Why do folks cover their serial numbers?

[kshapero]

Often when folks are selling a camera (seems to be usually a Leica), they either cover part of the serial number or list it like, Leica M3 #101xxxx. Is there a reason for this? I know it is for security reasons. What does that mean?

 

[johannielscom]

Apparently some people are afraid a scammer might make false claims saying they owned that camera, and it was stolen from them.

I've heard of the suspicion often, but not once of an actual case where this happened. I've been on this forum since 2007 and dare I say it, almost every day.

But I should be hush hush about this, wouldn't want the thugs to come for my gear... 😉

 

[sevo]

They suspect that their camera/lens has been stolen in the past and may be on a police list... ;-)

 

[sevo]

Apparently some people are afraid a scammer might make false claims saying they owned that camera, and it was stolen from them.

I've yet to see a petty thief have the chutzpah to let a judge collect the goods - that is a privilege of corporate crime...

Indeed the chances of successfully pulling it off are marginal - the chance that your fake proof of ownership will stand up in court are slim indeed (forgeries that successfully make it past a judge and experts are very rare), and few legitimate owners will let go without going to court. Worse, the risk of running into somebody who owns the proper paperwork or a factory registration, so that you get caught on the spot, is high.

 

[back alley]

i know the real reason...but i can't tell you...😉

 

[Timmyjoe]

Back around 2000, I was working in the motion picture business and many motion picture cameras were being bought and sold. At that time I was told to never list the whole serial number, as stated above, because occasionally theives would try to pull that scam of filing a police report of the stolen camera, then giving it a bit of time, then directing the investigating officers to the camera sale.

Even though the chances of the theives succeeding was slim, it created a real nightmare for the person(s) selling the camera. And remember, back then motion picture cameras were going for tens of thousands of dollars. And cameras changed hands so often, as productions came and went, that it was nearly impossible to document every previous owner of one particular camera.

Therefore, no complete serial numbers in any listings, not just on fleebay.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Rowse]

It's called "paranoia" 😱 I'm only suspicious when buying used camera gear and the serial number is not shown. I always display the serial number when selling used gear. :angel:

 

[msbarnes]

Oh man, I never thought about serial number scamming. I thought that the first few numbers were just to give an indication of when the lens/camera was made. I'm not at all interested in scamming but it seems safer for me to not list the serial number.

If I'm buying a camera I wouldn't really care about having the entire serial number.

 

[kshapero]

OK so it seems pretty rare that there might be a security risk. But it seems funny that so many folks do it.

 

[Frontman]

What is worse is when people engrave their social security numbers or drivers license on goods. If I put my SS number on something, and it is stolen, the number can be used to open accounts, or used by an illegal alien to get a job. My brother was one of those who put his SS number on his things. Years ago his house was burglarized, and everything was stolen. Not one item was ever recovered. He died a few years later, and in the probate process, debts came up from around the country from people who had used his SS number. There were also 18 people using his SS number at their jobs.

As for license numbers, there are more than 50 issuers of licenses, and even if an officer can tell by the number what state or territory the license comes from, it is not always easy to get a name to go with the number.

For thieves who file false reports using stolen numbers, I never saw this during my 10 years n law enforcment. The thief needs to put the time and place of the theft, and generally show some type of evidence of a crime. He also needs to assume that the owner of the item doesn't have a receipt for it, or have it listed on an insurance policy, or even have old photos of the item, proving ownership. Also, stealing a camera, gun, or television is a minor misdemeanor, punishable with a citation, fine, and restitution. Filing a false burglary report is a serious felony, which can result in arrest, a fine, and imprisonment.

I have never heard of a case in which a false report was filed using a stolen serial number. The odds of such a trick working are less than winning te lottery.

 

[sevo]

Back around 2000, I was working in the motion picture business and many motion picture cameras were being bought and sold. At that time I was told to never list the whole serial number, as stated above, because occasionally theives would try to pull that scam of filing a police report of the stolen camera, then giving it a bit of time, then directing the investigating officers to the camera sale.

Well, maybe. But at least hereabouts the risk of indeed owning (at least in legal terms) stolen gear was pretty high in the motion picture/TV trade, and productions did not want to be the ones that were caught.

The real reason at the back was not gangs of studio burglars, though. It is/was pretty common for productions to go bust, and the crew technically speaking are self-employed - the last creditors to receive a share of whatever is left. After tax office, banks and investors have been through with the company, the crew generally gets nothing. Accordingly they are quite tempted to grab whatever they can lay hands on, and sell it on the 2nd hand market to cover their losses.

 

[btgc]

Cover serial, cover red dot. HCB tuck whole camera under coat. Hide your body. We live in times when people are seeking for anonymity but it's gone already. Your identities don't belong to you anymore.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

There were also 18 people using his SS number at their jobs.

I keep seeing this on American TV fiction but don't understand how it works. In the UK, the equivalent is the National Insurance number. When someone is employed, their NI number goes to the PAYE tax office that serves the employer and then onto the central database. If the NI is not associated with the name or the NI is already associated with an employer's records, it triggers an immediate investigation.

If the SS number serves the same purpose, how come no-one would notice an individual with 18 jobs?

 

[Pablito]

I don't think anyone engraves their SS number on cameras any more. That practice dates from the times before computers, before identity theft was so common.