Comment by maxheadroom
6 years ago
>And you can use cash for sensitive purchases.
This isn't always a viable option.
For example, in Sweden, we have stores that are kontantfri (cash-free) and it's projected that almost all of Sweden will be cash-free by 2023[0] to 2025[1]. (Sorry the links are in Swedish but you should be able to use <your chosen provider here> to translate them to your language.)
Given that the nordics tend to trend together, I imagine that Denmark is relatively along the same path to being cash-free, as well.
I think a better (but more complicated) alternative would be to use two different SIMs for separating those apps from an every-day number; however, that comes with the problem of carrying a second phone. Dual-SIM would just present a surface to tie the two numbers together but so would the two phones being in the same area (in proximity of each other) almost all of the time.
In other words, I don't really know how to solve this problem because it depends on everyone else not jumping on the bandwagon; however, to your suggestion, cash will not be a viable option for any purchases - much less, sensitive ones - in the very near future.
[0] - https://computersweden.idg.se/2.2683/1.690197/kontanter-slut...
[1] - https://www.compricer.se/nyheter/artikel/24-mars-2023--da-ar...
Could you buy pre-paid credit cards with cash? then use a different one each month/week/day depending on your level of concern?
Pre paid cards need to be registered before you can use them, so they have all the same details as just using your cc. Faking these details is fraud.
While it may technically be fraud, the registration information for non-reloadable cards is only a name and address, which is not verified. If the processor uses an AVS check (in the US, this is usually just the ZIP code), then whatever you enter must match what you registered with, but that could be... whatever.
When one considers how fat the deck is stacked against individual consumers in today's market, I would be inclined to tolerate some Thoreau-style civil disobedience on this. The desire for privacy -- to effectively "use cash" at "cashless" establishments -- may require the need to engage in this activity.
The other question would be, who is being damaged by this fraud? Presumably the seller of the card (and banks/processors in between), who would like to link all your card purchases to some master profile. Well, I wouldn't begrudge anyone with disobedience on that one too. They're still collecting fees on every purchase.