Be careful posting gun photos

[RHT447]

I know most here already know this, however technology has added a new (at least to me) wrinkle--serial numbers can be searched in images using OCR.

https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2019/10/a-serious-warning-about-firearms.html

[sandiego67]

What is the issue with knowing the serial number of someone else's gun?

Is someone going to try and register my guns under their name?

Are they going to counterfeit them?

Are they going to look me up via some sort of gun database?

https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-cops-actually-trace-a-gun-2016-8

[SkyHawk]

I almost always obfuscate my serial numbers in photos. Takes far less time than it does to fold a tin foil hat, so why not?

[Red-Osier]

I almost always obfuscate my serial numbers in photos. Takes far less time than it does to fold a tin foil hat, so why not?

I quit posting any new purchases I just don't want it out there.

[Tango_Down]

I quit posting any new purchases I just don't want it out there.

I always post the serial numbers, I just transpose 2 of the numbers. You guess which 2.

[Rakso]

What is the issue with knowing the serial number of someone else's gun?

Is someone going to try and register my guns under their name?

Are they going to counterfeit them?

Are they going to look me up via some sort of gun database?

https://www.businessinsider.com/here...e-a-gun-2016-8

Excellent question

[Red-Osier]

What is the issue with knowing the serial number of someone else's gun?

Is someone going to try and register my guns under their name?

Are they going to counterfeit them?

Are they going to look me up via some sort of gun database?

https://www.businessinsider.com/here...e-a-gun-2016-8

Excellent question

From the article the op posted,

"It's long been the practice among security-conscious firearms owners to obscure the serial numbers in any photographs of firearms they put up on the Internet. This is because unscrupulous characters have been known to note the serial numbers, report "their" firearm stolen (with that same serial number), and claim the loss against their own insurance policies. The insurance company/ies then keep the firearm on the stolen property lists, and if there's ever an inspection (for example, you're stopped while driving, and the policeman checks your firearm serial number against his database), you may find yourself in trouble. Alternatively, if you buy a gun from a private seller and it turns out to be stolen, the same procedure may find you accused of the theft.

[ten888]

From the article the op posted,

The one committing fraud would be taking a rather large gamble that the actual owner would not be able to substantiate ownership of the firearm thru FFL purchase records.

[Red-Osier]

The one committing fraud would be taking a rather large gamble that the actual owner would not be able to substantiate ownership of the firearm thru FFL purchase records.

Yes, but in the meantime, you're being boned.

[ten888]

Yes, but in the meantime, you're being boned.

So very true

[Red-Osier]

So very true

Yep.

[the86d]

Serial-schmearial:

[gwanghoops]

phone cameras can automatically populate a JPG details to include latitude and longitude through GPS. if you don't want the public to know your location, clear the JPG file details.

[crufflers]

I typically flip the gun to the non-serialized side, and wash the images via image hosting site. Meta tag info is easy to turn off and there are apps to scan your phone pics for meta data (or to scan other people's texted pics). Yeah you can clear the meta data on a PC too, but if you leave it on you'll text one eventually. I like photoBucket for one reason. If you felt froggy you could rename a folder and just like that... poof. All your pic links for forever were dead.

[Rockzilla]

phone cameras can automatically populate a JPG details to include latitude and longitude through GPS. if you don't want the public to know your location, clear the JPG file details.

"Exif" nfo stored within the pictures, gives details about device, where it
was taken, so post those picz, announce your going on vaca, we all know
how companies track things, whether for demographics or otherwise.

Just like FB, people posting all those pictures, putting all this information
out there...


-Rock