Paying with your mobile phone is very common nowadays. Simply configure the card on the phone, bring it close to the POS and make the payment, without having to take out the physical bank card or use cash. Although it is a sure thing, there are always certain risks. In this article, we echo an email that could reach you and raise security questions. We are going to explain to you what it is and what you should do.
But what exactly has happened? During the last few days, many users of Google Pay, the famous platform for paying with your phone, have received suspicious and alarming emails in relation to a supposed new card that they had added. In some cases, it was even an old, expired card.
Google Pay error
This can set off alarm bells for users. They come across an email saying that a new card has been added as a payment method, and they might think that someone has hacked them and started making payments without their permission. Messages from concerned users have appeared on social networks, logically.
But it really wasn’t a leak, or an attack of any kind. Google has indicated that this is an error. A bug that has sent notifications to users by email, informing them of this supposed new payment method. Google’s support forums were flooded with messages from users, but they have indicated that there is nothing to worry about.
Additionally, Google has sent a new email to users who received the first one, indicating that they should not worry. They say that the email was simply sent accidentally, but that no new payment method has been added, nor has there been any leak.
Therefore, if you are part of the list of users who have received an email of this type in recent days, do not worry since there has not been any leak. Your data is safe, they have not included any additional bank card and it was simply an error on the part of Google, who accidentally sent an email.
Pay with your mobile, safe option
Paying with your mobile is safe. In fact, it can be more reliable than paying with a physical card. This is so, since it is a single transaction for each payment. It’s basically as if you paid with a different card each time. Unlike paying by placing the card at the POS, contactless payments are unique and prevent the card from being copied.
Now, it is important to make this payment with your mobile phone safely and not make mistakes. First of all, it is essential to use a correct unlock code on the phone. In the event of theft or loss, they will have more difficulties making an illegitimate payment. Avoid using screen patterns or easy PIN codes. If you can, better fingerprint.
As an additional tip, avoiding having a lot of time for the screen to turn off due to inactivity is also interesting. You will prevent, if your cell phone is stolen while you are walking down the street using it, the screen will remain on and it will be used to pay. Putting it to a minimum is a good idea.
