Guide on secure payments in Australia

Online payments are a part of everyday business in Australia, with customers regularly making purchases through ecommerce stores or transferring money internationally. But as cyber threats like phishing scams and payment fraud rise, fully securing these payments has become a top priority.

The guide explains what secure payments are and why they matter, and the practical steps businesses can take to protect transactions, especially when moving money across borders – a process that Wise Business can help with.

What are secure payments?

A secure payment is a transaction designed to protect money and sensitive financial information (e.g. card details, bank account info) from being intercepted and misused. To achieve this, secure payment systems use a variety of cutting-edge technologies and processes, such as gateways and encryption.

For businesses, secure online payments rely on this tech and systems working together behind the scenes:

• Encryption to protect payment data during transactions
• Secure payment gateways that safely process card or bank details
• Identity verification measures such as two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Fraud detection systems that flag any suspicious activity
• Compliance standards that businesses must follow when handling payment info

Why secure payments matter in Australia

In Australia, businesses taking card payments are generally expected to comply with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). This is a global framework that helps businesses protect cardholder data and reduce the risk of cyber incidents, such as data breaches and fraud.

However, problems with unsafe payments persist for both customers and businesses. A study by the National Anti-Scam Centre found Australians lost $260+ million in online shopping scams in 2025¹. Similarly, micro and small enterprises in Australia lost $152.6m to payment redirection scams in 2024².

PCI Security Standards outlines six main ‘threats’ businesses should be aware of³:

• Malware - malicious software designed to steal data
• Phishing - fake emails or websites used to trick users
• Remote Access - scammers gaining control of devices or systems
• Weak passwords - easy to guess or reused logins
• Outdated software - unpatched with known vulnerabilities
• Skimming - stolen card data captured during payment processing

As more Australian businesses rely on ecommerce for sales, as well as on digital invoicing and international transactions across both B2C and B2B settings, the importance of secure payment systems has risen in tandem. They play a huge role in protecting both your revenue and your customer-client relationships.

What are some safe online payment methods in Australia?

There are numerous safe methods Australian businesses can use to take online payments, many with security features built in to protect customers.

These include:

• Debit and credit cards - around 75% of online payments in Australia are made with credit cards⁴. Modern card payments include several security measures, such as CVV codes and tokenisation, to keep details safe.
• Digital wallets - popular options in Australia include Apple Pay and Google Pay. These allow customers to ‘double click’ or tap to pay without entering card details, and include biometric authentication such as fingerprint or facial recognition for security.
• Pay ID - this is a payment system that lets users send money using a mobile number, email address, or business identifier instead of manually entering BSB and account numbers. It’s operated by Australia’s New Payments Platform (NPP).
• BPAY - a widely used Australian bill payment system used by businesses for recurring invoices and business payments. This lets customers pay directly through their online platform, without sharing their payment details with merchants.

How to ensure safe and secure online payments for your customers

Securing online payments requires a collection of policies and tech that work together to create a system that protects your business and your customers. It’s not a ‘one and done’ process either – you’ll need to manage and refine everything over time.

1. Review your PCI DSS requirements

This is the best place to start. Any Australian business that takes cards and stores payment details must comply with PCI DSS, which isn’t a law, but a security standard with things you have to do to remain compliant⁵.

These requirements include⁵:

• Assessing whether you need to hold onto and protect cardholder data
• Using secure networks and testing and monitoring them regularly
• Maintaining a documented security policy
• Using strong access control measures

You’ll also have to make sure any third-party you work with meets PCI DSS requirements, too, such as a payment processor or gateway, so always keep this in mind. A compliant provider will have systems in place that protect cardholder data and reduce risks (fraud, breaches, etc.)

2. Secure your website with HTTPS and SSL encryption

Customers expect to see secure web pages when they navigate to a site, especially checkouts. They’ll usually scan for a ‘padlock icon’ to the left of the address bar and make sure the URL begins with HTTPS.

A secure website should always:

• Use HTTPS rather than HTTP (which is often flagged as ‘not secure’) - you can do this in your website settings
• Have a valid SSL/TLS certificate - these can usually be obtained through your web hosting provider
• Encrypt customer information when they visit - this happens automatically when your SSL/TTS certificate is active.

