Abstract: Techniques for providing cost effective and tamper evident prepaid card packaging are described. By forming a tear strip in a panel of the prepaid card packaging and aligning an activation bar code or other indicia on the card with the tear strip when mounting the card within the packaging, the security of the activation indicia can be maintained until after purchase. After purchase, access can be achieved by tearing away the tear strip and the card can be activated in a secure manner. Because the activation indicia is maintained secure until after purchase, if desired a single number, for example, a card account number can be used to identify both the card account and to activate the card.