-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- - -> Interesting scenario. I buy one of these babies for $100,000 in Switzerland. I arrange to have it not yet "turned on." (Many of the new prepaid phone cards must be activated before they can be used.) I enter the US carrying a card worth $0. I order it activated. Suddenly I have a $100,000 cash card in the US without having imported $100,000 into the US. <- I wish it were so, Looks to me like this violates the following: 18 USCS 1001 18 USCS 1956 31 USCS 5316 The basic thrust is this: You can't transport a monetary instrument worth more than $ 10,000 without filling out the appropriate customs report. The real killer here is the title 31 code. Which reads liberally enough to bite you. Specific language reads something like "...shall not construct a transaction to evade reporting requirements...." The fine provision allows for $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument. Hefty indeed. I think they take this seriously. If you bring the money in with the intent to avoid taxes, you have a second count, and could be in it for up to four times the amount you smuggled. I like the thinking, the court is less likely to. All your transaction does (unfortunately) is delay the importation of the "currency" until after the plane trip. You're still required to report the transaction, the card just makes it easier to get away with it. - -uni- (Dark) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.3 iQCVAgUBLOHKfhibHbaiMfO5AQFlBwQAvubWG5DkEdILWMae3JGD4NG+fQaxcIpz T6GALRxZLRBxKGVpSYPLNH9j/4ys3c5Q/2mIc7RIa4ew4hb7Tlv9mKEnoi+7fMcs ihc6umAtJs+nMNTuL1qguw9hwtwslDt/jrPc+UefBw09ZIcsTiQ1WGOeRripwxw5 7tHsWSR9swY= =HYhE -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----