From: jim bell <jimbell@pacifier.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 08:57:10 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: VISA Travel Money
Message-ID: <199607302157.OAA25086@mail.pacifier.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


At 10:55 AM 7/30/96 -0700, Mike Duvos wrote:
>Happened to browse the VISA Web site last evening to read about
>the new microprocessor-based VISA Cash Cards that are being
>accepted in lieu of small change at the Olympics in Atlanta.
>
>While there, I noticed a new product that VISA is about to
>introduce.  Called "VISA Travel Money", it is a pre-paid card
>with a user-selected PIN which one can simply purchase at a
>participating financial institution, just like Travelers Checks.
>One can then use it at any of the 250,000 ATMs in 89 countries
>until the amount one paid for it has been extracted, after which,
>one presumedly tosses it.
>
>Since the card is pre-paid, and does not involve the extension of
>credit, I would think that a "nym" would have no difficulty in
>purchasing one.  Seems like a convenient way to keep moderate
>amounts of cash in a form which cannot be easily stolen, nor
>perused by the Feds.
>
>I wonder if an SSN is required at the time of purchase?


Even if not, chances are good that "all" of the transactions can be linked 
together, even if they can't be directly linked to an identifiable person.  
Doesn't sound too promising.

Jim Bell
jimbell@pacifier.com