theandies

Here's my VIN.
194671S117878
Here is my plate #
61169 Va. Historic plate
Do what you want with it. I have the car locked up in my garage and I have the title locked up in my fire proof safe.

The13Bats

Not subtle, but very well made point.



^ note cheesy mud flag girls plate frame my fiesty grandmother gave me on a bday in the 80s, it has tackied up many of my cars...

If you need my vin its in the registry site,

Vet76te

Priya

A vanishingly small number of people know a cop who will do that sort of thing for them.

If someone is going to take your license plate number to find out where you live, it will almost certainly not be someone who sees it posted on the internet, but someone who saw it while you were driving and is angry over the way you were driving or perceived to be driving.

vettebuyer6369

kenba

Funny that some wont give out there VIN# or plate # but will hand a credit card or debit card over to some waitstaff or casher with the CC# on it. Folks its a new world anyone can find anything about anyone.

Richard454

AND post on Facebook that they are vacationing in Mexico...

ZRXGreen

SAFE - No risk potential
SECURITY RISK - Risk potential from scammers, thieves...

I was going to take the poll and choose "SAFE" as that's generally how I feel on the topic. I didn't choose it however, because it is of course ridiculous to say there is *NO* risk potential in posting your VIN. Just like it is unfair to say that simply providing someone your full name has no risk potential. In an extreme case where someone is out to target you or your car, it could be... But should we be conducting ourselves based on extreme risks? When I leave my house today, an asteroid could come crashing out of the sky and take me out, yet I take no precautions against it, nor do I even give it a second thought.

If you drill down into the topic, of course putting yourself out there involves a certain level of risk. But just living in the world involves some risk.

Think about this for a second: Most of our screen names don't involve the use of our real names. However, when you PM someone, you may "sign" your private message with your first name, as it's a more personal form of communication. Now, someone that you really don't know has your first name. Then later, in a future post, that person uses your first name in a public post, referring to you or answering something you wrote about. Innocent, yet now your first name is out there for others to connect you with. Maybe you ask someone to email you something (like a wiring diagram), and your email address is comprised of your full name. Now someone on the forum has your full name. [EDIT: I wrote this before reading through the entire thread. Didn't that just happen when The13Bats referred to the OP as "Jim"?]

At which point does a person's cautiousness dip into paranoia? I think that's for each to decide. And it's no suprise that some people feel that way, with the constant betrayals we face by those who store our data...Equifax, Facebook, etc. As others have said, our information is already out there. If someone really wants to learn more about you, they will. Having (or not having) your VIN number isn't going to change that, IMHO.

When is the last time you EVER heard of anyone being victimized because they provided anyone with their VIN? When you get in an accident, the other driver gets your full name, address, birthday and phone number AND your VIN. Have you ever heard of anyone being victimized as a result of that? I know some police officers. They have never heard of that happening, in either scenario. Is the fear that someone will find out where you live? And do what? Steal your car? Burglarize your home? Hold you hostage? [Again, written before I read other posts.]

Me personally, I don't feel these are realistic fears. If I did, I wouldn't post pictures of my Corvette, nor would I ever drive it anywhere where people could see it and lust after it (or me for that matter...)

If it's a fear of Identity Theft, the only thing we need to worry about is protecting our social security numbers. That number is the key to our financial kingdom. With that, they can open accounts in our name, take out second mortgages on our home, etc. Anytime anyone asks for that, you need to ask why? Never carry it with you... and we all know the rest.

In the end, everyone has the option of protecting their information... any level of their information. I just don't happen to feel the same level of risk.

The13Bats

No, i didnt call the OP jim, i dont know the op

ZRXGreen

My mistake. When you wrote, "I undestand both the loud point jim was making and your rebuttle,
Jims a good guy..." I thought you were referring to the OP.

Jstan2014

The13Bats

i was referring to a buddy of mine who made a very good comment,
Its all good, i enjoyed your post too...

Redvette2

Just out of curiosity I recently searched and googled myself and then my wife for any information about us. I am the paranoid and don't give out anything or join the social media sites like Facebook, etc. She on the other hand is the exact opposite. I had very minimal information like age, when I lived and phone numbers. Her search gave this and information about who she was, how much she made, where she worked, ex spouses, past living addresses and net worth. It appears there are companies that mine data and then try to sell it to interested parties.

I say the less anyone knows about you the better!

Redvette2

leadfoot4

My wife and I came out of a Hobby Lobby store, a couple of years ago, and there was some kid taking pictures of my wife's Jaguar. Since Rochester is big on optics producing companies, and everyone has a camera, as well as strong photographic course content at the U of R, and RIT, I initially thought maybe it was just a kid taking pictures for his school course. It's a cool looking car, and it was parked away from the crowd, the sun was setting, making it an easy subject for a picture. Then he focused on the front end, aiming down, toward the license plate...….and I erupted, and he ran off and jumped into a waiting car.

crawfish333

We drive down the highway every day with license tags fully exposed. I guess we need to stop this practice as well?

vettebuyer6369

I fully understand people's reluctance to provide any public info. Many people don't provide their location on this site because of this concern. I pointed this thread to a buddy, who plugged his truck's VIN into the Net and was stunned that his name, address and phone number immediately came back.

That said, my opinion is that the VIN/address info is so easily found that I don't worry about it much, especially as I cant really think of a circumstance where it could bite me. But, criminals are creative.

Same with plates. Im more afraid of crooks seeing me driving my car, with plate exposed to everyone, and following me home than someone seeing my plate in a picture on the Internet. Although Ive mentioned the scenario once before that an overeager state auditor once ran all the plates he saw on ebay once for my state, and tried to create bills for people based on an arbitrary calculation based on feedbacks. It didn't fly, but it felt dirty.

The fact is, people would be stunned at the info available online. Many law enforcement agencies obtain more info on people in public access sources than on the ones you need an LEO authorization to access. Its out there already.

The13Bats

That guy sounds like an auditor in the movie "dinner for schmucks"

kenba

Guess you could say that. we own a beach house in Porto Penasco on the Sea of Cortez and stay here a couple weeks a month. I have cameras a safe & insurance + good neighbors both places.

theandies

Ahhh, Rocky Point. Been there a few times.