Paysafecard, a prepaid means of electronic payment which can be used in over 3,500 online sites, was launched in Malta this afternoon through a partnership between the company and the Alert Group.

The system involves purchasing prepaid vouchers, worth €10, €25, €50 or €100, which each come with a 16-digit PIN.

These vouchers can then be used in the 3,500 sites partnered with paysafecard, and can be combined to make payments if necessary.

Many of the sites covered by paysafecard focus on online gaming and social media, including Facebook, Skype, Steam and similar websites.

Alert Group managing director Claudine Cassar stressed that the card was the safest way to make payments online, and said that the company was delighted to partner up with paysafecard to become its sole distributor in the island.

Paysafecard director Udo Müller noted that the cards were aimed at people who did not possess credit cards, or those who did but who preferred not to use them online for various reasons, including privacy, security concerns and to control their expenditure.