I’ve visited Australia as a traveler, apparently I’ve heard that “burner” phones over there are not really anonymous since they literally demand for ID (WTF? That defeats the purpose of it being classed a burner phone) otherwise they aren’t allowed to sell it to you, what’s meant to be a ‘disposable’ phone turns out on buying a regular one when you consider the fact they ask for driver’s license prior to finalizing the transaction.
Don’t even talk about SIM cards for BP, since that too is subjected to KYC in Australia as I’ve learned. They want to harvest data such as driver’s license & residential address (for citizens), or passport info / flight confirmation (return ticket) if you’re a traveler. Without those things: vendors can’t legally sell you a burner phone, so: DON’T BUY A BURNER PHONE IN AUSTRALIA. Their method of acquisition defeats anonymity.
As far as I last checked, yes, still possible in the US.
Stores like Walmart sell the phones and phone cards for prepaid service and all that can be paid with cash which doesn’t require ID.
If nothing else, you can buy a second hand phone from online places for meeting people or wherever and get a phone card for cash and neither doesn’t trace back to you either.
Of course this is likely because everywhere we go is covered by cameras so you’re never truly anonymous if someone is determined enough.
If you saw the show Better Call Saul, this is what Saul was doing when he sold phones to people from the shop he worked at.
deleted by creator