FIJ
If you use an Android device, you would likely have come in contact with Google Play Store and Google Pay.
Google Play Store is the digital store of free or paid mobile apps, games and digital products for an Android device.
When paying for services such as YouTube Premium or when buying digital products via the Play Store, Google Pay is used to process payments. The payment information, which contains the customer’s credit or debit card details, is saved to a Google account.
As a Nigerian who wants to pay for a mobile app on Play Store, clicking on “install” directs you to a page where you will need to add your credit or debit card. You are required to “Add a payment method to your Google Account to complete purchase”.
Once you input your card details, they are saved automatically until you choose to remove them.
RISKS LINKED WITH SAVED PAYMENT METHODS
Google Pay is meant to be a secure payment service which allows users to pay in stores and online without retrieving the card every time. But the fact that your card details are stored on your Google account could create an opening for hackers to access and steal your money through debit card fraud.
Debit card fraud, according to Investopedia, happens when someone such as a hacker obtains your debit card information to make unauthorised purchases or withdraw money from your account.
Hackers use various methods to compromise phones, computers, email accounts and bank accounts. They usually take advantage of system vulnerabilities, poor security measures or mistakes made by users.
Among a host of other common techniques, hackers use phishing, malware, brute-force attacks, password cracking and social engineering to gain unauthorised access to users’ sensitive information.
Some recommended ways to safeguard yourself against these include getting bank alerts, protecting your mobile devices, using strong, unique passwords, enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security and avoiding links or attachments from unknown or suspicious sources.
Ensuring your operating system, browsers and antivirus software are up to date, using HTTPS-secured websites, not using public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions, monitoring your bank, email and online accounts for suspicious activities and only downloading verified apps from reputable websites can also protect you.
An article published in The Sun UK reads, “One of the tried-and-true ways to stay safe online is to enable multi-factor authentication on devices and accounts that support it. This sign-in method asks users to confirm their identity several times before accessing their accounts. Using biometric credentials like a fingerprint or face scan is among the best ways to keep your information private.”
A 2023 report by NordVPN, a platform that offers secure and anonymous online connections, states that the onus lies on users to protect themselves by integrating online privacy and security tools in their daily lives. This is because banks and online stores cannot control the broader issues linked with identity theft and data breaches.
While analysing six million stolen bank cards with details sold on the dark web in 2023, NordVPN found that the card details were stolen alongside other sensitive personal data, which poses a significant risk of identity fraud.
From personal experience and speaking with a few other Nigerian users, I found that there were different ways Nigerians interacted with the Google payment platform and Google Play Store.
First, your card is saved automatically when paying for a product or service. If it is a one-off payment, you can easily remove the payment method.
However, for recurring payments — such as monthly subscriptions — for services such as Truecaller or YouTube Premium as seen in the image below, you cannot just remove your payment method.
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