when they post pics?

I was just curious and know it's a dumb question -- but seriously why do this?

I mean I drive around in my Element and it's required to have it visible.

why do people do this?

Chances are, foreign nefarious peeps are sitting across the pond and not driving up and down a street copying down license tags. And you'd be surprised what you can find out - with just a license plate.

It's just best practice to limit the personal information you put out there, the internet knows no state or national borders. Although I'm certainly guilty of this myself.

because they are criminals and have outstanding warrants.
others have repo looking for them

because they are criminals and have outstanding warrants.
others have repo looking for them

Or ex-wives.:D

Or future ex-wives (the most dangerous kind)...:razz:

But seriously. It's just concern for personal privacy and security as stated above.

But seriously. It's just concern for personal privacy and security as stated above.

Sometimes referred to as paranoia.

personal privacy and the other concerns"?

I guess that's the part I don't understand.

I am being serious here - because as I stated, I have my plates visible 24/7 anywhere I drive ...


I just don't understand the big picture I guess, why be worried?????

We may have been a little glib because it seems to come up often on the forum. Here is an earlier thread.

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39351&highlight=license+plate

I don't know why people do it either. Like you said. Everyone one and their brother can see your plate on the street.

Sometimes referred to as paranoia.

It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you....

personal privacy and the other concerns"?

I guess that's the part I don't understand.

I am being serious here - because as I stated, I have my plates visible 24/7 anywhere I drive ...


I just don't understand the big picture I guess, why be worried?????

Me being in network security I'd think - Social Engineering. Same method used to get into Palin's email accounts and responsible for getting into computer networks around the world, assuming someone's identity for purchases, someone wants to stalk you and goes looking for enthusiast club sites, or any number of hundreds of ways to perform bad deeds.

The less personal info you put out there, the less exposed you are to hostile acts. It may be your neighbor, but it may be someone from across the country. May be someone or someones from the other side of the world. The threats are real, it's no joke.

I view this in a similar light from the physical security side of things.
With only civilian accessible resources, I an use your license gain enough info to find your home, run a basic credit check and get a good idea of you as a "target".
Unfortunately the bad guys have these resources too and they use them. Stalking, is the most prevalent search reason.
I have one lady here who needs constant escorts to her car and has had to change her lifestyle because someone saw her portfolio online (aspiring model) and decided that she belonged to him. They are still looking for the individual as she has only been able to provide a physical description and car make and model without plates.
Living a little paranoid isn't a bad thing.

While I get the security issues, I also get what the OP is saying...if I wanted to steal an identity via their license plate number, I could just look outside my window at one of the thousands of cars. I wouldn't have to scour internet message boards hoping to catch a glance at one.

While I get the security issues, I also get what the OP is saying...if I wanted to steal an identity via their license plate number, I could just look outside my window at one of the thousands of cars. I wouldn't have to scour internet message boards hoping to catch a glance at one.

Yeah....sort of, but don't forget....

Scammers know how to use the search function. ;-)


Look out the window. Write down a plate # and whatever else ya got....maybe year, make, model, colr, female or male driver, hair color....etc. Nuthin' really "usefull."

Now look thru an an internet message board. Ya got all the above, plus age, hometown, first (maybe last) name, maybe where they work, kids/pets names. SO's plate #s, names, info. Sometimes phone #s and email address.
In many cases, even more than I just mentioned.

Most people list their mods and upgrades too. Someone with a bit of effort could use a combination of small bits of info to get more info....or track down your car to steal it, or its accessories.

Think about all the threads about vacations, camping, and meets. Now they know when you'll be where (not at home). They can find out you have a boat docked at Whatcacallit Lake. (maybe by reconizing back ground in the pic, assuming you don't come right out and mention it!)

All the little extra bits and combinations of info available on a message board (or www) can add up to reveal more information than you'ld like to a potential scammer/thief/scumbag or ex-girlfriend.

:wink:

Will

http://i35.tinypic.com/2iapjj9.jpg

There's mine.

...Now look thru an an internet message board. Ya got all the above, plus age, hometown, first (maybe last) name, maybe where they work, kids/pets names. SO's plate #s, names, info. Sometimes phone #s and email address.
In many cases, even more than I just mentioned.

Will


IMO it you reveal all that info on a message board you are revealing too much.

I could just look outside my window at one of the thousands of cars. I wouldn't have to scour internet message boards hoping to catch a glance at one.

Someone on your street looking out the window is not the one you have to worry about, and someone from another country are not on your street attempting to gain info.

