Non-ProfitsAccording to a report by the Insurance Information Institute, 4.8 million identity theft and fraud reports were received by the Federal Trade Commission in 2020.

What makes the industry attractive to cybercriminals is the slim chance of recovery due to the complexities involved in a payment transaction, especially for cross-border transactions where no single regulatory body controls them.

So what should non-profits do to protect their digital payment processing?

Here are Seven Tips to Help Ensure Your Payment Does Not Fall into the Hands of Cybercriminals.

In this blog, we have discussed the following;

• How to Secure Online Payment Processing for Non-Profits: 7 best practices
• Frequently Asked Questions Related to Non-Profits Payments Processing

Let's Begin with 7 Tips to Secure Online Payment Processing for Non-Profits

PCI Compliance

Choosing a payment processor compliant with PCI regulations and standards ensures fraud protection and security of sensitive financial information of your donors. Basically, PCI standards are rules and regulations that offer a framework to mitigate the risks of scammers and hackers stealing the users' transaction details.

Nonprofits must abide by these rules; otherwise, they may have to pay fines or penalties. Therefore, adhering to PCI compliance regulations is necessary for a nonprofit's security plan.

Tokenization

Tokenization secures and protects sensitive payment information by transforming it into a string of numbers generated from a PAN, called a "token." As a token, the data can be sent via payment networks to complete payment without being exposed.

Tokenized payments disabled the transmission of the PAN during the transaction, making the payment more secure. This is the key strength of tokenization as a security measure.

Stay Vigilant

A smooth payment processing platform doesn't guarantee complete security. After completing the transaction, one must stay alert for scams that target consumers. One typical scam involves someone claiming to be tech support and trying to convince you there is something wrong with your transaction. 

To avoid becoming a victim of such scams, ensure you don't share your sensitive data, such as your password, and do not allow strangers to access your computer remotely. In addition, from a security perspective, you should verify the requestor's identity.

Match the IP and Billing Address Information

According to wired.com, Kapersky Lab report states that 49% of participants worldwide felt vulnerable while shopping online or making online transactions. Checking details provided during the transaction can help mitigate the chances of potentially fraudulent transactions and protect the business before fraud occurs. 

For example, address Verification Service (AVS) compares the IP address of the payer to the billing address of the credit card used to assure that the customer is the cardholder. 

Related Read: Credit Card Processing: A Detailed Guide for Merchants

Implement 3D Secure

3D Secure is a payer authentication developed to prevent the unauthorized use of cards and protect eCommerce merchants from chargebacks in fraudulent transactions. Financial institutions, merchants, and card networks share information to authenticate transactions. So it is vital to ensure the payment processing platform supports a 3D secure layer.

Request the CVV

The Card Verification Value (CVV) requires validating card-not-present transactions online or on the phone. For example, if the credit card numbers are missing or stolen, requesting information only on the card can assist merchants in invalidating the payment.

Protect Your Devices

Implement these six things to protect your digital devices:

• First, ensure to install and update the latest antivirus software. This prevents the risks of malicious programs from embedding on your computer and device.

• Second, ensure a firewall on your device is turned on. This will help protect your device from cybercriminals who might hack passwords and other sensitive information.

• Third, keep updating your operating software regularly by installing the latest updates, which may come with security patches that fix earlier detected security issues.

• Fourth, be cautious about what you download. It may consist of malicious links or codes designed to dodge antivirus software and steal your information.

• Fifth, clear your digital devices or computer cache and browsing history so hackers cannot use that information.

• Sixth, turn off your digital devices when you are not using them, making them less exposed to unwanted attacks.

ACH Transfer

Automated Clearing House (ACH) is a network that transfers money electronically between bank accounts in the United States. This is how one receives money if they ever paid by direct deposit.

To accept payments via ACH transfer, you don't require any special capabilities. All you have to provide the customer or your direct deposit information, which consists of:

• Your bank's routing number.
• Your bank account number.

Some companies ask for a voided check, which already consists of those numbers, or an authorization form from your bank. Generally, many will initiate ACH with just your bank information.

What's Your Move?

The road to embracing ground-breaking technology is not easy and comes with several challenges like cyberattacks. So Keeping these tips in mind will help you deliver payment experience secure to some extent as the industry continues its upward trajectory. Do not allow cybercriminals to tarnish an otherwise important industry.

Frequently Asked Questions Relate to Non-Profits Donation Processing

Qn 1: How do I collect payments from customers online?

1. Accept Credit Cards and Debit Cards Online
2. Accept e-check via ACH processing
3. Consider mobile wallets, like PayPal
4. Provide an Online Payment Gateway
5. Schedule Recurring Billing

Qn 2: What is a digital transaction?

Digital transactions are defined as online or automated transactions between people and organizations via electronic platforms instead of pen and paper.

Qn 3: How many stages are there in an online transaction?

Online transactions consist of three stages, i.e., first - registration, second - placing the order, and third - online payment.