Moving the money
As an example of how terrorists employ credit cards, Myers gives the hypothetical scenario of a terrorist cell in the European Union that wants to carry out an attack on U.S. soil. A credit card obtained in Europe is simply handed to the cell member who travels to the United States to execute the attack. Bringing a wad of bills into this country would violate cash reporting laws (potentially preventing entry into the country), but there is nothing illegal about carrying credit cards from Europe into the United States. Credit cards can even be mailed internationally, Myers says.
Prepaid cards and gift cards offer a similar benefit: They can be loaded with money and then easily transported to another place for terrorist activity. “Stored value is convenient and it can be anonymous,” says Geister. Since wallets are generally not checked when people move across borders (as opposed to scrutiny of passports or other documentation), “You’ve now brought money across an international border without detection,” Myers says.
Geister says another technique used to transmit funds involves cell phones linked to a prepaid card or credit card account — a common option overseas. A terrorist can link the card to his mobile phone, which can then be used to wire money over the wireless network to a fellow cell member who may be in another country altogether.
Detailed case study link: click here