BradS Posted January 11, 2021 Share #1 Posted January 11, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) Why do some folks obscure the serial number of their camera or lens when posting a photo here? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 11, 2021 Posted January 11, 2021 Hi BradS, Take a look here Why hide the serial number?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
thomasstellwag Posted January 11, 2021 Share #2 Posted January 11, 2021 there are 3 possiblities: it is stolen, it is not yet paid, partner has a catalog of expensive lenses 😁 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 11, 2021 Share #3 Posted January 11, 2021 It pays to keep things like serial numbers private. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted January 11, 2021 Share #4 Posted January 11, 2021 I don't want to make it too easy for blackhats to profile me. Consider: when I show the serial number of my camera here and in another place and my car with number plates in the other place and a third forum, it's fairly simple to correlate information about me gathered from three places. Other sources may yield even more information I don't want everyone to know about me. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradS Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share #5 Posted January 11, 2021 (edited) 6 minutes ago, andybarton said: It pays to keep things like serial numbers private. Why? What’s the risk? Edited January 11, 2021 by BradS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 11, 2021 Share #6 Posted January 11, 2021 If someone has the serial number of your camera, he or she could go to the police and report it as being stolen. With other information, they could identify who you are. The police then pop round for chat and find the camera with the matching serial number. Then, you have to find that receipt in the drawer, and confirm that you are the rightful owner. No one needs this. There is no good reason why you should share your serial number. If you have a problem with the camera or lens, just xxx out the last three numbers, to make reference to the exact model. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
logan2z Posted January 11, 2021 Share #7 Posted January 11, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) In the watch collecting world, at least, it prevents makers of fake watches (all too common where brands like Rolex are concerned) from easily obtaining and reusing the serial numbers of authentic watches. I don't know how big an issue fakes are in the camera world, (I've heard of some fake Leicas but not much else) so this may not be a primary reason to hide serial numbers of cameras. . 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradS Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share #8 Posted January 11, 2021 55 minutes ago, andybarton said: If someone has the serial number of your camera, he or she could go to the police and report it as being stolen. With other information, they could identify who you are. The police then pop round for chat and find the camera with the matching serial number. Then, you have to find that receipt in the drawer, and confirm that you are the rightful owner. No one needs this. There is no good reason why you should share your serial number. If you have a problem with the camera or lens, just xxx out the last three numbers, to make reference to the exact model. but anyone who did this would be guilty of fraud. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmradman Posted January 11, 2021 Share #9 Posted January 11, 2021 3 minutes ago, BradS said: but anyone who did this would be guilty of fraud. And than there is an e**y and other similar online retailers. By advertising serial number and even better entire article in the open it provided raw material for conmen to commit fraud. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldwino Posted January 11, 2021 Share #10 Posted January 11, 2021 Do you freely give out your social security number? That, in essence, is your serial number. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted January 11, 2021 Share #11 Posted January 11, 2021 8 minutes ago, BradS said: but anyone who did this would be guilty of fraud. Thieves and criminals don't care. That's why they are called thieves and criminals. 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 11, 2021 Share #12 Posted January 11, 2021 13 minutes ago, BradS said: but anyone who did this would be guilty of fraud. Erm... yes. There are some bad people about. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted January 11, 2021 Share #13 Posted January 11, 2021 Just now, andybarton said: There are some bad people about. Say it ain't so!! 😄 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradS Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share #14 Posted January 11, 2021 (edited) 37 minutes ago, oldwino said: Do you freely give out your social security number? That, in essence, is your serial number. No, it’s not even close. That’s like comparing a grain of sand to the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The social security number is associated with every single credit card, bank account, financial instrument, line of credit, employer, home mortgage, car loan, lease agreement, gas and electric service, etc... that the person has ever had (and likely ever will). the serial number of a camera is associated with that camera. Period, full stop. Big, big difference. Edited January 11, 2021 by BradS 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 11, 2021 Share #15 Posted January 11, 2021 Still no reason why you should give it away 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted January 11, 2021 Share #16 Posted January 11, 2021 Thieves and crooks abound. My wife found a diamond ring on a walk and turned it in to the police. A neighbor of the owner went to police and claimed it. Sometime later the owner went to police to recover it and the police had to go to the neighbor and recover it for the the rightful owner. That must be embarrassing! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradS Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share #17 Posted January 11, 2021 (edited) I asked because I noticed that some people on this web site do it habitually and it always seems suspicious to me. I alway wonder, did they steal that? Edited January 11, 2021 by BradS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted January 11, 2021 Share #18 Posted January 11, 2021 vor 27 Minuten schrieb BradS: the serial number of a camera is associated with that camera. Period, full stop And with any pictures made with that camera. And with any pictures showing that camera from above. And with the owner, if he publishes the picture in the media. And with where the owner lives and what he does for a living and whatever the owner of the camera or his friends chose to publish in a way that lets you associate said owner with said serial number. And with the probable fincancial situation of the owner. And with when the owner has traveled where, using the period full stop camera. This could go on forever. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradS Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share #19 Posted January 11, 2021 2 minutes ago, pop said: And with any pictures made with that camera. And with any pictures showing that camera from above. And with the owner, if he publishes the picture in the media. And with where the owner lives and what he does for a living and whatever the owner of the camera or his friends chose to publish in a way that lets you associate said owner with said serial number. And with the probable fincancial situation of the owner. And with when the owner has traveled where, using the period full stop camera. This could go on forever. With pictures made with that camera/lens? You mean in some metaphysical sense? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 11, 2021 Share #20 Posted January 11, 2021 (edited) Isn’t this info in the EXIF data of most posted photos? Edited January 11, 2021 by tri Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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