The financial services company says both variants of its prepaid card can be used nearly everywhere American Express cards are accepted. It's really essentially a substitute for cash here. We tell people to guard the account number the way they would with cash or any credit card. For many of these people, it's much easier to get their hands on American currency than to get a credit card or go through the hassle of getting a money order or check drawn on a U.S. bank. It seems to be working.
Convenience can also lend itself to anonymity.
Starting about a decade ago, U.S. airlines began to check travelers' identification before letting them board a flight. But to stave off long lines, U.S. Airways now offers electronic check-in services at some airports. No government-issued identification or credit card is necessary. Wired Digital Inc. All rights reserved.