Prepaid credit cards. Do they REALLY provide any anonymity?

[TheDudeNextDoor]

After reading several threads and other documents devoted to the need for using prepaid credit cards for any online purchases of seeds or growing equipment, I started searching for one of these cards that will supposedly hide my identity in the case of any prying eyes into my credit card activity. Most discussions I have seen stress this as being an absolute necessity. The problem is that every card I have found (Walgreens, Wal-Mart, K-Mart) requires registration with a social security number. On the back of the Green Dot card I found at Wal-Mart today, it even says this is a federal law.

I don't understand how a prepaid card provides me any level of anonymity at all if I have to register it with my SS#. How is that any different than simply using my personal credit card? If anything, it almost seems MORE risky as LEO would simply have to monitor prepaid card activity rather than watching all credit usage.

I've been a little paranoid since buying my light and first seeds as I used my personal CC for those. This was before reading all the documents claiming this is tantamount to staking a "Ask Me About My Marijuana Garden" sign in my front yard. I plan to make a few more purchases soon and want to be smart about it.

Please advise.

 

[racerboy71]

i agree 100% with your post.. i don't see any form of anonymity from using prepaid cards as you've noticed, you have to register to use them anyhoos.. the only thing i can see that they are good for is that if someone were to steal your cc number, all they would be getting is whatever amount you would have put on the card instead of your entire limit like on a normal card.. other than that, i don't see much use for prepaid cards...
saying that, i've been buying seeds online now for around three or so years, as well as other growing equipment like lights and nutes and what have you, and 99% of the time i just use my regular old visa debit card, and i've not once had an issue doing so.. my bank was calling me once in awhile to ask if i authorized some purchases, i remember one time it was for a salvia plant i bought from an ethorgenic store, nothing grow related.. all i did was say yes it was me, and it was simple as that..
idk, maybe i'm not paranoid enough in some peoples eyes, but i really don't see the point of using those prepaid cards.. if you do any form of online shopping, whether it be for seeds or anything grow related, or shoes and a blouse for the mrs, you run a risk of someone jacking your info.. get a good spyware and adware program and run it often is what i say to that though..
just my o2 cents...

 

[Nitegazer]

bitcoin will be the next big thing....

 

[growone]

i have seen some conflicting stories, there is another thread around here that describes the use of the nfinanse card, spelling may be a bit off on that
anyways, this one comes from dollar general, and is activated at purchase, or at least this is what i read on the thread
but the OP here sounds right, i think its the law, but there are contradictory stories out there

 

[tommyo3000]

I have used a card from Walmart. you do not have to give them your SSN.
You ONLY have to do that IF you want to be able to track it on their site, add money to it at a later date, etc.

I purchased a $300 card, signed up for an espresso machine worth $1000 in three payments... One payment went through.. I got the machine.. The other payments did not.

They sent my made-up identity to collections..

Anywho, you do not need to sign up with all of that info...

 

[TheDudeNextDoor]

I have used a card from Walmart. you do not have to give them your SSN.
You ONLY have to do that IF you want to be able to track it on their site, add money to it at a later date, etc.

I purchased a $300 card, signed up for an espresso machine worth $1000 in three payments... One payment went through.. I got the machine.. The other payments did not.

They sent my made-up identity to collections..

Anywho, you do not need to sign up with all of that info...

Are you talking about a WM gift card or a prepaid credit card? I just looked at every prepaid CC at WM, and every one of them says on the back that federal law requires registration with a SS# in order to use it. I have no idea when that law went into effect, but I'm wondering if it was with the so-called Patriot Act.

 

[TheDudeNextDoor]

i agree 100% with your post.. i don't see any form of anonymity from using prepaid cards as you've noticed, you have to register to use them anyhoos.. the only thing i can see that they are good for is that if someone were to steal your cc number, all they would be getting is whatever amount you would have put on the card instead of your entire limit like on a normal card.. other than that, i don't see much use for prepaid cards...
saying that, i've been buying seeds online now for around three or so years, as well as other growing equipment like lights and nutes and what have you, and 99% of the time i just use my regular old visa debit card, and i've not once had an issue doing so.. my bank was calling me once in awhile to ask if i authorized some purchases, i remember one time it was for a salvia plant i bought from an ethorgenic store, nothing grow related.. all i did was say yes it was me, and it was simple as that..
idk, maybe i'm not paranoid enough in some peoples eyes, but i really don't see the point of using those prepaid cards.. if you do any form of online shopping, whether it be for seeds or anything grow related, or shoes and a blouse for the mrs, you run a risk of someone jacking your info.. get a good spyware and adware program and run it often is what i say to that though..
just my o2 cents...

Racer, that is beyond comforting to hear you say that. I stressed quite a bit reading through those threads AFTER my first seed and equipment purchase.

 

[tommyo3000]

Are you talking about a WM gift card or a prepaid credit card? I just looked at every prepaid CC at WM, and every one of them says on the back that federal law requires registration with a SS# in order to use it. I have no idea when that law went into effect, but I'm wondering if it was with the so-called Patriot Act.

prepaid greendot from CVS

 

[tommyo3000]

also, read more carefully:

What is necessary to get the Green Dot Card?
All you have to do is visit one of our participating retailers to purchase the Card and call or go online to provide your personal information to activate the Card. Federal law requires us to obtain, verify and record your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number when you register a Green Dot Card. The cardholder's personal information will be kept on record upon Card activation and the cardholder's name will be embossed on his or her Personalized Card. If a valid social security number is not provided, a Personalized Card will not be issued.

that means you can walk into walmart, buy a $300 card, and use it.
If you want them to send you a personalized card that you can add money to, etc, you give them your ssn and they send you a card..

