| It is now possible to save 40% to 60% by | | | | information on the data security and |
| purchasing a diamond engagement ring from an | | | | trustworthiness of websites. They check whether |
| online diamond retailer, rather than from a | | | | a website URL address really is authentic or |
| bricks-n-mortar High Street jeweller. Online | | | | whether it has been hijacked by hackers. |
| diamond retailers don't have retail shops, sales | | | | Before exchanging sensitive information, such as |
| staff, large diamond inventories and other | | | | providing a credit card number, personal |
| associated operating expenses and are therefore | | | | identification information or other confidential data, |
| able to pass on the cost savings to consumers. | | | | these services typically allow you to check that |
| Of course, a diamond might be one of the largest | | | | the site has been verified by the trusted third |
| one-off purchases made in one's lifetime and so it | | | | party company and that the retailer website is |
| is understandable that many people may be | | | | using appropriate safeguarding measures against |
| uncomfortable paying for a diamond before it has | | | | hackers. |
| been seen and examined. | | | | An actual certified member website will have the |
| However, as long as the correct research and | | | | logo displayed prominently. When this logo is |
| precautions are taken there should be no reason | | | | clicked the page displaying the company's details |
| to be fearful about buying diamonds from | | | | within the verification company's website should |
| Internet diamond merchants. | | | | appear. |
| The three most important aspects of the | | | | Common providers are ScanAlert/HackerSafe, |
| pre-purchase checks that must be carried out are: | | | | SquareTrade, Thwate/Verisign, TrustLogo |
| 1. Assurance that the diamond business is | | | | Comodo, and Trustwatch/GeoTrust. |
| legitimate, | | | | Beware of fraudulent operators that have just |
| 2. Assurance that the payment method is secure, | | | | added the verification logo image to their website. |
| 3. The risk of merchant fraud or failed delivery is | | | | A tell-tale sign of this is when the logo is clicked |
| mitigated. | | | | the homepage of the verification company's |
| In part two of this three part series we examine | | | | website appears rather than the legitimate |
| the second aspect which is to be satisfied that | | | | detailed membership page or signed security seal |
| your payment details will be secure. | | | | for the retailer website you are purchasing from. |
| Assurance payment details will be secure | | | | Secure Socket Layer |
| There a number of assurance companies that will | | | | When making a purchase over the Internet make |
| provide an additional level of comfort for online | | | | sure that the order page URL starts with https:// |
| consumers. These companies provide certification | | | | and that there is a small padlock symbol in the |
| that a particular company's website is relatively | | | | bottom right hand corner of the browser window. |
| safe and secure for online purchases. | | | | This means that the data you enter on the page |
| Consumer Protection Accreditation | | | | will be more secure from hackers and your |
| This is an accreditation service which audits an | | | | payment information will be less at risk. |
| applying online retailer for ethical retailing and best | | | | Credit Card Verification (CCV) Service |
| practice data privacy. If the audit is passed the | | | | This service is an added protection for online or |
| retailer is permitted membership and a unique | | | | phone purchases. Since the diamond merchant |
| membership number is provided, which can be | | | | doesn't actually see the credit/debit card in these |
| added to the retailer's website. | | | | situations then it's harder to be sure that the |
| This number can then be cross-checked back to | | | | person supplying the card number details is |
| the issuing accreditation body to ensure that the | | | | actually the card holder and not someone who |
| retailer is in fact a member, giving confidence to | | | | just happens to know the credit/debit card |
| the consumer that an online purchase from that | | | | number. |
| diamond retailer is safer. | | | | To address this problem, debit/credit card |
| Examples of these service companies are | | | | providers put a three or four digit CCV number |
| TRUSTe, Internet Shopping Is Safe (ISIS), | | | | on the card (usually on the back of the card on |
| SafeBuy, ShopSafe.co.uk, WebTraderUK and | | | | the signature strip) that is not embossed (raised). |
| TrustUK. | | | | This number doesn't get printed on sales receipts. |
| Beware of fraudulent operators that have just | | | | Thus someone trying to use the card number |
| added the accreditation logo image to their | | | | fraudulently is much less likely to know this |
| website. A tell-tale sign of this is when the logo is | | | | number if they do not have the card in their |
| clicked the homepage of the accreditation | | | | physical possession. |
| company's website appears, rather than the | | | | This type of checking device really reinforces the |
| legitimate detailed membership page for the | | | | importance of notifying a credit card provider |
| retailer website you are purchasing from. | | | | promptly if a debit/credit card is ever lost or |
| Website Verification Service | | | | stolen so that card can be cancelled. |
| Also known as web seals or trust marks, the | | | | The most common of these services are |
| website verification services give Internet users | | | | MasterCard Secure Code and Verified by VISA. |