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Ariel Bravy
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p.1 #1 · Why hide serial numbers?

Often times when people talk about serial numbers, either on this board or on the B&S, they hide the last few digits of the serial number. Why is this? It's not a credit card or a social security number. What are people trying to protect against?

Oct 11, 2008 at 02:16 AM

digitalbug30d
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p.1 #2 · Why hide serial numbers?

maybe they really dont own the Item?

Oct 11, 2008 at 02:36 AM

EB-1
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p.1 #3 · Why hide serial numbers?

Perhaps someone will try to claim ownership or make a claim using that number. In any event, the S/N is nobody's business.

EBH

Oct 11, 2008 at 02:45 AM

trenchmonkey
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p.1 #4 · Why hide serial numbers?

It's the internet and there are disturbed individuals that could work a scam knowing specifics AND having a picture to go with.
It's not paranoia, rather a sign of the times...protecting what's yours, Ariel.

Oct 11, 2008 at 02:53 AM

foxfire235
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p.1 #5 · Why hide serial numbers?

insurance fraud is one thing I can think of...

Oct 11, 2008 at 02:55 AM

Gary Petersen
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p.1 #6 · Why hide serial numbers?

trenchmonkey wrote:
It's the internet and there are disturbed individuals that could work a scam knowing specifics AND having a picture to go with.
It's not paranoia, rather a sign of the times...protecting what's yours, Ariel.

Remember TM just because you're paranoid doesn't mean you're not being followed.

Oct 11, 2008 at 03:08 AM

impressnow
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p.1 #7 · Why hide serial numbers?

I'm not paranoid either - but for some reason the whole world thinks I am!!!

Oct 11, 2008 at 03:38 AM

cheson74
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p.1 #8 · Why hide serial numbers?

foxfire235 wrote:
insurance fraud is one thing I can think of...

+1

Oct 11, 2008 at 04:03 AM

Stunnaz
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p.1 #9 · Why hide serial numbers?

What about car license plates... why do people blur out those? I mean, it's on full display during the day, why cover it when posting it online?

Oct 11, 2008 at 04:25 AM

BrianO
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p.1 #10 · Why hide serial numbers?

Stunnaz wrote:
What about car license plates... why do people blur out those? I mean, it's on full display during the day, why cover it when posting it online?

Because a license number linked with a user name and other personally identifying info on the Web is more of a security risk than a license number seen by random motorists.

Oct 11, 2008 at 04:28 AM

molson
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p.1 #11 · Why hide serial numbers?

digitalbug30d wrote:
maybe they really dont own the Item?

More likely, it's because it's a stolen item, and they don't want the police to trace it to them through the serial number.

Edited on Oct 11, 2008 at 12:50 PM · View previous versions

Oct 11, 2008 at 04:33 AM

sapro
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p.1 #12 · Why hide serial numbers?

Not long ago, for some cameras, such as 1Ds or 5D, you can use the serial number to register a camera and get $100 service voucher from Canon.

Oct 11, 2008 at 05:31 AM

Esquire08
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p.1 #13 · Why hide serial numbers?

Why not?

Oct 11, 2008 at 05:53 AM

mabidally
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p.1 #14 · Why hide serial numbers?

Maybe Canon will offer a rebate for a future upgrade 3 years later upon registration of your old serial No...

Or perhaps some can photoshop the serial no to show a photo of a stolen item for sale on the web...

In the case of your car, the registration No (no on the No Plate) is public but the unique identifier is actually the engine No/Chassis No which is kept private. Its quite common for carsto be stolen and taken to another country/region and the thiefs usually try to obliterate the engine no/chassis No. this used to happen a lot in Hong Kong some years back.

Oct 11, 2008 at 07:34 AM

RCicala
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p.1 #15 · Why hide serial numbers?

Or somebody thinks it would be 'funny' to put that serial number on one of the stolen gear databases, then a year later I decide to sell that lens . . . .

Oct 11, 2008 at 11:52 AM

Psychic1
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p.1 #16 · Why hide serial numbers?

impressnow wrote:
I'm not paranoid either - but for some reason the whole world thinks I am!!!