 

[TheDudeNextDoor]

also, read more carefully:

What is necessary to get the Green Dot Card?
All you have to do is visit one of our participating retailers to purchase the Card and call or go online to provide your personal information to activate the Card. Federal law requires us to obtain, verify and record your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number when you register a Green Dot Card. The cardholder's personal information will be kept on record upon Card activation and the cardholder's name will be embossed on his or her Personalized Card. If a valid social security number is not provided, a Personalized Card will not be issued.

that means you can walk into walmart, buy a $300 card, and use it.
If you want them to send you a personalized card that you can add money to, etc, you give them your ssn and they send you a card..

Ahhh...okay, that sounds promising. I read that to mean you cannot activate the card without the SS#, but I can see how you can also read that the SS# only pertains to the personalized card. So is it actually necessary to register it at all, and if so, just leave the SS# blank?

 

[patsbrady0345]

are u guys talking about a gift card that u can use anywhere becasue if you are u could say you gave it as a gift to someone just dont order the seeds to ur house idk

 

[tommyo3000]

You do register the card. You put a phone number (google voice) and an address (the shipping address) and a name (make it up).
That's all.. maybe an email. i forget..
but it is totally anonymous..

 

[John12]

check it out. nFinanse. look it up and find locations/reload locations near u and BAM! u good! lol. all u gotta do is go online create a pin then order away. Trust me, i went through all the bullshht looking for forums and threads about where to find a good prepaid card with no trail attached. Did it and never looked back! When i order i just select the reg visa not the debit one. Hope this helps. if u need any more info hit me up....GHOST....

 

[TheDudeNextDoor]

check it out. nFinanse. look it up and find locations/reload locations near u and BAM! u good! lol. all u gotta do is go online create a pin then order away. Trust me, i went through all the bullshht looking for forums and threads about where to find a good prepaid card with no trail attached. Did it and never looked back! When i order i just select the reg visa not the debit one. Hope this helps. if u need any more info hit me up....GHOST....

Sweet. They have them just up the road from me. Thanks for the tip! +rep to you and Tommy.

 

[kevin murphy]

i use a o2 visa card that put money on miself so it right different name and address and cash only when out..

 

[TheDudeNextDoor]

check it out. nFinanse. look it up and find locations/reload locations near u and BAM! u good! lol. all u gotta do is go online create a pin then order away. Trust me, i went through all the bullshht looking for forums and threads about where to find a good prepaid card with no trail attached. Did it and never looked back! When i order i just select the reg visa not the debit one. Hope this helps. if u need any more info hit me up....GHOST....

Bought an nFinanSe card today and worked just like you said. It does say on the documentation that you have to register the card (with name and SS#) in order to use it online or to reload it. My understanding is that you have not found this to be actually necessary? I'm hoping that I can at least use it online without registering. I plan to try it soon, so we will found out.

 

[tommyo3000]

Bought an nFinanSe card today and worked just like you said. It does say on the documentation that you have to register the card (with name and SS#) in order to use it online or to reload it. My understanding is that you have not found this to be actually necessary? I'm hoping that I can at least use it online without registering. I plan to try it soon, so we will found out.

The registration turns your card into more of a DEBIT card that can be added to and so forth.
It is good to go for any online purchase in the state in which you have it.. You did give them a name, address, etc to go with it, no?
and it also has the CVV2 on the back.. so you are good to go..

 

[TheDudeNextDoor]

The registration turns your card into more of a DEBIT card that can be added to and so forth.
It is good to go for any online purchase in the state in which you have it.. You did give them a name, address, etc to go with it, no?
and it also has the CVV2 on the back.. so you are good to go..

Actually, no. All I had to do to "activate" it was establish a PIN. There is a link to "register" (as opposed to "activate") the card, which seems to be for reloading and personalizing the card, but it also says you have to register for online purchases. I did not register the card b/c it asks for an ID#, which I am assuming is a SS#. It says federal law requires this info for registration so that the feds can "fight terrorism" (sure, whatever, cause our government is so trustworthy that surely they would not take advantage of unchecked access to our personal records.)

I don't know. It's a little confusing. I'm just going to try it without registering and see what happens. I will let you know.

 

[tommyo3000]

Yeah, I see.. I thought I had to give a name (fake) and address (fake) to go with the card.. but NOT my ssn.. Then I ordered online stuff with it..

I guess it is possible to use it as-is but I wonder what address and name they check it against? Or maybe it does not require and address..

Usually credit cards only ship to addresses on file with the company.. So this is indeed confusing.

Just attempt a purchase.. Buy a 99cent song on itunes with the card to test it.

 

[TheDudeNextDoor]

Update: Placed an order through Amazon about four hours ago using the nFinanSe card. Order went through, and I got confirmation by email. Nothing yet saying there was any kind of problem. I figure if I don't get a cancellation notice by tomorrow, I'm probably good, right? Interesting because the documentation with the card specifically says you have to register to use it online.

When it asked for the name on the card, I put "nFinanSe." LOL