Wisconsin is one of ten states joining the U.S. government to put a stop to the illegal sale of cigarettes over the internet.
A representative from the state Attorney General's office met last week with other AG's, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and major credit card companies to develop a plan to combat those sales.
Lenders say they'll put policies in place to make sure their cards aren't being used to buy internet cigarettes, but the primary goal is to keep minors from obtaining them illegally.
"This is a real good example about how a business such as credit card companies and government can work together to address a very serious problem of children smoking," says Mike Bauer from Wisconsin Dept. of Justice.
In Wisconsin, it is illegal to buy cigarettes on the internet, no matter what your age.
Bauer says states are also losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue.
The Department of Revenue plans to follow up on people buying internet cigarettes who are not paying the taxes.
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