Collecting VIN numbers, why some like it :), Not sure why those that don't, don't .... Options

[Mueller]

Just wanted to start a separate thread on this subject.


A car pops up for sale or is seen at a show and many times in the thread the subject comes up about whether or not the person grabbed* the VIN?

Many posters will be like the idea of seeing if the VIN is in the database, others get bent about it as if it is a violation of ones personal space.


Being these cars are getting more rare everyday I think it's a good thing to document these numbers.

Sooner or later we are going to see duplicate VINs or a rare car pop up for sale that is a known totaled or destroyed car.

*as if stealing a soul, hahaha

If you think this is odd, I have a Curta calculator that is in a database that I have no problem with my calculator being a part of.

http://www.curtamania.com/curta/code/type_..._your_curta.php

No. 516139 if you want to see it.


Back to the VIN, I cannot find a single thing where someone was injured, killed or robbed due to someone having access to a VIN number. There is way more information to get found from a license plate.

^edit, did something on snopes which has some credibility

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/vin.asp

Still for a 40 year old car I don't see getting a copy of someones key that easy at the Porsche dealership.

[SixerJ]

It's not so much just the VIN as it is the amazing social engineering that some are able to do with it or similar info. I do find it interesting to look through the vin database on 914world and will probably add mine too and have my car also be a part of the 'world, but at the same time it is hard not to be cautious and limit your information profile that exists on the net in this day and age

Brett

I don't have an issue having my VIN in the DB per say, but I also work a) for a bank, b) in IT and what feels like every day we get info on social engineering methods and how the scumbags find details on you personally, where you fit into the structure, how they will try and get info from you. All that info has modified my behaviour

My point it that little snippets of data here and there builds a picture, about you and where you live. Throw in a car details and they know you potentially have a nice and expensive car sitting in the garage

Classic car theft is seriously increasing in the UK, even what would have been regarded as low cost classics are now 'disappearing' for parts etc.

Maybe I'm paranoid but I no longer post on social media (not that I did much anyway) that I'm on holiday or away from home / generally post in 'real time', our families stuff is ours and I want it to stay that way

Be a sharer, just not a super sharer