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A story suggesting prepaid credit cards facilitate campaign fraud is raising questions in B.C. about the possible use of the largely untraceable financial instruments for political contributions.

While credit cards can be used to make online donations to B.C.’s political parties, there is apparently no mechanism in place, other than the honour system, to prevent people using prepaid credit cards from giving fake names and fake addresses.

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Prepaid cards can be purchased with cash, and then used for online and other transactions. Unlike regular credit cards, prepaid cards are not connected to a bank account or a verified identity, so fraud experts have raised concerns about their use for fraud or money laundering.

“Like lots of laws and legislation it does rely on the inherent honesty of the people involved,” said Nola Western, deputy chief electoral officer at Elections B.C.

“We keep a list of things like this, and after every general election, the CEO issues a report for recommendations for legislative change,” Western said. “Whether this would become one of those recommendations or not, I really couldn’t say at this point.”