Advice on hobby phone

[gotovirgo]

So I've searched the forum and found some discussions about hobby phones but none which address this specific question:

Is any one brand better than others in terms of maintaining anonymity? I ask because a few years a go I bought an AT&T Go Phone (non-hobby) at an AT&T store and was asked to provide my personally identifiable information - name, address, etc. even though it was a pre-paid pone. Thanks

[swarmyone]

Just make shit up. I get a new Trac Phone about once a year. I just make up phone numbers and addresses when I register it. Not that big a deal.

[gotovirgo]

Damn. Didn't think of that. At AT&T they wanted my license. Guess they don't do that at Walmart. Thanks.

[ISODT]

No they don't, use cash to purchase and reloads are as easy as buying a new card with time on it... with cash

[gotovirgo]

When I searched this topic, the most consistent theme was "use cash." I certainly intend to do just that to preserve my anonymity. For my own curiosity sake though, would LE really go to the trouble of tracing the number to a store and then subpoenaing credit card purchase records? Is there some other risk with credit cards besides an SO questioning the bill?

[ISODT]

besides an SO questioning the bill

IMO the more likely issue, however LE may or may not decide to dig so why give the opportunity?

[Bristol.kc]

Walmart & cash. One mistake I have seen made by hobbyist and providers in the past is using the hobby phone for occasional "real life" things. ie; checking voice mail of personal phone, calling your personal phone when you can't find it. It makes it much harder to deny ownership to a spouse or anyone else who may find it one day when it is easily traced to you.

[swarmyone]

Originally Posted by gotovirgo

When I searched this topic, the most consistent theme was "use cash." I certainly intend to do just that to preserve my anonymity. For my own curiosity sake though, would LE really go to the trouble of tracing the number to a store and then subpoenaing credit card purchase records? Is there some other risk with credit cards besides an SO questioning the bill?

Probably not 99.9999% of the time. For a simple prostitution charge...no. Unless someone ends up dead at the end of a session.....well that would be a little more complicated.

Why take any risks at all. Use cash. No trail.

[JRLawrence]

Originally Posted by gotovirgo

When I searched this topic, the most consistent theme was "use cash." I certainly intend to do just that to preserve my anonymity. For my own curiosity sake though, would LE really go to the trouble of tracing the number to a store and then subpoenaing credit card purchase records? Is there some other risk with credit cards besides an SO questioning the bill?

YES!

A phone purchase at radioshack demanded an address. Gave them a PO Box under a different make that I have had for 20 years, back to an apartment that I have been out of for over 30 years. Guess what, I get mail at the PO box addressed to the false name. Wow.

Still used cash. If possible AT&T wants to tie a credit card# to the phone.


JR

[pmdelites]

also, when you decide to get rid of that hobby phone, pls donate it to some org that can use it or sell it for cash for their org. or recycle it.
just do not trash it.

of course, delete all info, texts, photos, etc. from the phone first.

[gotovirgo]

Originally Posted by Bristol.kc

Walmart & cash. One mistake I have seen made by hobbyist and providers in the past is using the hobby phone for occasional "real life" things. ie; checking voice mail of personal phone, calling your personal phone when you can't find it. It makes it much harder to deny ownership to a spouse or anyone else who may find it one day when it is easily traced to you.

Thanks! I would probably not have considered that. Thanks all for the advice. Went to Walmart today and all they had were the crappy $9.99 ones with no keyboard. Not that I need a smartphone for this but I at least want to be able to text easily.

[naughtynatale]

I used the straight talk ones. Paid cash for everything. Made up a fake name address etc. No worries

[Wildbillyolo]

tracfone is the most difficult for leo to analyze. keep it locked and that makes it difficult for cell phone analysis to take place in the event it were captured.

[Boy Wonder]

Net 10 is much easier to set up (30 min) vs tracfone 3 days to get set up

[Stiffy008]

Walmart takes your lic info for their friends and family.