Making online payments for everything from gig tickets to major sporting events is one of the most convenient benefits of the internet revolution.

However, often the price is not as convenient if going through recognised channels, and it can be mightily tempting to seek out lower prices from sources that you have not used before. This could be a very risky move though.

An alarming 1 in 10 people within the UK have apparently fallen victim to scams whilst paying for tickets/products online.

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Below, we have looked at a few ways in which you can stay as secure as possible when making online payments:

1. Double check all details of your purchase before confirming the payment instruction. It sounds simple, but it is possible that you could have missed something or typed it in incorrectly if you have rushed through an application.
2. Always buy tickets/products from recognised sources. A box office, a promoter or an established ticket exchange site would be viewed as recognised sources. You mate Dave would not.
3. Choose your payment method carefully. If you are the victim of a scam, some payment methods will cover you more comprehensively than others. So, choose your payment weapon of choice carefully before committing to the purchase.
4. Search for a trusted seal. A trusted mark of approval, such as the Norton secured seal, will indicate that a site is established and can be trusted to protect you from hackers.

The key to staying safe when you are making an online purchase is simply to stick to trusted sources and use your common sense as much as possible. It could be the difference between securing tickets for a dream concert and becoming the latest victim of another online scam.