3. Add multi-factor authentication and keep things updated

Weak passwords are a big vulnerability, so it’s vital to add an extra verification step to your business payment systems, admin accounts, and backend website logins through multi-factor authentication (MFA). This includes processes like SMS verification codes and one-time login approvals, which reduce the chances of ‘unauthorised access’.

And always remember to keep software and plugins updated as well, as outdated systems create security gaps cybercriminals can exploit.

4. Use trusted payment gateways and payment methods

This is an important one, as most small businesses need a payment gateway to facilitate transactions, acting as an intermediary between a website or POS and banks. Reputable providers typically include quite a few security-related features, including encryption, fraud screening, and compliance support

Also, this is where you’ll want support for the secure online payments outlined earlier, and to make sure there are clear refund and dispute processes. You should communicate these clearly to customers to increase transparency and trust.

5. Use secure checkout pages and payment links

Securing your checkout experience is also essential. Customers should only enter details through secure, verified checkout pages or payment links. Avoid manually sending bank details via email or SMS, as this increases the risk of scams and fraud. Trusted payment providers usually offer encrypted, secure checkout systems by default.

6. Monitor transactions for suspicious activity (and train staff)

Systems are good, but you need oversight. Many payment breaches happen because something suspicious goes unnoticed. You should monitor for unusual payment behaviour. Keep an eye out for:

• Multiple failed payment attempts
• Large or unexpected transactions
• Overseas login attempts
• Mismatched billing info
• Sudden changes to supplier bank details

Most payment providers include fraud monitoring tools to flag ‘shady’ activity, but it’s also useful to train staff to spot phishing emails, fake invoices, and other scams, especially if they regularly handle online payments or data.

7. Avoid storing sensitive payment info

The government has a 6-step guide for protecting customer information, which is an extension of the Privacy Act 1988. Part of this is either ‘destroying’ or ‘de-identifying’ any sensitive information when you no longer need it⁶.

This is common sense, too: the less data you have stored on your systems, the less likely you are to be affected by a breach. Many payment providers now use tokenisation systems that obscure card details with digital tokens to help with this.

Complexities involved with international payments

International payments can introduce additional security concerns compared to domestic transactions, as they involve more ‘variables’ – multiple banks, currencies, regulations, etc.

Customers and businesses may think twice about sending money overseas, especially large sums, because of concerns about:

• Fraudulent recipients
• Hidden fees
• Exchange rate markups
• Payment delays
• Incorrect banking details
• An inability to track the transaction
• Confusion about how international banking regulations affect the transfer

Wise Business: A safe and secure way to move money across borders

Because international payments involve more moving parts, there’s a need for extra visibility and protection when sending money overseas.

Wise Business has security built into its platform for businesses that require a super-safe system for cross-border transactions. Features include 2FA to verify it’s really you making payments, biometric login and encryption through the Wise app, plus customisable controls like auto log-out and permission settings.

A Wise Business account allows users to can send, receive, and hold in multiple currencies. Experience hassle-free global transactions by transacting like a local business. Here's what you get with a Wise Business account:

• Free to register — Hold and convert between 40+ currencies. Send to 140+ countries
• Debit cards for you and your team, which you can use in 150+ countries
• Multi-user access for team members, with ways to control and manage permissions
• Pay up to 1,000 recipients at once with the Wise batch payments feature
• Integrate with your favourite cloud accounting solutions like Xero, QuickBooks, and more
• Get account details to receive in 8+ currencies for a one-time fee of 65 AUD
• Earn potential returns** on your everyday money through Wise Interest

Sign up for the Wise Business account! 🚀

This general advice does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs and you should consider if it is appropriate for you.
**Capital at risk, growth not guaranteed. Interest is the name of a custody and nominee service provided by Wise Australia Investments Pty Ltd in partnership with Franklin Templeton.

Sources:

1. ACCC gov au - Australians report nearly $260m in losses as shopping scams surge
2. ATO gov au - Risk of invoice fraud
3. PCI Security Standards - Merchants
4. RBA gov au - The evolving retail payments landscape
5. NAB - Payment card industry data security standards
6. Business gov au - Protect your customers' information know the laws around customer information