Every day, billions of leaked login credentials are compiled into massive datasets and tested against accounts across the internet. According to a Cyber news investigation, 16 billion breached credentials are currently circulating online, making it highly likely that your details have already been exposed.  

A global survey by financial analytics firm FICO confirmed that 73% of consumers worldwide have received a text, email, or phone call from a scammer pretending to be their bank, requesting a login detail or two.  

You can be your own downfall if you do not take the right steps to protect yourself. At PayZeep, safeguarding your transactions and data is a priority. However, security is a shared responsibility, and strong security systems are most effective when paired with good cybersecurity habits. Which is why the steps you take to protect yourself matter just as much.  

The good news is that the most effective protections are also the simplest, with little to no cost.  

This article covers the most common methods attackers use and the habits that will keep your accounts safe.  

Is a strong password enough? The answer is no.  

A strong password only works when it is unique to one account. If one site is breached, attackers immediately test those credentials everywhere else. Every account needs its own password.  

• Never reuse passwords across different sites or apps.  

• Avoid names, birthdays, pet names, or dictionary words.  

• Never use your primary email password anywhere else.  

A strong password should be at least 14 characters.  

This is why at PayZeep, merchant onboarding includes identity verification at every layer. We do not assume your account is yours because someone typed in the right password. We verify the person, not just the credentials.  

Phishing remains the most used method scammers use. They send a message that creates urgency, so you act before you think.  

• Email Phishing: A fake email links to a spoofed website built to steal what you type in.  

• Smishing: Phishing through SMS.  

• Vishing: Phishing over the phone.  

• Spear Phishing: A targeted attack built around personal details to earn your trust.  

To protect yourself: always check the URL before logging in. When in doubt, type the address directly into your browser.  

Legitimate companies never ask for your password by email or SMS.  PayZeep will never contact you requesting your login details, PIN, or account credentials. If you receive a message claiming to be from us that asks for any of the above, do not respond.  

Report it.  

Have your credentials already been stolen?  

Data breaches happen constantly. Your email and password may already be sitting in a criminal database right now. Visit haveibeenpwned.com, enter your email, and check. It is free. If you are flagged, change that password immediately on every site where it was used.  

Do you need an authenticator or a password manager? Both.  

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) means that even if someone steals your password, they cannot log in without a second step, whether that is a code, a hardware key, or your fingerprint. This alone blocks over 90% of attackers.  

A password manager generates, stores, and fills your credentials, so you only ever need to remember one strong master password.  

Enable 2FA using apps like Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator. For password management, Bitwarden, 1Password, and Dashlane are solid options.  

PayZeep uses multi-layer verification on every merchant account. Your funds should never be one password away from someone else’s hands.  

Your security is only as strong as your habits.  

Scammers do not need to be sophisticated; they count on you being distracted, trusting, or too busy to double-check. Every habit in this list closes a door they would otherwise walk right through. Start with one change today and build from there.  

A grounding belief that shapes our work as an organization is that no one should have to operate in fear, but in trust. Trust in the people, processes, and secure systems designed to work hand in hand with you. Real progress is only possible when confidence is backed by security.  

As you put these habits into practice, choose partners who treat security as a responsibility.  

Every transaction should move with trust.