God I hope this isn’t a stupid question to ask but how exactly do I send out cash? Do i need to add a return address and won’t that defeat the purpose? I really just want to try the service for 2-3 months after that I’ll probably switch over to the amazon vouchers since I don’t want to deal with monero. I think I sent out an actual physical letter maybe twice in my life and all the research I done was for sending it out internationally even though there’s a us based address AFAIK so I’m really a noob here and I appreciate any help you can provide.

Edit: Just want to apologize if this is really stupid to ask I feel like an absolute idiot right now, haha

    • poncho@lemmynsfw.comOP
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      8 months ago

      100% agree but personally seems like a hassle to get, exchanging giftcards or another crypto for monero, etc…, especially if you haven’t dipped your feet into the whole crypto world like me to begin with. For my personal threat model if i do end up liking mullvad, amazon vouchers will work just fine or if this whole mailing system works I’ll continue doing that. But yes you’re absolutely correct though

  • PriorityMotif@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    When I did it I also printed out some coloring sheets in order to obfuscate the code so it couldn’t be read through the envelope and acts as an identifier in case I lost access to my account. I also paid with leftover Australian money I had.

  • Long_Con@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    8 months ago

    A letter with your return address would be nearly the same as using a credit card. Same thing with vouchers. Amazon can track that shit. If privacy is truly your main concern then NO return address and nothing other than the $ and a slip of paper with your account #. You run the risk of getting your funds “lost” in the mail etc. etc. but you gain complete anonymity this way.

    If you’re just thinking about trying it out, I don’t see a reason not to slap 1 month on your credit card and take her for a spin. If you discover that you like it, and truly want to be anonymous. Then follow the mailing steps above.

    I’ve used Mullvad for years without issue (and no I don’t care about port forwarding). +1 from me.

    • poncho@lemmynsfw.comOP
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      8 months ago

      Oh god thank you was thinking the same thing regarding the return address. I think I’ll be fine with amazon knowing that I paid for a VPN as long as mullvad doesn’t know about me but if the mailing process works smoothly I’ll continue going that route instead. I am really confused though on what stamps and envelopes should be used? Keep hearing “oh use 3 forever stamps or an international one” and “tape up a standard white envelope or use an A4 yellow envelope” I might just be over thinking but I have no idea

      • HonkyTonkWoman@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        Just a heads up, if you’re in the US, a lot of post offices have self serve kiosks away from the counter. You can use any envelope/packaging you like, as long as it fits on the scale at the kiosk.

        Also, if you do decide to mail cash, fold it up inside another piece of paper. Maybe use two.

        Idea being that some envelopes are translucent when held to the light, & cash is easy to spot. Folding it in paper will at least help with opacity.

        And on a different note, you can legitimately use any packaging you like to mail something. It doesn’t have to be a blank envelope or packing box. You can literally slap an address & sufficient postage on a potato, & it will still reach its destination.

        • poncho@lemmynsfw.comOP
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          8 months ago

          Gosh darn spudtacular, but for real thank you for the help. Think I was honestly overthinking everything. I have a standard envelope at home so I’ll just use that and get the stamp at the post office. It’ll be my first time sending out something in years so hopefully I do things correctly, haha

    • Yote.zip@pawb.social
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      8 months ago

      How would Amazon track a voucher? It’s a physical scratch off code, sealed by Mullvad before they send it over to Amazon. More importantly, if you think that was possible why would Mullvad be unaware of it and/or lie about it? Just go with the vouchers if you want untraceability. They’re also cheaper in USD than other methods IIRC, at $29/6 months and $57/12 months.

      • Long_Con@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        8 months ago

        Woah, okay. I did not see that Mullvad posted a blog about it. Thanks for sharing, it actually cleared some questions up for me. I only saw the vouchers on Amazon randomly and didn’t do any further research as I already have my subscription paid up.

