How do you get a burner phone that is not connected to you.

[wangbang]

I suppose, it doesn't hurt to play safe.

In the words of Remo in Casino before everyone got whacked - "why take a chance".

 

[wangbang]

It sounds like a lot of you shouldn't be hobbying

If people who shouldn't be hobbying quit hobbying there would be no hobby.

 

[IM469]

I am not sure why the paranoia about the hobby phones but if the government is a concern, forget about changing SIM cards to avoid detection. Your smartphone as an internet/ lan device has a MAC address which is the same independent of your phone ID. While you walk around secure from your 'unidentified' SIM card, your WiFi is smearing your identity to any network it can shake hands with. Also, any phone that is on can be tracked without GPS to a particular area if it is on because it is handshaking with every cell tower that will talk to it.

If I was super concerned - using only cash transactions - I would go to the weekend flea market and buy a second hand voice only cheap GMS phone. I would obtain a pay-as-you-go SIM for the phone. I would never give the number to friends/family nor test it with my own phone. I would only turn the phone on in public areas when I am using it. If I am not using it - I turn it off. If I was going on a trip, I would store the SIM and phone in different locations.

 

[cheatOS]

Summary of what i think is best :

1- VOIP solutions (don't do it): your IP address will be known. once your IP is known that can track your ISP and location (if using Wifi), or your phone and carrier (if you are using your phone data plan (3G, LTE, etc.)
2- Burner Apps on smart phone (don't do it) can still be tracked to your IP and hence your location, your carrier and your phone.
3- Burner SIM on your personal phone (don't do it). Sim boardcasts your phone identity (IMEI to the network) so you can still be identified based on your IMEI specially if you bought your phone from any carrier or legitimate dealer (apple,etc.)
4- Burner phone paid for in cash , and top up cards paid for in cash (yes but). Even it is a dumb phone, your location can be found using triangulation so turn off your phone and preferably don't make calls while you are at home or at the office. Make calls on while on the road from any other location and keep the phone off. (Unless expecting a call / message /etc..)
5- You could in theory top up online, but that gives up your IP address to the topup website, so technically it is still traceable.

If you just wanna hide it from the wify then a VOIP solution , and Burner Apps work great. I recommend Hushed on iphone and android.
Also remember that typically telecom providers don't go around giving your data to LE or any party, they have to get a subpoena or something to that effect to get your data.
In theory one can probably track the phone purchase to a store (7eleven or petro canada) and try to get security camera footage /record to see who bought the phone but i suspect LE or anyone else will go to that extent to catch a hobbyist .. unless they want you really really badly and if that's the case you are toast anyways

 

[GPIDEAL]

It sounds like a lot of you shouldn't be hobbying

Well then I've been living dangerously for the last 7 years (but I'm single, so it wasn't a concern). Do you have a burner phone?

 

[GPIDEAL]

Summary of what i think is best :

1- VOIP solutions (don't do it): your IP address will be known. once your IP is known that can track your ISP and location (if using Wifi), or your phone and carrier (if you are using your phone data plan (3G, LTE, etc.)
2- Burner Apps on smart phone (don't do it) can still be tracked to your IP and hence your location, your carrier and your phone.
3- Burner SIM on your personal phone (don't do it). Sim boardcasts your phone identity (IMEI to the network) so you can still be identified based on your IMEI specially if you bought your phone from any carrier or legitimate dealer (apple,etc.)
4- Burner phone paid for in cash , and top up cards paid for in cash (yes but). Even it is a dumb phone, your location can be found using triangulation so turn off your phone and preferably don't make calls while you are at home or at the office. Make calls on while on the road from any other location and keep the phone off. (Unless expecting a call / message /etc..)
5- You could in theory top up online, but that gives up your IP address to the topup website, so technically it is still traceable.

