How Monzo helps you shop safely – online and in person

Paying with your card, whether online or in person, is how many of us spend money every day. In fact, it’s so routine that it can be easy to forget about security. Read on to see how Monzo helps keep you safe while you shop, with handy features like instant notifications, virtual cards and card freeze.

Keep tabs on every transaction

Switch on instant notifications to get an alert every time you (or someone else) uses your card – online or in person. We’ll show you the name of the shop, the location and the amount, so you know exactly where your money’s going.

Freeze your card in a few taps

We all know the feeling: you spot a suspicious payment, or realise you lost your card out shopping – and panic. This is where our card freeze feature comes in. With a few taps in the app, you can stop any further transactions going through, and feel in control again. If you find your card later, or realise it was a false alarm, you can unfreeze it just as easily.

Create single-use cards for safer shopping

Wary of putting your card details into a website that you’re not familiar with? With one of our paid plans you can create virtual cards for an extra layer of security.

And here’s the clever bit: a Monzo virtual card keeps your main card details hidden – even if a company you’ve shopped with has a data breach, or you used an unsecured website. So if the virtual card details are ever compromised, your main account won’t be affected. You can even create single-use virtual cards for one-off purchases, or link them straight to a specific Pot. That gives you full control over how you use your virtual cards and lets you set spending limits for whatever you need.

3D Secure: a quick check for safer shopping

If you’ve ever bought something online and had to confirm it in your Monzo app, that’s 3D Secure doing its thing. It’s a simple step that helps verify it’s really you buying something, so even if a fraudster got hold of your card details, they wouldn’t be able to complete a purchase without your approval in the app. Read more about direct debit fraud and credit card fraud.

Questions? Answers.

What’s 3D Secure?

3D Secure is an extra layer of approval for online payments. It works by adding another step to the payment process, which means you have to confirm the payment in your Monzo app. This can help prevent fraudsters from completing a purchase, even if they have your card details.

Is online shopping safe?

It can be, especially with the right tools. At Monzo, we use features like instant notifications, virtual cards, and 3D Secure to help protect your money.

UK residents only. Ts&Cs apply.