Online payments are becoming faster, while fraud remains a major concern for businesses and consumers. A 2026 survey of more than 300 financial decision-makers found that 67% were concerned about fraud, while 46% said their companies had experienced payment fraud during the previous year.
Citizens 2026 Payment Trends Report
The survey from Citizens found that real-time fraud monitoring and two-factor authentication were the two most widely used fraud defenses. Those tools work largely behind the scenes, but consumers can apply the same basic ideas to everyday online shopping: watch transactions closely and make accounts harder for criminals to access.
1. Turn On Two-Factor Authentication
A password should not be the only barrier between a criminal and an account containing stored payment information. Enable two-factor or multifactor authentication on shopping, banking, email and payment accounts whenever it is available.
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
CISA explains that multifactor authentication adds another identity check after a password. That could be an authentication app, security key, biometric check or temporary code. Even when a password is stolen, the additional factor can make account takeover much harder.
2. Treat Saved Payment Details Carefully
One-click checkout reduces the time between deciding to buy and completing a purchase. That convenience makes account security especially important. Review which retailers have stored payment methods and remove cards from accounts you rarely use.
Digital wallets and tokenized payment systems can also reduce exposure of actual card information. Tokenization replaces sensitive card details with a digital identifier that can be used to process a payment.
Visa
Visa says its tokenization technology substitutes payment card numbers with tokens, helping prevent actual account details from being exposed during transactions. Authentication systems can add another check when a purchase appears unusual.
3. Watch Transactions Instead of Waiting for a Statement
Consumers can create their own version of real-time fraud monitoring. Turn on bank or card notifications for purchases, transfers and online transactions. Check unexpected alerts immediately.
A small unfamiliar charge should not automatically be ignored. Contact the financial institution using its official app, website or the phone number printed on the card if something looks wrong.
4. Slow Down When a Seller Creates Urgency
Fast checkout should not mean fast decision-making. Unexpected messages claiming that a payment failed, delivery is delayed or an account must be verified can be phishing attempts.
Federal Trade Commission
The FTC advises consumers not to follow unexpected links requesting account or payment information. Instead, contact the company through a website or number you already know is legitimate. For unfamiliar retailers, the agency also recommends checking reviews and searching the company’s name alongside words such as “scam” or “complaint.”
5. Choose Payment Methods With Useful Protections
Payment choice matters if a purchase goes wrong. The FTC recommends using credit cards when possible for online shopping because federal protections allow consumers to dispute certain charges.
- Avoid sellers demanding payment through gift cards or wire transfers.
- Keep receipts and confirmation emails.
- Review return and refund rules before paying.
- Never move a marketplace purchase outside its official payment system simply because a seller asks.
Convenience Should Still Include a Security Check
One-click payments are likely to become even more common. Consumers do not need to reject convenient checkout tools to stay safer. A few habits can provide an important safety layer: use strong authentication, monitor transactions, protect stored payment details and question unusual requests. The checkout may take one click, but deciding whether a transaction deserves that click should still take a moment.