How to Order Online More Safely (if your a Domestic Violence or Stalking Victim)
Here steps to take to order online more securely (one risky way, one less risky way)
One are we often overlook, is our email name and display name.
-This matters and effects our short and long term safety when ordering online too.
-The Tactical Victim-
It’s a Mindset, a New Way of Life 🔒
⚠️I want to make clear, I stopped doing anything like this (ordering products online), so I am not speaking from experience here.
If you try the riskier way, it could violate amazons terms of service (I do not know if it does or doesn’t..I do not recommend you violating their terms..there are still other ways to shop more privately and securely).
I have not tried ordering either way, nor reaching out to anyone to ask about the two approaches below, so please keep this in mind.
✋🏾 I can not guarantee what I suggest is a fail safe or perfectly safe way to order products online (it is alot better though). I do recommend you follow their rules.
🟢 However, it is a much more private, safe and secure way than what you were likely doing before.
-If you know of a better way, comment!
🔒 If you have any concerns they put stalkerware on your phone and can see what you do on your devices, look at the articles below.
Per Perplexities Advice
— I have not doubled checked with google or an expert, but Perplexity’s advice does add up and match Almost everything I would have done on my own.
🟢 Whenever you can, order an ebook/pdf instead, go into store to purchase (either with cash, or a new and safe debit card).
🟡 The one potential vulnerability I see, is the P.O. Box.
I will go over how to “double layer” this in the steps Perplexity AI Offer’s.
I asked Perplexity AI this question, for the article:
“If a victim needed to order and receive a product from amazon, how could they do it and hide their Identity from:
online advertisers, data brokers, the website and profile* they create,
and also not give away their real address?”
*I realize this is a grammar mistake. Essentially I was asking how to create an anonymous profile.
-Perplexity AI (the free version), still understood.
-It appears to be quite good at helping those who have also dealt with victims of IPV (intimate partner violence) too.
-Perplexity AI’s Answer: (this is the riskier way)
“To order and receive a product from Amazon while maintaining privacy and hiding identity as much as possible, here are some steps a person could take:
- Use a new email address:
Create a new email account solely for this purpose, using a privacy-focused email provider. - Use a VPN:
Connect through a VPN to mask your IP address and location when accessing Amazon. - Create a new Amazon account:
Set up a new account using the new email address and minimal personal information. - Use a prepaid gift card:
Purchase an Amazon gift card with cash at a physical store to avoid using a personal credit card. - Use a pseudonym:
When creating the account, use a fake name that’s not associated with your real identity. - Ship to an Amazon Locker:
Use an Amazon Locker for delivery instead of your home address
- 🟡Use a P.O. Box:
Alternatively, rent a P.O. Box to receive packages.
I then asked Perplexity about the risks of someone finding out who owns a PO Box.
— Again, if you are thinking about getting one, ask to speak to a long time employee or manager, and even email the service’s HQ, and ask/tell them your concerns.Perplexity’s Answer:
“While a PO Box offers some privacy benefits, it’s not completely anonymous. Here’s what you need to know about the privacy of PO Box ownership:Limited public access:
Generally, the public cannot simply look up who owns a specific PO Box. The United States Postal Service (USPS) and other postal services typically do not disclose this information to the general public.Law enforcement access:
Law enforcement agencies can obtain information about PO Box owners with proper legal authorization, such as a subpoena or court orderData breaches:
While rare, there’s always a risk of data breaches that could expose PO Box ownership information.Physical observation:
Someone determined to find out who owns a PO Box might try to observe who accesses it in person, though this would be difficult and time-consuming.Mail forwarding:
If mail is forwarded from the PO Box to a physical address, this could potentially reveal the owner’s location.Business registrations:
For businesses using a PO Box as their mailing address, ownership information might be available through public business registration records.”Perplexity AI:
“While a PO Box provides more privacy than a home address, it’s not completely impenetrable. For maximum privacy, some individuals use mail forwarding services or virtual office addresses that offer additional layers of privacy protection”
→Potential Solutions?
“Private Mailbox Services (PMS), offered by third-party providers, are customizable and often come with additional services like package forwarding and virtual mailboxes.”
