What are the safest ways to pay for games online?

Playing games online has never been more popular, with digital game sales surpassing physical copies by almost 90% in the UK since 2022. With this comes increasing concerns surrounding online security – especially when data breaches and fraud are frequently reported. So, if you want to protect your finances when buying games, you’re certainly not alone.

From using credit cards that offer fraud protections, secure third-party processors or game vouchers from verified retailers like MobileTopUp, to reading up on what to look for when buying games online like suspicious websites and phishing scams – more gamers are finding ways to make safe online game payments and minimise risk.

Which payment method is best to not get scammed?

When online gaming, payment security comes from using the most secure methods. For help avoiding fraud in online game transactions, use a credit card, a trusted payment platform like PayPal or Apple Pay, or a prepaid card from a verified retailer like MobileTopUp. These methods give you additional protection by shielding your payment information, plus offer stronger protection should something go wrong.
Avoid using debit cards, and don’t authorise direct bank transfers to unknown parties.

Explore all prepaid credit cards at MobileTopUp

Which online payment method is safest?

When it comes to choosing the best payment methods for games online, there are several options:

• Credit cards – if you have a credit card, this is generally considered a safe way to pay thanks to their strong fraud protection. This means that you can dispute charges and are usually not liable for unauthorised purchases on your account. Don’t store or link your card details though – read why you shouldn’t link your credit card to your game account.
• Third-party payment services – secure processors like PayPal are safe because they offer buyer protection and dispute options should anything go wrong. Digital wallets like Apple Pay use tokensiation to protect your card information so scammers can’t access it.
• Prepaid cards – purchasing these from a trusted website like MobileTopUp means that you aren’t sharing sensitive information with multiple retailers when you buy online. You can opt for a prepaid credit card (like PaySafeCard) and use it at multiple retailers, or choose your specific platform – think Google Play, PlayStation, Steam, Xbox, Nintendo and more). It’s preloaded, so you’re not risking your bank account or personal information.

Is a debit card safe to use online?

Debit cards aren’t a particularly secure way to make game purchases. If scammers get hold of your details, the money leaves your account immediately and fraud recovery can be a slow process, potentially leaving you short of money in the meantime.

Is it safer to pay online with a debit or credit card?
It’s safer to buy games online using credit cards. Unlike debit cards, credit cards don’t withdraw money directly from your bank account, so they don’t open up your funds to scams. You’re not liable for unauthorised purchases, and they come with strong dispute rights which allow you to challenge transitions and fraud.

Is it safer to pay with PayPal or debit card?
PayPal is generally safer than a debit card because it hides your bank details from the seller, giving a layer of protection should anything go wrong. Paypal also offers dispute resolution in case of missold goods or fraud.

Which is safer — a bank transfer or a debit card?
Protecting your finances when buying games means it’s usually safer to avoid using a debit card or a bank transfer. Both do offer some dispute protection — debit cards offer the option to challenge a fraudulent purchase or unauthorised payment. And, from late 2024 new industry-wide rules require financial institutions to reimburse eligible victims of bank transfer fraud, too. You’ll need to file a claim, answer questions and show you weren't careless to qualify.

Which online payment app is secure?

All well-known payment apps (think PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay) are safe – as long as you use them correctly.

• PayPal – use two-step verification for both your Paypal account and your email address. Make sure you only select ‘Goods and Services’ when paying for items to get buyer protection, and don’t allow other sites to store your Paypal information.
• Apple Pay – enable biometric authentication and don’t store other sensitive information (like your passwords) in your Wallet app. If you lose your device, use ‘Find My iPhone’ to remotely disable Apple Pay.
• Google Pay – make sure only necessary apps have access and - as with ApplePay, enable Face ID (or fingerprint/passcode) authentication, and use ‘Find My Device’ to lock your phone should you lose it.
• Venmo – make sure you set all your transactions to ‘private’. This includes your friends list, too.

When choosing your app, users often question if Google Pay or PayPal is safer. Either is a secure option. While PayPal offers wider buyer protection for online transactions, Google Pay offers strong linked account security and is good for contactless payments.

Is PayPal safe to use with strangers?

Yes — as long as you use the ‘Goods and Services’ option. Avoid the ‘Friends and Family’ option with strangers, as it doesn’t have buyer protection.

How to make online payments even safer

When looking for safe ways to buy game keys online, there are additional steps you can take to protect your personal information. Tips from the National Cyber Security Centre include:

1. Look out for fake websites
   Always ensure the website URL begins with ‘https://’ and shows a padlock icon for a secure, encrypted connection.
2. Use strong security measures
   Create strong, unique passwords for each account. Password managers like LastPass or Bitwarden can help generate secure passwords. Where possible, use two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security, too.
3. Enable transaction notifications
   Set up notifications for when payments are made from your account, and regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any suspicious activity and report it immediately.
4. Use a secure connection
   Choose secure online game payment gateways only – don’t make purchases on public Wi-Fi, or if you do, make sure to use a VPN.
5. Stay vigilant
   Be aware of phishing – check the sender email address and never click on links claiming to be from legitimate businesses. Always buy directly from official websites and apps, or verified third party websites, and don’t log into your payment accounts on public or shared computers.