Look, may never happen to you - but then again it may. Tons of people walk at night down streets that are prone to muggings and never get mugged. Previous job to this one I worked at a Honda Dealership. I've seen individuals who had their credit hijacked and the effects of it. It practically takes an act of Congress for it to come off of your credit history. I've seen people get denied due to it, I've seen others take reams of paperwork to prove it over and over that it was not them - and even then they were not always able to get the best rate possible. Just because you are a victim and not at fault only means you have to do tons more to prove it. And the Creditors also take into account - will it happen to you again.

Personally I put a fraud alert on my credit reports every 90 days and review it and every line item on my cards and accounts monthly. I update my antivirus daily, run malware scans and I run the critical updates. And I shred any paperwork I throw away - including credit offers in the mail.

So, in the end, do whatever you feel comfortable with. But if you do not believe the risks are real - you are wrong.

I've seen it on more than one occasion now that some crooked people browse these car forums almost like window shopping. People post up pictures of their cars and mods they've done to them. While that person only wants to share what they've done, these crooked @$$ people will look at that as a shopping list.

With a few hookups at the DMV they can take your plate number, get your address, go find your car at a convenient time, take what they want (or even the whole car) and be gone.

True, my plates are visible 24/7 to the public. They don't know what I have done to my car because I don't drive around with pictures glued to the side of it. People from the net that see my mod pictures though....different story.

Now Speaking from Experience...especially going to car shows, One either takes their plate off completely or blurs their plate out in pictures because of theft...
Not because of identity, or credit, social security...etc...but because of actual theft.

You would post pictures on here showing what you have done to your vehicle. Now they can see your rims and everything in passing...but they don't know if you have $$$ spent on the stereo, engine, etc...

At car shows...they can see everything you have done to your car. All they need is an address to associate the vehicle to and...poof...there goes your ride.

Criminals have a funny way of finding out the most intimate details about somebody.

for me its because when your sitting on the internet and you see a license plate number, you may get curious and search it online. when you are out on the street, however, thats less likely to happen. just my opinion

I use to blur the tag, till I realized in my situation I'm really not in that grave danger or being robbed, mugged, assaulted, what have you...

My tag is MUTS, it's fairly appropriate for us.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/bh241/EOC/pictures/tag.jpg

If you think you want to steal my car, it's easy enough to 'pick out' of a crowd. It's the one that typically smells like an animal shelter, often there are a couple of dogs (at least) inside. Not to mention the dog hair... and drool... But quite possibly the easiest way to identify my E is the fact that when anyone walks close to it, it starts 'bouncing' a bit.... :shock:

Ask around... others have seen this unique anti-theft device in operation. :wink:

Ask around... others have seen this unique anti-theft device in operation. :wink:

Yes, Benny has a very unique alarm. At the meet last fall, I thought his E was going to turn over. That was just with someone walking by, I can't imagine what would happen if they tried to get in. :lol:

IMO it you reveal all that info on a message board you are revealing too much.

Sometimes it is a bit here, a bit there....sometimes spread out over a variety of message boards/groups. A scammer can take a small amount of info, and use it to find more and more. :wink:

If this van's barkin', don't come farkin'.

If this van's barkin', don't come farkin'.

Wut ??


Paul,

You lost me on this one.

Dom

IMO it you reveal all that info on a message board you are revealing too much.

yeah deffinatly, ive been guilty of giving some of the above info, but i would never give out my phone number or email address on the internet, and i would only give out my address and real name if i was buying something from somebody. i dont mind if someone knows what city i live in or what car i drive, im not paranoid but there are limits. i dont have a problem posting my license plate for the same reason others have said, anyone can see it when im driving around anyday, plus im a student, if someone were to check my credit they would quickly find out im not worth stealing from.

That's the thing. Your name, address and phone number can easily be found out by hitting up the DMV with your license plate number.

P.S. Is this your email address?
charlese0@aol.com

Also, I park my car (lisence plate visible) outside of my house which clearly displays my address.

Wut ??


Paul,

You lost me on this one.

Dom
Re Benny's dog "alarm." (Sorry for the hijack.)

Thanks Paul.

Back to the subject at hand.

If you live in this area, You, Your plate and all are visible on several traffic " Cams " each and every day. Depending on what roads you drive. Your plate is a matter of public record. The amount of personal information associated with it's display has been curbed or diminished to the public. It is in fact not possible to obtain a person's home address with out filing an official report with the police or registry. Even then they may chose to not provide the information to you for any reason they deem valid. It may just be your looks.

The registry information is not publicly accessible via the internet any more. It's now considered "guarded personal information"

Claims of obtaining personal information via that source are Exaggerated at best.

They have a better shot at you through your credit card !!!!

Dom

A good friend of mine is the most boring people on Earth.
NO ONE would want any of his personal info for ANYTHING.
But he still shreds all his bills and mail.

We dont like our numbers and plate colors plus convicts make em!