Cheapest Anonymous Prepaid Credit Card?

Scrooge McDuck on 07/10/2013 - 20:19

These sound like a great idea for paying for digital goods online anonymously wherever Credit Cards are accepted. I'm going to need one soon to pay for Domain Name Registration.

From my research so far the only anonymous (no ID or registration required) cards are single use.

These are the cheapest options I have found:

Woolworths Money Prepaid MasterCard
$3.95 fee + $20 to $1000 load
https://www.woolworthsmoney.com.au/wowm/wps/wcm/connect/WowM…

Australia Post Visa Prepaid Cards
$5.95 fee + $50 or $100 load
http://auspost.com.au/finance-insurance/australia-post-visa-…

So do any OzBargainers know of cheaper or otherwise better alternatives to fit the same purpose?

Obviously having the actual card isn't necessary for online purchases.

Financial Credit Card

Comments

  • MrAria on 07/10/2013 - 22:12

    I use one of the Australia Post ones, they are reloadable so that may be a benefit.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 08/10/2013 - 00:48

      Yes but are they anonymous?

      • Peace Maker on 08/10/2013 - 07:39

        Is there a legit reason for you wanting you payment method to be anonymous? Please share because I can't think of one. Like bargainr said, you can hide you details through a 3rd party in the registry. Why would you want to hide from the registrar?

        • Scrooge McDuck on 08/10/2013 - 11:56
          +4

          Because their "privacy service" costs an extra fee. And then I have to trust them to be diligent.

          I'd rather just remain anonymous and not have to worry or pay. The only surefire guarantee to IT security is to not hold a stake in the first place: Remain anonymous, backup everything and be able start afresh if there's a security breach.

          "Why would you want to hide from the registrar?"

          Because the registrant name wouldn't match the name attached to the payment.

        • G5 on 10/10/2013 - 20:14
          +2

          Internet.bs $9.52 .COM with free whois protect
          Name.com $10.99 .COM with free whois protect using coupon PRIVACYPLEASE

          I'm assuming that rather than have your details visible in the WHOIS records, you want to enter fake information (which is a breach of ICANN's rules, not that anyone checks).

          It seems like a lot of effort when there are cheap options available with the privacy service.

          If you do enter fake information, why not just use the fake registrant name for the payment details? It's not like they have any way to verify this.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 11/10/2013 - 12:38

          "why not just use the fake registrant name for the payment details?"

          How? I'd be very surprised if a credit card was accepted with a mismatched card holder name.

          BTW, there's no need to enter a "fake" name. Inserting something like "Name withheld" or "Privacy protected" into the name field would suffice.

          "It seems like a lot of effort when there are cheap options available with the privacy service."

          Walk in to shop -> hand over off-the-shelf card with cash -> use card online. It couldn't be much simpler and is the closest thing I've found to using cash online.

        • Jabba the Hutt on 11/10/2013 - 15:39

          A credible-looking name is wiser. To the miniscule extent that whois detail validity is enforced, it's more likely to be overlooked than "Name Withheld" or "Mickey Mouse" or other conspicuously fake details.

        • G5 on 11/10/2013 - 23:40

          Yes, if you use the same name for the domain registration and billing details, there's no way for anyone to check with the bank that it is correct.

          Seems like effort and added cost to me, but I am used to clicking 3 buttons to buy a new domain.

      • jimbobaus on 09/10/2013 - 21:18

        Aus post are anon but when u want to reload them u have to provide ID.. and it is registered etc.
        The woolowrths one cant be activated without ID in the first place

  • bargainr on 08/10/2013 - 06:56
    +1

    Whatever you're trying to do just sounds dodgy - no credit card is truly anonymous. Not even sure why you would need to be anonymous for "domain registration" unless you're trying to do something illegal. If you don't want your details published in the registry, use a privacy service. It has nothing to do with the credit card.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 08/10/2013 - 12:16
      +12

      I respect your opinion but it's sad that people think maintaining anonymity "sounds dodgy". Not so long ago everyone agreed to an individual's natural right to privacy. This was of course until most web users sold their privacy for the use of a social networking service.

      "Not even sure why you would need to be anonymous for "domain registration" unless you're trying to do something illegal."

      Isn't that very naïve? Trolling, extortion and identity theft are prevalent online.

      Assume hypothetically that you ran a blog where you made some political comments that a malicious individual disagreed with. Would you want them to be able to ascertain your name and/or address?

