Patent ID: 8510217

Claim:
A method for supporting anonymous payment for an Internet related purchase, the method comprising: operating a control module including a processor and memory to activate a first Internet purchase card for an amount paid for by a user of said first Internet purchase card, without receiving information identifying the user of said card, wherein the first Internet purchase card includes first security information that is covered by a scratch-off coating or adhesive decal at a time of purchase of the first Internet purchase card; receiving, from the user and subsequent to the user purchasing the first Internet purchase card, second security information via the Internet, wherein the second security information includes security information other than the first security information and wherein the second security information replaces part of the first security information; providing, by the control module, an acknowledgement message indicating that the second security information has been accepted; receiving, from the user, a request for payment associated with the Internet related purchase, wherein the request for payment includes the first security information and the second security information; prior to implementing a fund transfer for the Internet related purchase, an Internet card control network checking to determine if an amount of funds available via the first Internet purchase card to pay for the purchase exceeds a purchase amount corresponding to the Internet related purchase; determining that the amount of funds available via the first Internet purchase card to pay for the purchase is less than the purchase amount; and prompting the user, via the Internet card control network and in response to determining that the amount of funds available via the first Internet purchase card to pay for the purchase is less than the purchase amount, to supply information corresponding to a second Internet purchase card, wherein the second Internet purchase card is a different card than the first Internet purchase card.