If you just wanna hide it from the wify then a VOIP solution , and Burner Apps work great. I recommend Hushed on iphone and android.
Also remember that typically telecom providers don't go around giving your data to LE or any party, they have to get a subpoena or something to that effect to get your data.
In theory one can probably track the phone purchase to a store (7eleven or petro canada) and try to get security camera footage /record to see who bought the phone but i suspect LE or anyone else will go to that extent to catch a hobbyist .. unless they want you really really badly and if that's the case you are toast anyways

Excellent.

When you say top up online, not from the dumb phone but with your computer, with the risk that the PIN or validation # can be traced to your I.P. address, right?

Also, I didn't read many promising reviews about Hush, and only good ones about Disposable Number.

 

[explorerzip]

Even if you're using a burner phone, learn how to delete the phone book, call and text history.

 

[goalie000]

Major telecom employee here - former phone sales rep. Just wanted to clear the air on a few things about prepaid...

You can go to any carrier (Rogers, Bell, Telus) and sign up for prepaid anonymously - doesn't necessarily need to be 7-11 (though it could be, I don't care). The only thing you have to provide is a real address and you can provide ANY real address. You can choose a Pizza Pizza in Vancouver for all they care, as long as it's in the Canada Post database that they use for verification. I signed up many a questionable customer using my store's address and a "John Smith" pseudonym.

You'll need to own a phone that works on that company's network and a SIM card. Most companies have prepaid starter kits they can sell you with a phone and SIM card include. SIM cards usually run around $10. Phone and SIM bundle might run you between $60-$150 depending on how fancy you want to get.

You'll also need to start with some kind of balance - $10 minimum. $10/month may or may not be enough for you, though. Calling is $0.15/minute and texting is something stupid like $0.30/message incoming and outgoing. So you might want to add some sort of message plan ($15/month for unlimited).

You can carry multiple SIMs with a different number on each and switch them out of your phone, but a few things you need to be aware of:

- Each number needs its own balance to work.
- Balances expire. Depending how much you top up by, they'll either expire in 30 days or 60 unless you top up again before expiration. Some companies offer a $100 top up that lasts a year. So you'll need to keep track of your multiple accounts and their balances on a regular basis. Sounds like a nuisance.

Most carriers make prepaid top-up cards available at multiple locations. Other than their stores, you can typically get top ups at places like Shoppers Drug Mart, Superstore, and Walmart. If you're having trouble masking where your funds are going, you might have an easier time with it if it's Walmart showing up on the statement instead of Rogers.

Hope that helps or, at least, wasn't totally redundant.

I have an old phone and a new unused SIM card. Mt question is, how do you get a phone number? Is it already assigned to the card? And how do you activate it?

 

[wangbang]

You can go to any carrier (Rogers, Bell, Telus) and sign up for prepaid anonymously - doesn't necessarily need to be 7-11 (though it could be, I don't care). The only thing you have to provide is a real address and you can provide ANY real address.

- Balances expire. Depending how much you top up by, they'll either expire in 30 days or 60 unless you top up again before expiration. Some companies offer a $100 top up that lasts a year. So you'll need to keep track of your multiple accounts and their balances on a regular basis. Sounds like a nuisance.
.

Three nice things about 7-11.

- no name or address required when getting a number.
- a $25 voucher lasts a year and rolls over into the next year so long as you add more minutes prior to the end of the year.
- a quick code typed in gives you your balance.

 

[DukeSSk]

If you're not near a 7-11, go to a Petro-Canada station. They sell pay-as-you-go phones and also top-up cards. They come with no contract and cheap rates.

No 7-11s in Ottawa by the looks of it. Will look into Petro-Canada.

Seems like for most of these plans/providers, the balance will eventually expire if not used?

 

[cheatOS]

Even if you're using a burner phone, learn how to delete the phone book, call and text history.

While i agree this is a good practice, specially if your phone / App falls into the wrong hands, however I must remind you that deleting them from your phone/app does not guarantee the company that created this app does not maintain logs of everything. I can almost guarantee you that the companies building these apps keep logs of calls / messages / etc.. for various reasons including Law/Compliance / Doing their own analysis and maybe for Marketing reasons. Same applies for deleting your call logs / messages from your phone. there is a record of it still with the operator and the receiving end probably

 

[legmann]

It sounds like a lot of you shouldn't be hobbying

You really haven't been around here long enough to tell us what we should or shouldn't be doing, but thank you.