      • MementoMori on 09/10/2013 - 09:09
        +5

        Agreed. Nothing dodgy about wanting to exercise ones basic right to privacy.

        The operator of burgeroff.org (a website against the inappropriate McDonald's development in Tecoma) received DEATH THREATS via phone, email and snail mail. It was just a bloody website against building a Macca's store!!!

        • Forfiet on 10/10/2013 - 07:22

          Especially since the person making threats against a website that opposes building a Maccas probably wouldn't travel far from a couch or some kind of seat……

          Now I feel like a double quarter pounder…..yum :)

  • srhardy on 08/10/2013 - 07:38

    if the domain is in anything but AU$ you will pay 2.8%-3.5% extra per transaction

  • [Deactivated] on 08/10/2013 - 12:51
    +1

    Prepaid cards - especially ones without names and address details attached - are not accepted online everywhere a credit card is accepted.

    I use a Virtual Visa Card for most online purchases. Even with name and address details attached to the 'card', it still occasionally gets rejected.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 08/10/2013 - 13:32

      Thanks. That's of concern considering that they explicitly state "use wherever Visa/Mastercard is accepted". Do you put it down to software flaws on the part of the payee?

      How are the fees for such a service?

      • [Deactivated] on 08/10/2013 - 14:04
        +1

        Software, presumably, in the sense that the first eight numbers will contain all the information required to allow a vendor to reject anything that falls into the realm of 'prepaid', or for that matter 'debit'.

        VirtualVisaCards cost $5.50 each, loadable by BPay or cheque with up to $1000. Managed entirely online. Only thing to watch out for is that they each have only a 9 month expiry, so you need to make sure you use up small remainders so as they don't get snaffled.

        Rejection is rare, but does happen. For example, when I was with Redbull Mobile I could never use it to recharge. Having said that, I have on a couple of occasions - to my surprise - successfully used it on sites that clearly specifed 'credit card only - no prepaid or debit'.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/10/2013 - 09:53
    +4

    +1 for this post.

    I like my privacy as well. It's like … anyone know what your doing on the toilet… but you don't want an audience. Keep your *** for yourself eighter is legit or not. We have the right to privacy we should use it (if we can).

    With the NSA and PRISM and Australia spying on its residents the privacy barrier i think it exists no more unless one goes to great measures to ensures he has some privacy.

    For example: my email is hosted on a 10 years old laptop, at home, behind a TOR + VPN network just to have some normal private emails.

  • gimme on 09/10/2013 - 10:24

    LOL, I'm all for anonymity and people's rights to privacy HOWEVER I laugh when (some) people goto very long and painful extents to preserve their privacy in some areas yet they're wide open in many other areas.

    It's a bit like spending a million bucks building a high-tech super reinforced garage for your expensive car and handing the keys over to your neighbor for safekeeping.

    There's some basic common sense stuff that people should do to maintain their privacy from amateurs but don't waste your time/money with anything elaborate as there is no such thing as privacy in this day and age if someone wants to pry.

    • francis.tks on 09/10/2013 - 11:42

      I think these things are great as a discussion as a lot of companies are getting hacked recently, I wouldn't want some stupid hacker to be holding a lot of my details. But its true going true such great lengths can be a pain. Tor is painfully slow that its not worth the trouble sometime.

      • gimme on 09/10/2013 - 14:38

        No need to be hacked. If you have any email account your privacy is non-existent.

  • Briefcase Mong on 09/10/2013 - 12:27
    +1

    Try the Westpac one its $4.95 + $15 - $800 load
    http://www.westpac.com.au/personal-banking/bank-accounts/deb…

    • [Deactivated] on 10/10/2013 - 04:47

      If you click on 'features' section of that page and then the FAQ's, it states:
      'Looking to apply for a new Mastercard Gift Card?
      Our Mastercard Gift Card is no longer available for general sale.'

      Long superceded by Mastercard's gift card tie-in with Woolworths, I presume.

  • counterbargainglobal on 09/10/2013 - 13:39

    Goodluck, let me know if you can pay for a domain anonymously!

    I thought it was impossible.

  • tonester on 09/10/2013 - 14:57
    +1

    to pay for Domain Name Registration.

    would services such as http://www.whoisguard.com that http://www.ozbargain.com.au/deals/namecheap.com uses suit instead?

    else perhaps consider a virtual credit card:

    http://www.virtualvcard.com.au
    https://www.globalvcard.com

    • Scrooge McDuck on 09/10/2013 - 22:08
      +1

      VCard eh? I might lose it on the weekend. ;-P

    • Scrooge McDuck on 09/10/2013 - 22:23

      In all seriousness namecheap has some good deals but I'd rather not use a "privacy service" because:

      a) It might incur a recurring fee at some point after the promotion.
      b) There could be a lag between registration and application of the "privacy service".
      c) You still have to trust them to be diligent.

