Cryptocurrency isn’t the only way to stay anonymous while shopping online and startup Token is looking to drive that point home with its self-titled app that launched on Android and iOS devices this fall. The service provides users with a broad range of fake payment details they can use to mask their identities while making Internet purchases, guaranteeing their actual info will stay secure, i.e. won’t be exposed to the risk of being stolen. The Token app leverages the company’s algorithms to create unique and completely fake names, addresses, credit card numbers, and other payment details one is usually required to enter when making a purchase on the World Wide Web.
Everything users need to get started is a U.S. credit card or bank account from which Token will actually be pulling funds, even though it will deliver an entirely different set of information to online merchants. There’s no limit on the number of fake credit cards that can be created with Token; users are able to generate a new card every time they make a purchase or save any such fake payment info. The New York City-based startup says it set out to create an entirely safe shopping service for consumers that doesn’t force them to give up on any conveniency despite guaranteeing a significantly higher level of online identity protection. The core principle behind the platform is that if you don’t want to have your identity stolen, you can’t put it online at all, a company spokesperson said.
The Token app is available for download from the Google Play Store free of charge and doesn’t come with any ads or in-app purchases. The specifics of its business model hence remain unclear, though Token says it’s presently in the process of expanding its service to the B2B sector. The app is compatible with all online storefronts in the U.S. and is also consistently adding new foreign platforms to its list of supported e-commerce services.
