A
system, method, and
computer program product for maintaining the
anonymity of a
consumer in a transaction with a retailer. The
consumer provides
payment method information and ship-to address information to a
trusted third party. The
consumer purchases products from a retailer by providing the
trusted third party anonymous identifiers (e.g., nicknames, unique codes, or one time use codes either supplied by the consumer or by the
trusted third party) corresponding to the selected
payment methods and ship-to addresses. The retailer requests
payment approval from the trusted
third party. The trusted
third party receives payment approval from a payment partner using the payment method information determined from the
anonymous identifier received from the consumer. The trusted
third party provides payment approval to the retailer along a transaction unique shipment identifier to place on the parcel. The trusted third party sends the same transaction unique shipment identifier and the actual shipping address determined from the
anonymous identifier received from the consumer to a shipping partner who re-labels the
package and delivers it to the consumer. The trusted third party acts as an e-mail conduit for messages sent to member consumers.