You would think in this day and age that people felt safer when they shop online but according to our research they don't. Most of it is down to stories in the media that expose things like the web trade in credit cards .

As with most things though the fear is greater than the reality and it got me thinking what does "use online secure sites" really mean. After all that is what everyone says - only use secure sites - do my Mum and Dad, relative novices, really understand what that means?

Here at Shopsafe.co.uk we recently added to our advice and the top 3 are real things that really do pass the Mum and Dad, not to mention regular user, test.

1. Use websites that have either been recommended to you or that are checked as being secure sites by a third party such as shopsafe.co.uk
2. Try to use sites that use Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode to accept payment
3. Try to use your credit card online if possible – you have more protection under the law

It is point 2 that is the new one. Sign up with your bank directly or during a purchase at an online shop that has Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode and you will be a lot safer online. You can see how the Visa system works here . The MasterCard one is the same.

So if you do one thing today you should enrol your cards (Maestro, Visa, Visa Debit or MasterCard) or call your bank for more information.

Oh and if you are a bank manager and you want to do one thing today - why not tell your customers about this just like you told them all about Chip and Pin - it would make us all a lot safer online and would make that web trade in credit cards worthless.

Even running Shopsafe.co.uk we're not immune to credit card fraud - someone in Ghana used my credit card this week to buy something for £2410. My credit card company were very good and immediately removed the transaction from my account.

I only shop online at Shopsafe approved sites, but my credit card company told me the fraudsters could have got the card number from anywhere that I've used it, a cashpoint, a petrol station, a restaurant, anywhere. I just wish I could buy everything online through Shopsafe approved secure sites!

Paying by credit card gives you extra protection, as I found, so make sure you use yours when shopping online.