send funds anonymously

[yinzerpgh]

short of crypto, is there a way to send money via some type of app that is [mostly] anonymous? I know in Cashapp you can use a 'cashtag' as an alias, but they also require a debit card for payment (you can still use CC, but you HAVE to link a debit card initially, then add the CC as secondary payment). I don't mind linking a credit card, but I don't want my debit card linked to anything other than getting cash directly from an ATM.
I suppose I could get a pre-paid card and just keep adding funds to it via credit card(?) but that wouldn't count as a debit card, would it?


Venmo charges a fee - screw that
Paypal cannot be anonymous
Apple pay is linked to my personal account - screw that

[tommy156]

[yinzerpgh]

Originally Posted by tommy156

[harleyrocks]

[laserface]

Who do you want to be anonymous from? The person you're transferring funds to/from, or the funds transfer agent, or both?

If you're just trying to hide your identity from the person you're interacting with, Cash App is probably your best bet - your don't have to put your real name on your account (at least, not in any way the person you're interacting with can see).

If you're trying to mask your identity from everyone (including the funds transfer agent), that is more challenging. All of these services - at least, those that operate in the US - have to be licensed as money transfer services in the state(s) in which they operate, and they're all subject to KYC ("Know Your Customer") regulations. So they insist on knowing something about who you are. I must have just hit some threshold on Cash App, myself, because they just temporarily suspended my account because they wanted me to "verify" my account by sending them a picture of the front and back of my driver's license, and a selfie (to prove that I really am the person who the driver's license belongs to). And if you want a Cash App debit card to be able to extract money out of your Cash App account into the "real world", they want your social security number and a physical mailing address (no PO box or anything like that) - that is also part of the KYC requirements.

Most of these services won't allow you to use a credit card (rather than a debit card) to send money, because that counts as a cash advance rather than a purchase. Cash App wants a debit card to send money because it is literally handled as if you were using an ATM - in fact, if you Cash App money to someone from your debit card, the amount you send actually counts against your daily ATM withdrawal limit.

[tommy156]

Originally Posted by yinzerpgh

I honestly don't know. I just figured it was since you listed it as a potential option, and the reasoning against it was the fee. It's hard to say if anything is truly anonymous these days, especially in the virtual world.

[Headred740]

I would say that there is no anonymous way. Even if you find something a way to hide your tracks, you’re still using a phone with an IP address thats registered to you

[yinzerpgh]

Thanks Laserface - that makes sense that they don't want to use CC as sole means of payment; I could potentially rack up 10K in payments with no means of me to pay it back. I didn't even think about that.

[callisti]

Vanilla Card is a good option, you can pay for set amounts with a credit card and it is anon and has a relatively small purchase fee.

[berryberry]

If it is a one time thing, and you are already committed to lose the $35 if she scams you, ask her if she will accept an Amazon gift card.

If she will, go to Giant Eagle or wherever, buy a $35 Amazon gift card for cash and text or email her the code from your burner number / email

[yinzerpgh]

To close the loop on this; it was a swing and a miss. well, sorta.

I sent her $ via cashapp for pics and vids...and they're pretty hot...but then she ghost me after I refused to send her more money. She even offered to send more videos for more money but I refused and then she went dark.

[luv2sixtynine69]

Any time you pay an advance, whether it be content first, a deposit or booking fee there’s a 99.99% chance that you are going to get ghosted after you send it. I like the ones who claim that it’s for “their safety.” There’s absolutely nothing that ensures their safety by receiving an up front deposit. If they are asking for money before you ever meet them then you aren’t actually going to be meeting them.

[AmishGangster]

Originally Posted by luv2sixtynine69

Any time you pay an advance, whether it be content first, a deposit or booking fee there’s a 99.99% chance that you are going to get ghosted after you send it. I like the ones who claim that it’s for “their safety.” There’s absolutely nothing that ensures their safety by receiving an up front deposit. If they are asking for money before you ever meet them then you aren’t actually going to be meeting them.

Actually receiving upfront money absolutely guarantees their safety since once they receive it you won’t ever meet them. No meet = safe