      Those VCards are good alternative options, thanks!

      • tonester on 10/10/2013 - 02:07

        a) It might incur a recurring fee at some point after the promotion.

        1st year free then annual fee

        b) There could be a lag between registration and application of the "privacy service".

        virtually/effectively none

        c) You still have to trust them to be diligent.

        of course, as with anyone, but they are trusted by many including myself and have a good rep - do a web search

        otherwise single load woolworths seems suitable

        btw i assume you already use a po box? :)

        • Scrooge McDuck on 10/10/2013 - 10:29

          No, I don't use a P.O. Box yet.

          Do you know of good deals on them? :D

      • [Deactivated] on 10/10/2013 - 05:47

        Just to avoid any confusion - the vitualvcard is the same as the one I referred to above - the v in the middle stands, of course, for visa.

  • Koolbargain on 10/10/2013 - 11:44
    +2

    Let's be honest your doing it for pron

  • Wade on 10/10/2013 - 14:20
    +1

    Find a registrar that accepts bitcoin?

  • tap on 11/10/2013 - 12:12
    -3

    If you're going to be so anal about all the "what if's" then take your own advice and keep off the internet.

    The only surefire guarantee to IT security is to not hold a stake in the first place

  • coolsteps on 11/10/2013 - 15:27

    the qantas or velocity prepaid cards are an alternative but they arent anonymous, they are reloadable. howevever you earn points too but at a crap rate $2/ 1 point but better then nothing. i didnt even activate mine and it worked to rent a free oovie dvd lol. i think the qantas one is free to load if you choose to use aud.? not sure on the virgin velocity one?

  • [Deactivated] on 12/10/2013 - 03:26
    +1

    I was asked about somebody here about what and how i use my private stuff at home and here is my answer (i decided to go public with it as it may help other as well).

    Mail server setup
    i've tried many setups both hard to configure and easy to configure but the best one i found was "axigen"

    Why i chose Axigen - http://www.axigen.com — FREE download here: http://www.axigen.com/mail-server/free/
    1. on their webpage you got video install tutorial
    2. it's free
    3. lightweight - runs on my 10 year old server - laptop
    4. has calendar
    5. has task manager & notes
    6. can import mail addresses
    7. search function to search whole mail and inside the body of the mails
    8. can manage unlimited number of domains and subdomains —
    9. easy interface
    10. can manage unlimited number of users
    11. and most importantly —- very very easy to install —- 10 minutes or so
    12. lots of other features (ex. alias mail, spam filters, anti-virus, image check, etc. - though some features needs to be paid)
    - i've setup a test account for you on my webserver if you want to test it.
    - for the sake of the test emails outgoing have been disabled but to local domains
    URL: http://www.julian.id.au/mail
    username: [email protected]
    password: 1234 (please don't change the password)

    So for VPN i'm using HideMyAss

    about 80$/year - http://hidemyass.com/vpn/r14207 (aff. link)
    Why HMA ?
    1. it has servers 4 servers in Australia with over 450 IP's: 2 in Melb and 2 in Brisbane
    2. connected with the servers i download from torrents with approx. 1mb/s
    3. logs are kept only for 7 days and the logs are only for IP - connection time/date not for traffic
    4. they have over 58.000ip's/worldwide so you can connect pretty much everywhere
    5. it can be installed on Windows, OSX and Linux - they have guides

    Other thoughts
    • My server sits behind a VPN connection and i've given up TOR on the server 2 days ago as i am now hosting from home several websites.
    • HMA UDP connection isn't affecting my internet speed almost at all so i am happy about that
    • i use TOR network when i'm searching for torrents or similar + vpn connection - i got a friend who was visited by police last year for getting some music over the internet so i'm being carefull
    • i gaved up Google services and i couldn't feel better about that!

    All in all, without being paranoic, i'm being pretty private from my ISP's and government's eyes… Of course if they wanna find out about you they will no questions asked but that's like anyone trying to see in your house with your drapes closed. You'r pretty private from all but if a sniper wants to get you, he will!

    P.S. Check out:
    http://donttrack.me/ <— made by me - a work in progress - i dont have much free time
    http://prism-break.org/

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