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Not that long ago you could buy a prepaid cell phone with cash, an unlocked cell phone with cash, and a sim card with cash, without having to show any ID, in the USA. As far as I know this is now impossible. Every store now requires ID when purchasing these things. Is there any way to obtain a cell phone that respects my privacy and therefore security in the US any longer? Are these rules about showing ID state-specific? I'm curious if anyone else has recent experience trying to do what used to be the norm. Obviously any sim card or phone tied to an id, credit card, etc., offers no privacy. Thanks!
takyon: People IRL and on IRC are telling me that no, you do not necessarily need an ID to obtain a prepaid cell phone. You might want to get it months in advance of doing anything with it so that store CCTV footage is erased, and you might want to put it in a faraday cage (several layers of foil can also be used) before it is anywhere near your house or primary identity-tracked phone(s). In fact, you could do that in the parking lot of the place you buy it. Here are some related stories:
How Two Escaped Killers Could Completely Disappear Off the Grid
Bill Aims to Identify U.S. Prepaid Cellular Users
Thailand Plans to Track All SIM Cards Sold in the Country
(Score: 4, Informative) by bob_super on Friday February 03 2017, @08:14PM
Find desperate loner online (craigslist, dating sites)
Agree to meet them in discrete place.
If loner status confirmed, kidnap or kill them a month later. Hide them well.
Use their phone sparingly for a week.
Restart.
It's all about proper methodology...
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 03 2017, @08:26PM
The scary thing is that I am sure there is at least one person out there who is taking your suggestion quite seriously. While I am sure that "bob_super" is an alias, I'm also quite sure that it can easily be traced by law enforcement (or, indeed, just about anyone with the patience and desire to know) to a real person. I see lots of lawyers in your future.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 03 2017, @10:27PM
Totally agree. Using the same phone for a week is a sure way to get caught. Obvious stooge is obvious.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday February 03 2017, @09:03PM
Ah tell yew hwut, that boy ain't right...
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2, Informative) by DaTrueDave on Friday February 03 2017, @10:53PM
Discrete=separate, individual
Discreet=on the down low
(Score: 3, Interesting) by bob_super on Friday February 03 2017, @11:02PM
Dang! I normally get that one right.
(Score: 5, Funny) by Justin Case on Friday February 03 2017, @11:56PM
You misunderstand. He meant to say meet in a separate, individual place. Surely not a together, public place!