Virtual Mailbox/Office Services
-Virtual Office/Addresses
-iPostal1 can receive packages and forward them to you.→You can ask for a Temporary Address with USPS Post Office.
This may work.Friends or Family:
Ship to a trusted person’s address.
🗒 →My Note:Just make sure you don’t put them in danger.Package Receiving Services:
Use services like Mailboxes Etc (I don’t think this one works in the US) or other local package receiving businesses.⚠️ Workplace or School:
Ship to your office or educational institution, ensuring discretion.⚠My concern with this last one, is if the order was looked up or found-and somehow tied to you (maybe a due to a mistake you made),
the abuser/stalker would then be able to figure out this is where you worked or went to school.
Back to the Original Question about how to order from Amazon:
- “Disable browsing history:
Turn off browsing history in your Amazon account settings - Opt out of personalized ads:
In account settings, opt out of interest-based ads and third-party advertising. - Use Amazon’s archive feature:
After purchase, archive the order to hide it from your account history - Turn off shipment notifications:
Disable all notifications related to orders and shipments”
While these steps can help increase privacy, it’s important to note that complete anonymity is difficult to achieve when making online purchases.
Amazon still requires some information for account creation and order fulfillment.
Additionally, using such methods may violate Amazon’s terms of service.”
Sources Perplexity AI Used:
-Buyers hiding their identities
-Your Profile and Sensitive Products
-Hide your gift purchases
-How to hide Amazon orders so others on account won’t see your purchase
-7 ways to keep your Amazon gift purchases a secret
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
This is the less risky, or more acceptable way: 🟢 🟡
(I haven't tried this way either..I’ve learned murphy’s law quite well over the years)
My Next Question to Perplexity:
“how can I be more private like I asked before, without violating their terms of service?”
Perplexity’s Answer:
“Based on your previous query and the desire to maintain privacy while staying within Amazon’s terms of service, here are some approaches you can take:
- Use a separate email address:
Create a new email account specifically for online shopping. This doesn’t violate terms of service and helps compartmentalize your online activities. - Minimize personal information:
Provide only the required information when creating an account or making a purchase. Avoid filling in optional fields. - Opt out of personalized ads:
In your Amazon account settings, opt out of interest-based ads and third-party advertising. This is within Amazon’s policies and reduces data collection. - Use Amazon Lockers:
When available, ship to an Amazon Locker instead of your home address. This is an Amazon-approved method that protects your home address. - Pay with gift cards:
(💡Note: you may want to try privacy.com’s Virtual Debit cards.
-There are a variety of ways to do this: Online banks with Virtual Debit Cards.
-Ask your bank if they offer any service like this, I thought there were some that did)
Purchase Amazon gift cards with cash from retail stores and use them for your orders. This is allowed and reduces the financial information linked to your account. - Disable browsing history:
Turn off browsing history in your Amazon account settings to reduce data collection about your shopping habits. - Use a privacy-focused browser:
While shopping on Amazon, use a browser with built-in privacy features to minimize tracking. - Regularly review and delete order history:
After receiving your items, you can archive orders to hide them from your visible history.
These methods allow you to enhance your privacy while still adhering to Amazon’s terms of service.
Remember, while these steps can increase privacy, complete anonymity is difficult to achieve when making online purchases, especially on platforms that require some level of user information for account creation and order fulfillment.”
Sources:
-(Somewhat) Private Online Shopping?
-10 Tips for Safer Online Shopping
-Online Shopping Do’s and Don’ts
-Incognito Shopping
-Federal trade Commission
As a stalking and domestic violence victim, I have found various AI apps and tools (like Chatgpt, Anthropic’s Claude and Perplexity AI) to be invaluable (albeit imperfect*) in helping me remain more anonymous, safer and more secure.
- use google and human experts, to double check everything.
- Do you own research and become your own expert on the topic still, to help you catch mistakes.
Follow me and or Subscribe to My Email List, if you want to stay up to date for my latest Security, Psychological and Tactical tips..
Thank you all for your support.
-The Tactical Victim-
It’s a Mindset, a New Way of Life 🔒
🔒 Contact me at my privacy focused Relay Email:
jkwj4vrbc@mozmail.com
-Just copy and paste that into the “send to” section and I will get the email
(I know it looks odd)🔒
