E-commerce has seen a significant boom over the past few years thanks to its flexibility and convenience. Technological advancements make buying eyewear online easier and more accessible than ever. However, with shopping becoming more common online, cybercrime has also evolved to obtain people’s sensitive payment data.
Cyber attacks have become more subtle and sophisticated. Exploiting digital wallets, scam e-commerce networks, and sophisticated money laundering are now prominent and effective payment fraud techniques. By the time consumers notice the fraudulent activity, financial damage may have already been done.
In 2024, the global average cost of a data breach was $4.88 million, showcasing the impact cybercrimes can inflict on businesses. Eyewear e-commerce is no different, and consumers have to be careful about their details and the payment methods they use when buying glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses. Here are some secure payment methods when shopping for eyewear online and how they keep data safe:
Credit and debit cards
Credit and debit cards have long been the go-to for e-commerce purchases. It’s a widely accepted payment method among eyewear retailers, since they’ve long been used for online shopping. Secure eyewear e-commerce sites should have encryptions that prevent other parties from seeing or recording your card number. When the details are entered online, the data is encrypted before transmitting to enhance security. The stored information can also be encrypted for enhanced security. The payment gateway may also ask for confirmation or verification of the payment to ensure you’re the one making the purchase. By shopping at reliable eyewear retailers, consumers can also ensure their card information is safe. Eyewear e-commerce sites with a good reputation can indicate that trust has been built with customers, and security plays a major role in ensuring satisfaction.
Digital wallets
Digital wallets have become increasingly popular in recent years. They’re versatile and convenient, making them easy to use for online shopping and beyond. With their increased adoption, many eyewear retailers have accepted digital wallets for online payments. Clearly, a prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses retailer, accepts Apple Pay and PayPal as payment methods. When shopping for models from top brands, like the Ray-Ban Aviator Optics and Oakley Tie Bar, consumers can enjoy secure and easy payments with their digital wallets on various devices. They typically require authentication using a fingerprint, face ID, or PIN before purchasing, increasing the layers of security needed before you can make a transaction. They also generate a unique, dynamic security code for each transaction, ensuring that your actual card number is never shared and won’t be of value to any hackers. They’re easy to use but won’t compromise on keeping your personal information safe.
BNPL
Eyewear can be an expensive purchase if you’re buying multiple products or shopping from high-end brands. As such, many consumers enjoy the flexibility and convenience of BNPL. BNPL, or buy now, pay later, is a payment method that allows consumers to pay for a product over time. When purchasing sunglasses or glasses, the cost is split into smaller installments; shoppers can pay a smaller amount every week, month, or whichever repayment period is available. Eyewear retailer Zenni Optical partnered with the platform Affirm to offer BNPL payments to consumers who can pay over time with monthly payments of three, six, or 12 months. Aside from the retailer’s own security measures, Affirm also ensures payments are secure and safe. It uses industry-standard encryption to protect personal data and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. It also uses tools to identify and respond to suspicious activity. To maintain strong security, trusted third-party firms regularly conduct security audits. Consumers should ensure that the BNPL platform they use is reputable and secure for enhanced protection.
