Some businesses also accept cash-by-mail, which lets you pay for online goods anonymously without needing a return address.
Pro Tip:I always recommend usinga reputable VPNto protect your online transactions.
This means the seller or person receiving the payment wont see your actual name.
Here are a few of the best e-wallet options.
However, your PayPal username and profile picture are visible to the person or business youre paying.
Basically, if your name is Jack, your PayPal username shouldnt be ImJack.
Despite its accessibility and partial anonymity, PayPal isnt the perfect option for everyone.
Youll also need to verify your card.
Note that PayPal has been the victim of a couple of data breaches in the past.
If you need something totally private, Id recommendgift cardsorprepaid debit cardsinstead.
To use the full service, Cash App requires an ID to verify your identity.
Unlike either of the previous 2 options though, Venmo hasnt been the victim of a large data breach.
Venmo lets you create pseudonyms that others see when you trade with them, protecting your identity.
Google Wallet offers some level of anonymity by using virtual card numberswhen you make a purchase.
you could even generate different virtual card numbers for various merchants.
you’re free to also use Google Pay, but it works differently.
Google Pay generates a virtual account number for your card and uses transaction tokens for each purchase.
Unlike Google Wallet, Google Pay uses a single virtual account number.
Since these details are tied to your identity, they can be traced back to you.
Its the most private E-wallet, but its still not fully anonymous.
That said, there are a few limitations and drawbacks to using gift cards.
Most gift cards also have a fee, usually a $35 activation fee when you first buy one.
Also, some vendors may require registration or personal details for online reloading or higher balances.
To prevent fraud, most companies also put a spending limit on prepaid cards.
Your new card becomes locked to that merchant, meaning you cant use it on other websites.
This isnt usually a fully anonymous payment method, however.
This also means that a VPN provides access to any e-wallet or payment method from anywhere.
With top VPNs, you have a lot of options to choose from.
For example, ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries.
However, note that a VPN wont hide any details from the merchant or your bank.
This is why I recommend using it alongside one ofthe anonymous payment methodsI discussed above.
Theoretically, you could even go off the grid and use cash for everything to stay completely invisible.
But this isnt always an ideal solution.
Its pretty hard to use physical money to pay for things online.
Some companies and services actually still allow cash-by-mail.
), but it works.
These services usually include incentives for reloading, like codes for online games or small prizes.
Theyre similar to prepaid debit cards but usually have some secondary purpose.
However, you cant rely on this for everything.
Are Cryptocurrencies Anonymous?
Many cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, record all transactions on a public ledger called a blockchain.
If someone wanted to, they could investigate that wallet address.
On top of all of that, crypto exchanges require a ton of personal information to sign up for.
Take Coinbase or Binance for example.
There will also be records if you attempt to trade your crypto for your national currency.
Once its cracked, it only takes a tiny bit of know-how to steal your wallet.
That said, there are a few coins that have a truly anonymous system, such as Monero.
Many other countries are currently tightening their crypto regulations, so they could be banned at any moment.
However, this doesnt mean the payment provider or company processing the transaction cant see your transaction history.
They can still see your activity for purposes like fraud prevention, compliance, and record-keeping.
Being truly anonymous means that not even the payment provider can see who made the transaction.
But truly private payment methods that work online are pretty rare.
Are anonymous payments completely safe?
No, but theyre a good start.
Why would a VPN make payments more anonymous?
Essentially, a VPN reduces your digital footprint by masking your IP address and encrypting your data.
Thisdoesnt make the transactions fully anonymous, however.
What makes regular debit/credit card use unsafe?
This includes your full name, card number, and billing address.
In-person transactions are also traced.
A clever hacker could use stolen data or records to commit fraud on multiple fronts.
