering your details on Amazon could expose your information.
Stick to only using secure payment methods that are designed specifically for Amazon, like Amazon Pay and gift cards.
5 Tips for Safely Paying on Amazon
Here are my top tips for making sure your payments on Amazon stay secure:
1. Use unique passwords – Create a unique, complex password for your Amazon account that you don’t use on any other sites.
2. Enable two-factor authentication – Add an extra layer of security to your account by requiring a code from your mobile device to log in.
3. Check your statements – Routinely review your credit card and bank statements to check for any suspicious charges.
4. Beware of phishing scams – Amazon will never ask for your personal information over email. Avoid clicking any suspicious links.
5. Shop with trusted sellers – Vet seller ratings and reviews carefully before making expensive purchases.
The Safest Choice for Amazon Payments
Amazon Pay and major credit cards are undoubtedly the most secure ways to pay when shopping on Amazon. Both offer rock-solid encryption, fraud protection, and purchase guarantees that help safeguard your information.
For the optimal combination of security and convenience, I recommend adding your credit/debit cards to Amazon Pay and using that for all your Amazon purchases.
You can also further boost safety by setting purchase alerts, creating strong account passwords, and monitoring your statements routinely. With the right precautions, you can pay on Amazon with total confidence your information stays protected.
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E-commerce sales in the U.S. are expected to exceed $1.1 trillion in 2023, according to Insider Intelligence, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that online shopping-related scams are the second-most reported type of scam. So, as online payments continue to trend upward, its critical to protect your information.
Digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal are growing in popularity. The 2023 FIS Global Payments Report by Worldpay from FIS found that digital wallets are now the leading e-commerce payment method in North America, accounting for 32% of all online transactions. And for good reason: Digital wallets offer many layers of security like encryption technology, passcodes, biometric security, and tokenization.
Tokenization offers improved security by essentially taking all the sensitive card information and replacing it with a one-time use “token” which is what is provided during the transaction. Even if someone intercepts your cards token, they will be unable to use it will have expired, and it contains no personal information rendering it useless to the perpetrator.
Credit cards are the next most popular online payment method, with the average American having four credit cards. Credit cards offer features like encryption and fraud protection to help keep your personal information secure. In addition, credit card users are protected by federal law and can only be liable for up to $50 on fraudulent chargers.
For example, the Citi Simplicity® Card, one of CNBC Selects top no annual fee credit cards for balance transfers, offers $0 liability on unauthorized charges and access to the ID Theft Protection program by Mastercard.
Receive a 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening.Credit score
Good to Excellent670–850Regular APR
18.24% – 28.99% variableAnnual fee
See rates and fees. Terms apply. Read our Citi Simplicity® Card review.
Information about the Citi Simplicity® Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
The Citi Simplicity® Card may not earn rewards, but it can still save you money due to its amazing intro-APR offers.
- One of the longest intro-APR offers for balance transfers
- No annual fee
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Many major credit card issuers now also let you request randomly generated virtual card numbers to further protect yourself when shopping online. For example, those with a Capital One card, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, can request a virtual credit card number through the browser extension Eno. The virtual card numbers are merchant-specific and you can lock, unlock or delete them at any time.
Good to Excellent670–850Regular APR
19.99% – 29.24% variableAnnual fee
Terms apply. Read our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee and earns flexible travel rewards, which makes it a great travel card for beginners or heavy travelers.
- Valuable welcome offer worth at least $750 in travel
- You can transfer miles to over 15 Capital One partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- No foreign transaction fees
- Lacks ongoing travel benefits such as statement credits or lounge access
- Limited bonus spending category that only applies to certain Capital One Travel bookings
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Selects editorial staff.
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where youll get Capital Ones best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles wont expire for the life of the account and theres no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
The Automated Clearing House (ACH) is a federally-regulated electronic network that facilitates money transfers from one bank to another. All U.S. banks can use ACH, and all you need to receive a transfer this way is a bank account and routing number. If youve ever received your paycheck via direct deposit, youve taken advantage of the ACH network.
ACH payments go through clearinghouses that enforce strict regulations, making it a secure payment method. ACH also typically offers lower fees because its all digital and eliminates many of the processing fees associated with cards or checks.
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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Any time you tap, swipe or dip a credit or debit card at checkout or enter your card number online, you expose yourself to all sorts of risks, from financial fraud to identity theft. A December 2022 Nilson Report study forecasted that payment card losses, including credit and debit cards, could top $165 billion in the U.S. over the next ten years.
Both digital and physical payment methods involve a degree of risk, but knowing how to navigate them could save you money and stress. Below, CNBC Select reviews the most secure payment methods as well as ones you might want to avoid to better protect yourself while shopping.
Amazon Pay: An easy and secure shopping experience
FAQ
Is Amazon Pay safe?
For everything from major life purchases to everyday necessities, Amazon Pay is a highly trusted digital payment option. Amazon Pay stands out because it’s a simple and well-known way to pay that keeps you safe from fraud and lets you know if there’s a security problem. It’s backed by the same trusted fraud protection technology used on Amazon. com.
How secure is Amazon Pay?
You can check out with confidence anywhere that accepts Amazon Pay knowing your transaction is protected by state-of-the-art encryption — and your data and personal information are secure. Amazon Pay stands out because it’s backed by the same trusted around-the-clock anti-fraud technology used on Amazon. com.
Where can I check out with confidence with Amazon Pay?
You can check out with confidence anywhere that accepts Amazon Pay knowing your transaction is protected by state-of-the-art encryption — and your data is safe. Sites or charities that accept Amazon Pay don’t get your full credit card, debit card, or bank account number from Amazon.
How can I pay for my purchases on Amazon?
On Amazon, you can pay for your purchases using various methods. Pay with credit or debit cards or linked bank accounts. Other options include gift cards, Western Union, and more. Amazon offers a range of payment choices to help you make your purchases this holiday season.
Which payment methods does Amazon accept?
Amazon accepts several payment methods, including credit and debit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, EuroCard, Discover, American Express, Diner’s Club, JCB, NYCE, STAR, and China Union Pay. Here are some of the most commonly used Amazon payment methods.
What is Amazon Pay & how does it work?
It’s designed to offer a safe, secure, and convenient payment option on third-party retail sites. You don’t have to give your credit card or other payment information to a new site that you might not fully trust. Instead, you can use Amazon Pay, which uses your existing Amazon account to complete the purchase.
What is the safest way to purchase on Amazon?
- If you are making a purchase from a third-party, never make payments outside of Amazon marketplace. …
- Not all coupons and discounts are real. …
- Double check product listing details. …
- Use your Privacy Card for purchases.
How to pay safely on Amazon?
When you place an order, sign up for a subscription, or add a new payment method, your bank may request you to verify your payment method . For security reasons, we might request at checkout a One Time Password (OTP) code provided by your bank or payment provider via SMS, bank app, email or phone call.
What is the best way to pay on Amazon?
Credit cards are one of the most popular payment methods for both online and in-person shopping. They’re convenient, they’re secure, and depending on what card you have, they can offer additional perks like cash back or points. Amazon accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
Can I trust Amazon with my debit card?
You can check out with confidence anywhere that accepts Amazon Pay knowing your transaction is protected by state-of-the-art encryption — and your data is safe. Amazon doesn’t share your full credit card, debit card, or bank account number with sites or charitable organizations that accept Amazon Pay.