Numberplates in photos?
Numberplates in photos?
Author
Discussion

J12MOC

Original Poster:

802 posts

168 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
Several people blank out their number plates in photos posted here. I haven't - so am I being a numpty or what?

F1 NDW

1,116 posts

170 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
Or what, join the or what club!

George H

14,714 posts

188 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
Because people are worried that their car will get cloned I guess. Despite the fact people see it whenever you drive it on the public road rolleyes

Adam2S

5,312 posts

201 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
I accept what you say but its a legal requirement to display your reg plate on the road so you have no choice. I personally always blank out my plates on any pics I post online because it only takes about 30seconds to do so and I figure why add any element of risk when its unnecessary and simple to avoid.

I think a lot of people forget that many devices such as mobile phones geotag their pics when they post them online, further adding to the information you give out to crooks. I would personally only post pics taken on a camera which I knew hadn't geotagged my pictures but again many would feel that this is being over cautious.

A couple of articles that Ive quickly googed on the risks presented by geotagging :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17311702

http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-the-Potential-Risks-o...


bananarob

1,177 posts

205 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
George H said:
Because people are worried that their car will get cloned I guess. Despite the fact people see it whenever you drive it on the public road rolleyes
Ditto

yeti

10,525 posts

299 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
Adam2S said:
why add any element of risk when its unnecessary and simple to avoid.
What risk? I don't get it??

Mine's V12 LJE, why have I not been mugged, burgled, kidnapped or eaten by cannibals since posting it?

Magic919

14,206 posts

225 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
Maybe I should change my username to match my car reg, so I don't have to blank out the plate on photos.

George H

14,714 posts

188 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
yeti said:
Mine's V12 LJE, why have I not been mugged, burgled, kidnapped or eaten by cannibals since posting it?
You definitely will be now!!

I paid a fair bit for 16DH (the 6 is supposed to represent a G before anyone asks, worked better in my mind), I'll definitely show it off! V12 GDH is for sale for about £400 too, tempted to buy it and replace the Polo's plate of Y3 GDH smile

Adam2S

5,312 posts

201 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
yeti said:
Adam2S said:
why add any element of risk when its unnecessary and simple to avoid.
What risk? I don't get it??

Mine's V12 LJE, why have I not been mugged, burgled, kidnapped or eaten by cannibals since posting it?
Just because you havnt been a victim of a car crime related to a criminal identifying your pride and joy online doesnt mean to say it doesnt happen. Im not saying that you WILL be a victim if you assist in identifing your vehicle, just that you are increasing the chances and I personally feel there is no reason to do so when its so simple to blank out the details.

I think you are being a little naive if you dont think that some criminals have access to DVLA database records, and that those criminals who do are likely to be in the business of car theft.

confused

Anyway each to their own, if you dont believe there is any increased risk then carry on as you are. It is your personal information and you are free to give it whoever you wish to.

tonyhall38

4,194 posts

240 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
T66 SBS...everyone knows my plate.....

Neil1300R

5,645 posts

202 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
Last time I posted pictures of my car with the numberplate showing, it went horribly wrong.




Teach me to post pictures of an Aston with the front numberplate plinth still attached laugh

Retman

848 posts

182 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
Seems to be more common on pictures of track days, suppose people don't want their car to be identified as having been thrashed around a track once they come to sell it, the chances of matching one to the other seems pretty remote though.

v8woollie

4,363 posts

169 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
It doesn't take some people long to track a number plate to an address. Having an Aston Martin would make some criminally intentioned people assume you have money and so, apart from a £100k plus car, perhaps some nice jewellery or electronics.

I always blank my plate. Why increase the chances of being a victim of crime.

yeti

10,525 posts

299 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
v8woollie said:
It doesn't take some people long to track a number plate to an address. Having an Aston Martin would make some criminally intentioned people assume you have money and so, apart from a £100k plus car, perhaps some nice jewellery or electronics.
This does not apply to me for a number of reasons smile

I think they're more likely to see it on the driveway or see you driving it to and from your home than track it there from a photo found on t'internet. Criminals have better things to do biggrin

Slarti

1,828 posts

178 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
I think there definitely is added risk. Car crime is rife and the buggers that do it are absolute professionals. Putting out your number plate onto a public forum gives the crooks more options. I've known people with trackers have their cars stolen (they find and deactivate them) which were then cloned. The police are all but helpless to do anything and we help the criminals by talking about our lives, where we live and to top it off link it all to a registration number. Apparently, having stolen a car to order they're very careful about which car they clone it with e.g. Sometimes the further apart they are geographically the better. You can't get this kind of info by standing in the street and watching cars in public, but you can get it from Pistonheads forums.

AMDBSNick

7,186 posts

186 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
v8woollie said:
It doesn't take some people long to track a number plate to an address. Having an Aston Martin would make some criminally intentioned people assume you have money and so, apart from a £100k plus car, perhaps some nice jewellery or electronics.

I always blank my plate. Why increase the chances of being a victim of crime.
They are welcome to come and meet my Rottweiler biggrin

v8woollie

4,363 posts

169 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
yeti said:
This does not apply to me for a number of reasons smile

I think they're more likely to see it on the driveway or see you driving it to and from your home than track it there from a photo found on t'internet. Criminals have better things to do biggrin
Doesn't apply to me either. Wife and three girls to keep in shoes, bags and make-up so definitely not a high net worth individual smile

You would be suprised at what the Internet has done for criminal research. When we meet end of May I will give you an example.

I stick to the advice I give to my girls. Don't divulge anything on Internet forums that can lead someone to your door.

yeti

10,525 posts

299 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
That's my point... Nothing I post leads to my door wink

Looking forward to the stories at the end of May. And also seeing some wonderful timepieces. Think the debit card will be staying at home after a discussion tonight though frown

CIE560

19,324 posts

217 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
Some people do, some people don't. I almost always blank out other people's plates (at least partially) online though since it's not my car and I don't know if they want me to or not.

v8woollie

4,363 posts

169 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
quotequote all
The number plate you posted earlier leads straight to your door unless the car is registered to a different address. It is astounding what 30 minutes on the Internet can reveal about someone with very little initial information.

Wise advise to leave the card at home. There will be some lovely things to tempt you smile