Your paranoia is well founded

Oct 11, 2008 at 05:44 PM

Gochugogi
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p.1 #17 · Why hide serial numbers?

Ariel Bravy wrote:
Often times when people talk about serial numbers, either on this board or on the B&S, they hide the last few digits of the serial number. Why is this? It's not a credit card or a social security number. What are people trying to protect against?

Probably a combination of being anal, paranoid and an inflated sense of self-importance. Or maybe they think the SN can be used to steal their photographic mojo and thereby render them an aimless point 'n shooter?

Oct 11, 2008 at 05:56 PM

Hey.Underpants
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p.1 #18 · Why hide serial numbers?

Who would need to know the whole serial number anyway, unless you were trying to pull some scam.

Oct 11, 2008 at 06:47 PM

dpun
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p.1 #19 · Why hide serial numbers?

I am not paranoid! I've just heard too many stories of scams from my police friends. It's just unbelievable what people will do out there.

Now if you will excuse me....I'm going to put on my tinfoil hat. The CIA mind control satellite will pass over the Northeast US in a couple of minutes.

Dave

Oct 11, 2008 at 07:05 PM

Colin Key
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p.1 #20 · Why hide serial numbers?

dpun wrote:
I've just heard too many stories of scams from my police friends.
Dave

You really mean that you have "friends" who are in the police force? - what an incredible admission!

Colin

Oct 11, 2008 at 07:33 PM

Clayphish
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p.1 #21 · Why hide serial numbers?

Its probably just a precaution when not knowing the potential of what could happen. I know with myself, just having my debit card information stolen and bank account cleared out, that you cannot be safe enough in this day and age.

Oct 11, 2008 at 07:55 PM

dpun
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p.1 #22 · Why hide serial numbers?

Clay - sorry to hear about your stolen bank info and money. There's a gang of Russian programmers installing software on people's computers and reading their online banking info. Never...ever...do online banking.

Last year, I heard about Citibank ATM machines in New York City being compromised. Someone figured out a way to read ATM cards (and get the PIN numbers) without anyone suspecting. The customer still got their money, the bank did get the withdrawl request and processed it...the scam was that good. Crooks just cloned the ATM cards and withdrew the money. They eventually figured out how it worked, but there is still no counter-measure...the bank just re-issued a massive number of cards.

Ok CIA's mind controll satellite has cleared the Northeast US skies. I can take off my tinfoil hat.

Dave

Oct 11, 2008 at 10:36 PM

runamuck
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p.1 #23 · Why hide serial numbers?

dpun wrote:
I am not paranoid! I've just heard too many stories of scams from my police friends. It's just unbelievable what people will do out there.

Now if you will excuse me....I'm going to put on my tinfoil hat. The CIA mind control satellite will pass over the Northeast US in a couple of minutes.

Dave

I use a stainless steel pot with the handle facing north. I then think "altitude way too high...drop altitude immediately" over and over. That "metor" over the Chicago area the other night? That was no meteor.

Whatever you do, don't let this fall into the CIA's hands.

Oct 12, 2008 at 12:43 AM

Taylor Barrett
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p.1 #24 · Why hide serial numbers?

runamuck wrote:
dpun wrote:
I am not paranoid! I've just heard too many stories of scams from my police friends. It's just unbelievable what people will do out there.

Now if you will excuse me....I'm going to put on my tinfoil hat. The CIA mind control satellite will pass over the Northeast US in a couple of minutes.

Dave

I use a stainless steel pot with the handle facing north. I then think "altitude way too high...drop altitude immediately" over and over. That "metor" over the Chicago area the other night? That was no meteor.

Whatever you do, don't let this fall into the CIA's hands.

Your avatar goes wonderfully with your post

Oct 12, 2008 at 12:48 AM

Anon Moss
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p.1 #25 · Why hide serial numbers?

Actually, you don't want to line your hat with tin foil. A researcher at MIT found that tin foil does NOT block transmissions...it actually attracts and amplifies them.

Oct 12, 2008 at 02:59 AM


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