The enthusiasm of many consumers when selecting products for purchase over the Internet is
often dampened at the point of payment largely over security and privacy concerns and
financial risks. The levels of confidence that exist among potential and existing online
purchasers can be influenced significantly by the extent to which merchants inform and
reassure their customers over security features and mechanisms that support their e-payment
options. This study sets out to establish how online merchants attempt to engender this trust
in the payment instrument options on offer to potential customers by indicating technical
competence and ability to meet fiduciary obligations. A preliminary assessment of a selected
number of Australian web sites was made to determine the extent to which they realize
security solutions and other trust mechanisms in practice, and the level and the quality of
information they provide to consumers on the technical security solutions in place
