Ok, for several years now I have had a pay-as-you go verizon flip phone. It's annoying to use for texting, but basically serves my needs. Today, I went to recharge the minutes for another 90 days. I always pay cash, which requires me to appear in person. It appears that Verizon has eliminated all long term payment options (i.e., for 90 days or a full year). That's going to require me to show up monthly, which will be a hassle.  
Anyone know of options to pay online and anonymously, or have suggestions for other safe hobby phone plans

I got mine at Target, and every 3 months, I top it up for $20.  That gives me 2 full hours of conversation and texting, which I have never run through.

Tracphone's are $10 right now at Walgreens, and the $20 service plan comes with double minutes for life.

They are trying to pass a law requiring that you present an ID when buying a burner phone.  I would highly suggest that you buy 1 or 2 of them now and store them away for use later.  Heck, if you don't use it, it will be worth a lot of money on the black market.  

I don't think this is much of an issue unless LE is targeting you specifically. By that point, you're probably already toast.  The NSA could probably just scan everyone every for specific data, but local LE doesn't have these resources as far as I know.  This is the justification I use for using an app myself, based on assumptions and my own knowledge of current tech. I could be totally wrong, but I feel pretty confident that I'll be OK.

With well reviewed provider you are probably safe to use even your real phone. But the reason for hobby phones is a very good layer of protection that you really don't have with an app. To each their own.  
        Random backpage girls I wouldn't even consider an app with. When you start talking trafficking and felonies I become risk adverse pretty quickly but some don't.  

I have had a trac phone for at least 10 years and it has always been great.

I pay cash and can add the minutes anonymously with the instructions given.  I never have to deal directly with anyone from the phone company.

There is an on-going case right now in San Bernardino where Apple refused to crack the shooter's iPhone 6. You can use Sideline as your hobby phone. You info will be safe with iPhone 6. They only have 3 tries and your phone will be locked indefinitely. Otherwise, get Blackberry if you can still find one. It's impossible to crack at all. They are banned in other countries.

Depending on how serious it is, that might lead LE to devote a lot more resources to finding the people she has dealt with recently.  The advantage of a burner phone is worst case you can pull the sim card, destroy it and the phone, and dispose of them separately.  I look at it as insurance should something beyond my control go seriously wrong.

The app manufacture knows the phones ip that downloaded the app. Any warrant would have your phone number and address in the hands of LE in a day or less.  
        So while they couldn't open your phone for information, your phone will lead them right to your door.  

But I doubt they are going to those lengths unless it is something very serious.

Its the showing up with the money for sex that gets you arrested.  Added frosting on the cake for LE is if you show up with weapons, warrants, drugs,  or want to trade stolen property.  Thats why the most essential part of the sting is having people arrive at the sight and the whole sting is set up to make sure that happens.  They couldnt give2 shits about someone calling

I think that sums it up nicely.  If you show up at a sting you are arrested, period.  You have no other legitimate reason to be there -- because the person you are seeing is fictitious, so you aren't visiting a friend, etc.  You showed up with $$$ cash in your pocket in response to an ad for sexual services.  You will be convicted.

has ever said...it's true your money belongs to da bank

claim they unlocked it.  It gives both parties the ability to move on and let the sheep forget it was ever mentioned in the first place.  Not too far of a stretch from board politics to be entirely

While I think a hobby phone is a great idea, I don't know how to keep it hidden from the wife.  
   Anybody have any suggestions?  

A couple of ideas I have heard

is what will give away to the main squeeze, or anyone, the fact that you have something to hide.  That's what you may want to work on over hiding a phone that you can turn off and hide in a million places she doesn't have access to.

And the farther they push any prostitution as trafficking the more they will be willing to invest time into tracking down johns.  

Yet another reason for those who ignore the wishes of providers and keep discussing rates and/or services via text, email & by phone to stop doing so. I'm sure this warning, like others that many have given, will go in one ear and out of their penis too though.

Good luck with that

It's easy, all they got to do is create a webpage or post in the paper all the suspected phone number.

Sound quality on my little TracFone sucks, but I don't do voice commo that often.  I have to buy a $20 card every three months, but I'm never going to run out of talk time.