Silk Road forums

Discussion => Security => Topic started by: EmeraldCircles on July 24, 2013, 09:14 pm

Title: Reload cards, hard to find???
Post by: EmeraldCircles on July 24, 2013, 09:14 pm
It seems these reload type cards (Vanilla, Moneypak, etc) are the way to go if you want to get BTC quickly and *anonymously*.  The only other options I can find require a visit to a bank teller, customer service desk or waiting on snail mail.  That or get into fake IDs, fake Paypal accounts and the like...

So, I've noticed in my town that these reload cards are really hard to find.  I've checked Targets, Walmarts, gas stations and drug stores.  It turns out that gift cards and prepaid debit/phone cards are all the rage these days.  All the stores I checked carry these things.

But - only 1 chain of stores carry the reload cards.  And they carry several types.  I'd rather not name the chain but has anyone else noticed this?

If you check my posts, I have a couple of Paranoid Theories on the Newbie thread.  Here comes another one:

Let's assume local LE and the feds realize BTC buyers are being driven out of the shadows as I described above.  And that they realize anonymous BTC buying frequently leads to SR.  If so, funneling buyers to one chain of stores would be a great way to track them down, no? 

For example, let's say Bob's Drug in Cheyenne, WY.  LE could work through the other retailers (or, hell, why not Vanilla and those guys?) and ask them not to sell reload packs anywhere except for Bob's in Cheyenne.  Since there are cameras every damn where, it wouldn't be too hard to flag those transactions and pull the tapes, possibly even get a shot of the parking lot & plate of the customer's car as they leave.  I'm guessing there aren't a whole lot of sales on these.

From there, I don't know.  Maybe they try to match names to faces (not too hard in 2013 right?) and then start watching peoples homes and mailboxes.

Or, if nothing else, let's say a local drug bust happens.  It would be super easy to match the suspect to a tape of her buying a reload pack, thereby strengthening the case that much more.

Anyway... Paranoid Theory over.  Time to take a Xanex.  Back to my original question, are peeps in the US able to find these pretty easily at multiple locations in your area?
Title: Re: Reload cards, hard to find???
Post by: EmeraldCircles on July 27, 2013, 08:55 pm
Tldr I guess.  Bump with the short version:

Anyone out there having a hard time finding Reload type cards (Vanilla, etc)?  If not, are they typically just in one chain of stores or all over the place -- in your town?