Privacy stalwart Nicholas Merrill spent a decade fighting an FBI surveillance order. Now he wants to sell you phone service—without knowing almost anything about you.
I’ve bought and activated several prepaid phones over the years, paid cash, fake name, no ID. Last was several years ago, idk if you can still do that.
It’s not possible in any corporate stores purely for the fact that they use facial recognition extensively. Doesn’t matter if you can technically get away with paying cash and using a fake name. You’re being tracked the moment their cameras can see you and they have extensive profiles on people even if you’ve never used a debit card, given them an email, or given them a phone number.
Also, the ones I’ve seen in stores lately hare only the trial offers that are only good for a couple days and have to be “replenished” with an online account to stay functional for more than a couple days. Mint wouldn’t even activate initially with an email alias. I called support and they said “we can’t activate it with that email, we need your real email.” I then told them no worries, I’d just return it to best buy. Then they “found a way” to activate it, but I would have needed to give a credit card if I wanted it to stay active more than the 3 days. Best buy didn’t carry any longer duration prepaid card in the stores.
Just buy from a heavily trafficked grocery store. Arrive by foot. Wear a good covid mask. Pay with cash. Wait a few weeks after purchase before use.
Before you turn it on, cover all cameras with tape and disable the microphone if you can (or plug it with a cutoff headphone jack).
Cut a piece of paper and wedge it between the battery leads. Only pull it out and turn it on in a public place far from your home. And you have to burn the phone after every service you activate.
I’ve bought and activated several prepaid phones over the years, paid cash, fake name, no ID. Last was several years ago, idk if you can still do that.
Prepaid sims exist, no?
Its still possible some places, but a lot of stores have cracked down on it
It’s not possible in any corporate stores purely for the fact that they use facial recognition extensively. Doesn’t matter if you can technically get away with paying cash and using a fake name. You’re being tracked the moment their cameras can see you and they have extensive profiles on people even if you’ve never used a debit card, given them an email, or given them a phone number.
Pay some guy to go in and buy them.
Or have them mailed to someone you know
Or use prepaid esim, paid with prepaid debit card
Also, the ones I’ve seen in stores lately hare only the trial offers that are only good for a couple days and have to be “replenished” with an online account to stay functional for more than a couple days. Mint wouldn’t even activate initially with an email alias. I called support and they said “we can’t activate it with that email, we need your real email.” I then told them no worries, I’d just return it to best buy. Then they “found a way” to activate it, but I would have needed to give a credit card if I wanted it to stay active more than the 3 days. Best buy didn’t carry any longer duration prepaid card in the stores.
You can still do it.
Just buy from a heavily trafficked grocery store. Arrive by foot. Wear a good covid mask. Pay with cash. Wait a few weeks after purchase before use.
Before you turn it on, cover all cameras with tape and disable the microphone if you can (or plug it with a cutoff headphone jack).
Cut a piece of paper and wedge it between the battery leads. Only pull it out and turn it on in a public place far from your home. And you have to burn the phone after every service you activate.