Many of us have been hobbying for years and have no intention of quitting. All we're discussing here is a pretty quick and simple means of reducing the risk. Not exactly paranoid, just smart.

 

[cc12rye]

If you are super duper paranoid, paying cash for 7-11 phone still has you on camera at the register. Go to youth hostel and pay cash for 7-11 phone from someone who is leaving the country.

 

[fuji]

If you are super duper paranoid, paying cash for 7-11 phone still has you on camera at the register. Go to youth hostel and pay cash for 7-11 phone from someone who is leaving the country.

Unless you are plotting murder I guess you don't need to go to such lengths.

Filing an electronic warrant for call logs from a mobile phone company is something an officer can practically do at their desk, and takes only a few minutes, it is routine. Going out to piece together 7 eleven store video is some CSI shit, hours and hours of work. Maybe to catch a terrorist or murderer but not on any investigation with fewer than five officers assigned to the case.

 

[Hard Idle]

No 7-11s in Ottawa by the looks of it. Will look into Petro-Canada.

Seems like for most of these plans/providers, the balance will eventually expire if not used?

You can also look for Good 2 Go mobile at large Shell gas stations. It's the same thing as Petro & 7/11, operated by the same company. Everything is the same except I think their smaller top-up vouchers last longer than Petro's (but not as long 7/11 except for the $100).

Zellers used to sell them as well in the last 2 years before closing down. Check on the website there might be other retailers.

I have an old phone and a new unused SIM card. Mt question is, how do you get a phone number? Is it already assigned to the card? And how do you activate it?

I think both of my 7/11 sim cards came with a pre assigned number.

When I got a Virgin prepaid way back in 2004, they gave you a choice of 3 numbers during the on-line activation process, not sure if that still works the same. I think a friend of mine who bought a Virgin pre-paid kit in early 2013 had a pre-assigned number.

 

[Experienced1]

I have used the burner app before, the service was a bit shotty sometimes

You buy credits throuugh google play , and it got charged to my phone bill

I never left my credit card info !!

i think $25 lasted me like 8 months

 

[Kifarurx]

You can buy multiple top ups at a time with 7-11. They're good for a year. Just dial in the code thats on the receipt. Pay cash. An unlocked phone or one that can be used on Rogers network will do. Keep it basic. Use pseudo names you'll remember if you want to keep a list of contacts.

 

[IM469]

Filing an electronic warrant for call logs from a mobile phone company is something an officer can practically do at their desk, and takes only a few minutes, it is routine..

When I returned to Canada from the US, I went to the flea market to get a temp phone until I had my accommodations sorted. I was playing around on the phone and I found a nice sordid text message exchange between a married guy and his gf. Another good point of a dedicated cheap phone - you are not out much money when you smash it to pieces when disposing it.

 

[Aardvark154]

If you are super duper paranoid, paying cash for 7-11 phone still has you on camera at the register. Go to youth hostel and pay cash for 7-11 phone from someone who is leaving the country.

I highly doubt any 7-11 keeps a recording of the store's CC TV cameras for more than a year. Frankly I doubt they do for more than a month or two.

 

[fuji]

I highly doubt any 7-11 keeps a recording of the store's CC TV cameras for more than a year. Frankly I doubt they do for more than a month or two.

And unless you committed a murder the police aren't going to do the huge amount of legwork to trace your IMEI to a manufacturer to a wholesaler to a 7eleven corporate order to delivery to a particular store then find the cash register receipt and then pore over the video just to find out that it is probably a low quality image without a clear picture of your face.

Seriously, stop watching CSI. Yes the police can quickly get your phone records because that is a simple search of the mobile company computers, and even that requires a warrant. If that leads to the police needing to go all CSI to track you down they aren't going to bother unless they think you are the mastermind of a terrorist network.