        I’m gonna be honest, my tinfoil hat still doesn’t like the idea of Amazon having possession of my Mullvad account # (scratch code or not) or knowing that I even use Mullvad… but to each their own!

        • Yote.zip@pawb.social
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          8 months ago

          You probably have a higher attack surface from the gremlins in your walls. OTOH, Amazon knowing that you use Mullvad is a tangible downside, as they will probably use that to stick you in a marketing group or something. Monero is still an easy solution with the ~same cost if you’re concerned about that.

  • http_418@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    you don’t have to provide an address … you generate a token on their site, print it out, put it in an envelope and send it with cash to them.

    they receive the cash and activate the token based on the cash provided with it

    see their faq Can I really pay with cash?

    You bet, and please! Stay anonymous all the way. Just put your cash and payment token (randomly generated on our website) in an envelope and send it to us. We accept the following currencies: EUR, USD, GBP, SEK, DKK, NOK, CHF, CAD, AUD, NZD

    .

    • u/lukmly013 💾 (lemmy.sdf.org)@lemmy.sdf.org
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      8 months ago

      Just to add to that:

      • Your printer may add invisible identification data. Laser printers do this by using tiny amount of yellow toner.
      • If you withdraw cach from ATM, it could be traced back to you. It’s best to take larger banknotes and exchange them for smaller ones by paying somewhere.
      • You may easily leave fingerprints on tape, envelope or stamps. Also hair, saliva, blood if you cut yourself on paper, etc… There could also be hair in your pocket that could stick to it, if you put it there while transporting it.

      Perhaps a little extreme, but oh well.

    • poncho@lemmynsfw.comOP
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      8 months ago

      Yeah I read that but I’m just getting a little hung up in the details. Like what envelope to use and what stamps? I keep getting mixed result online, a standard us white envelope, an A4 yellow envelope, 3 forever stamps or an international stamp. It just confusing me a bit

      • Hurculina Drubman@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        you can walk into a post office with it in an envelope and tell them you want to mail it to an Australian address the cheapest way possible.

      • MomoTimeToDie@sh.itjust.works
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        8 months ago

        My guy, you’re getting mixed results because it really doesn’t matter. If you’re unsure how to do things, you can literally just address the envelope, and go to the post office service counter to figure out how much postage you need.

      • Skull giver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nl
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        8 months ago

        It’s a letter like any other, really. What you need to do to make the letter arrive depends on where you live. You probably want international stamps if your postal service needs those to send mail abroad. Stuff an A3 picture of a penguin into a letter sized envelope if you want, all Mulvad cares about is that you add enough money and write down the correct account number.

        As long as you add enough postage and enough money, it’ll arrive. Some human will read the account number and upgrade the funds. This may take a considerable amount of time.

        Oh, one last thing: I some countries it’s illegal to mail money. If that’s the case for you, hide the money well (wrap it in some paper) or pay using something like crypto instead. Wouldn’t want the customs office to take your money!

        • u/lukmly013 💾 (lemmy.sdf.org)@lemmy.sdf.org
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          8 months ago

          Sup. Post in my country does not allow money in regular mail, which costs generally less than €2 worldwide. They do however allow it in insured mail… which may be in range of €15-60…
          I heard birthday cards work, but no guarantees, of course.

  • RedBauble@sh.itjust.works
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    8 months ago

    I did that some time ago. I just put the letter in an envelope, with just the receiver address on it, went to my local post office, paid for the service and the stamps, left them the letter and I was done.

  • Uiop@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    8 months ago

    Look guy, Poncho, This really isn’t a problem. The internet is supposed to help you solve problems, normally one would not like these types of questions (as they could be solved by reading the manual - the problem begins when you get the same question everyday) but currently this niche here is absolutely more fun than just banning someone for this question. And thinking of the future, anyone with the sense of looking it up before asking the question has the possibility of reaching this genuinly helpful thread.

    As far as this here is concerned it has been enjoyable as well as informative in several ways.