Whats the point in covering up serial #s?

MulliganChebichev · December 24th, 2007, 03:16 AM

When it comes to guitars, why do people do it?

Big John · December 24th, 2007, 03:32 AM

Post a photo of your guitar with a clear shot of the serial number and a good description of the instrument and a couple of weeks later it will be a forgery on eBay !!!, if your'e lucky they might use your photo's too !

Tim Armstrong · December 24th, 2007, 09:01 AM

I was gonna say paranoia, but maybe Big John's right!

Cheers, Tim

charlie chitlin · December 24th, 2007, 09:25 AM

I've heard that one could forge a receipt with that SN on it and report the guitar as stolen and get it for nothing.

It would be a risk, because the seller could be holding the real paper.
People do the same with vehicles. Block out part of the VIN or tag#.
Seems silly.
I think it's an urban legend.

0le FUZZY · December 24th, 2007, 09:36 AM

Quote:

I think it's an urban legend.

....Knott at all!!

...A very very real problem here onna inner-mess. Jes ask Nacho.

0le FUZZY

StuH · December 24th, 2007, 09:38 AM

Maybe it's stolen gear?

NewOldStock · December 24th, 2007, 10:10 AM

Care is usually taken on firearms-related websites regarding serial #'s of guns in photos. Similar to the reasons mentioned in posts above.

rhinocaster · December 24th, 2007, 10:15 AM

It's worth being careful given the amount of fraud in this day and age. Where I work, we are very careful with serial numbers on used guitars for the reason previously stated. We buy and sell used guitars from all over the country. We then advertise these guitars as used on the internet and in print. Now people know the brand, color and condition of a used instrument. Why provide them with the last bit of information that would allow them to create a fraudulent stolen guitar claim?

Having said that, we run our used guitars through a police database that searches for stolen guitars. We do have people call up and say that we have a guitar that they think was stolen from them. If they have the serial number we can know immediately if we're talking about the same guitar.

As much as I wish that it wasn't true, people spend their days sitting around and thinking of good ways to rip honest people off. No serial number is going to make them work a bit harder.

JohnnyAtomic · December 24th, 2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlie frey

I've heard that one could forge a receipt with that SN on it and report the guitar as stolen and get it for nothing.

Lots of sleazeballs out there. There are more ways to steal your guitar than breaking in your house, falsifying information to create a police report, and having the police steal it for you is another way.

Johnny

charlie chitlin · December 24th, 2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0le FUZZY

....Knott at all!!

...A very very real problem here onna inner-mess. Jes ask Nacho.

0le FUZZY

So...there you have it.
Words to heed.
It's getting harder and harder to underestimate people.

blacklinefish · December 24th, 2007, 12:31 PM

Hey MulliganC, thanks for bringing this up. I always thought it was unnecessary paranoia. Now I know the straight dope.

It amazes me how creative and innovative people can be when it comes to ripping people off. I don't think I could ever dream up a scam.

--gh

stevieboy · December 24th, 2007, 12:33 PM

There are all kinds of scammers out there. While I don't believe someone could actually get possession of your guitar, they could conceivably somehow be a pain in the ash trying, or doing some other scam that doesn't involve you but somehow comes back to haunt you (they file a false police report maybe, then you own a guitar that's been reported stolen.) A little paranoid yes, but why not cover it up? It's nobody's business really, other than the first couple of numbers or whatever for dating etc. Why ask for trouble, when it's so easy not to.

MulliganChebichev · December 24th, 2007, 01:06 PM

You know, sadly it never dawned on me that fraud could be a possibility, I guess I'm just a gullible guy

A message to all you fraudulent guys out there, You guys are sick!

stevieboy · December 24th, 2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MulliganChebichev

A message to all you fraudulent guys out there, You guys are sick!

None of those here! Flatulent maybe.

December 24th, 2007, 03:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
MulliganChebichev Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oregon, USA Age: 18 Posts: 1,534 3 Photos	Whats the point in covering up serial #s? When it comes to guitars, why do people do it?

December 24th, 2007, 03:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
Big John Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Suffolk UK Posts: 3,609 33 Photos	Post a photo of your guitar with a clear shot of the serial number and a good description of the instrument and a couple of weeks later it will be a forgery on eBay !!!, if your'e lucky they might use your photo's too ! __________________ If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly !!

December 24th, 2007, 09:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 7,459	I was gonna say paranoia, but maybe Big John's right! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

December 24th, 2007, 09:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
charlie chitlin Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bucktown, Pa Age: 46 Posts: 1,901	I've heard that one could forge a receipt with that SN on it and report the guitar as stolen and get it for nothing. It would be a risk, because the seller could be holding the real paper. People do the same with vehicles. Block out part of the VIN or tag#. Seems silly. I think it's an urban legend. __________________ Nil illigitimi carborundum http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...6-bf3537901a07

December 24th, 2007, 10:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
rhinocaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oregon Age: 44 Posts: 1,069	It's worth being careful given the amount of fraud in this day and age. Where I work, we are very careful with serial numbers on used guitars for the reason previously stated. We buy and sell used guitars from all over the country. We then advertise these guitars as used on the internet and in print. Now people know the brand, color and condition of a used instrument. Why provide them with the last bit of information that would allow them to create a fraudulent stolen guitar claim? Having said that, we run our used guitars through a police database that searches for stolen guitars. We do have people call up and say that we have a guitar that they think was stolen from them. If they have the serial number we can know immediately if we're talking about the same guitar. As much as I wish that it wasn't true, people spend their days sitting around and thinking of good ways to rip honest people off. No serial number is going to make them work a bit harder. __________________ Just because I "Don't" get it doesn't mean I "Won't" get it!

December 24th, 2007, 09:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
StuH Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yukon, Canada Age: 38 Posts: 1,423 14 Photos	Maybe it's stolen gear?

December 24th, 2007, 10:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
NewOldStock Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Minnesota Age: 35 Posts: 560	Care is usually taken on firearms-related websites regarding serial #'s of guns in photos. Similar to the reasons mentioned in posts above.

December 24th, 2007, 12:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
blacklinefish Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Northwest Missouri Age: 40 Posts: 972	Hey MulliganC, thanks for bringing this up. I always thought it was unnecessary paranoia. Now I know the straight dope. It amazes me how creative and innovative people can be when it comes to ripping people off. I don't think I could ever dream up a scam. --gh

December 24th, 2007, 12:33 PM	#12 (permalink)
stevieboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: the valley Posts: 2,090 6 Photos	There are all kinds of scammers out there. While I don't believe someone could actually get possession of your guitar, they could conceivably somehow be a pain in the ash trying, or doing some other scam that doesn't involve you but somehow comes back to haunt you (they file a false police report maybe, then you own a guitar that's been reported stolen.) A little paranoid yes, but why not cover it up? It's nobody's business really, other than the first couple of numbers or whatever for dating etc. Why ask for trouble, when it's so easy not to. __________________ "One of the best bands ever. These guys were such perfectionist"--Youtube user comment

December 24th, 2007, 01:06 PM	#13 (permalink)
MulliganChebichev Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oregon, USA Age: 18 Posts: 1,534 3 Photos	You know, sadly it never dawned on me that fraud could be a possibility, I guess I'm just a gullible guy A message to all you fraudulent guys out there, You guys are sick!