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I recently signed up for a Starbucks Rewards card in Argentina. I had to state that I was not a "Politically Exposed Person (PEP)", and I had to provide my ful

I recently signed up for a Starbucks Rewards card in Argentina. I had to state that I was not a "Politically Exposed Person (PEP)", and I had to provide my full name, passport number, date of birth, profession, civil status (married, divorced, widowed, single), and street address. Do they think I'm going to launder money by buying lattes? https://starbucksrewards.com.ar/register https://starbucksrewards.com.ar/register

nandhp 9y ago
US Starbucks Cards can be used in certain other countries[1], and international money transfer would be a plausible excuse for requiring such information. However, that doesn't seem to be the case for Argentine Starbucks cards[2]. [1] "Most Starbucks, Evolution Fresh and Teavana stores in North America including Puerto Rico accept your Starbucks Card. Certain Starbucks-branded locations may not permit you to use the Starbucks Card for payment, including some airport, grocery and bookstore locations, or stores in Guam and others located outside continental North America." https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/company-information/online-policies/terms-of-use/card https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/company-information/onlin... [2] "La Starbucks Card activada en Argentina no podrá ser utilizada en tiendas Starbucks ubicadas fuera de Argentina. La Starbucks Card activada fuera de Argentina no será válida en Argentina.", which Google translates as "The Starbucks Card activated in Argentina can not be used in Starbucks stores located outside Argentina. The Starbucks Card activated outside Argentina will not be valid in Argentina." https://starbucksrewards.com.ar/tos/card https://starbucksrewards.com.ar/tos/card
sedachv 9y ago
> Do they think I'm going to launder money by buying lattes? That is exactly what happens. Prepaid debit cards and gift cards were and maybe still are both major tools for cross-border money laundering of drug proceeds because they have not been treated with the same scrutiny by customs and border guards as cash. With gift cards, you would buy them in one country, take them to another (typically US), and sell them (on Craigslist, eBay, etc) for $0.98 on the dollar. So it is a very inexpensive and low risk way of international money laundering. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-regulations-moneylaundering-insig-idUSKCN10L0FC https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-regulations-moneylaun...

nandhp 9y ago

US Starbucks Cards can be used in certain other countries[1], and international money transfer would be a plausible excuse for requiring such information. However, that doesn't seem to be the case for Argentine Starbucks cards[2]. [1] "Most Starbucks, Evolution Fresh and Teavana stores in North America including Puerto Rico accept your Starbucks Card. Certain Starbucks-branded locations may not permit you to use the Starbucks Card for payment, including some airport, grocery and bookstore locations, or stores in Guam and others located outside continental North America." https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/company-information/online-policies/terms-of-use/card https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/company-information/onlin... [2] "La Starbucks Card activada en Argentina no podrá ser utilizada en tiendas Starbucks ubicadas fuera de Argentina. La Starbucks Card activada fuera de Argentina no será válida en Argentina.", which Google translates as "The Starbucks Card activated in Argentina can not be used in Starbucks stores located outside Argentina. The Starbucks Card activated outside Argentina will not be valid in Argentina." https://starbucksrewards.com.ar/tos/card https://starbucksrewards.com.ar/tos/card

sedachv 9y ago

> Do they think I'm going to launder money by buying lattes? That is exactly what happens. Prepaid debit cards and gift cards were and maybe still are both major tools for cross-border money laundering of drug proceeds because they have not been treated with the same scrutiny by customs and border guards as cash. With gift cards, you would buy them in one country, take them to another (typically US), and sell them (on Craigslist, eBay, etc) for $0.98 on the dollar. So it is a very inexpensive and low risk way of international money laundering. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-regulations-moneylaundering-insig-idUSKCN10L0FC https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-regulations-moneylaun...