Showing a license plate...

track you down??

other than that i have no clue. i dont bother blurring out my plates.

 

If you're in the 98% group of North Americans, {minimal security surrounding you information} your identity can be stolen. It will most likely cost some money to do it if the person behind it wants to get your ID with his picture but for internet fraud etc, it's free.

I'm guessing that there's a small percentage of the criminal population that knows how to do this effectively but it can be done.

 

You can run the plate and get a lot of info.

 

It doesn't bother me, it is even my avatar.

 

I'm not too worried about it either. You probably need to steal or buy the data beyond what Google can get about you.

Four hits on 2FST4YU http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=2fst4yu

 

nothing on my plates...355 HPE

 

thanks, now ill track you down and say hi

 

This is an urban legend that is only formerly true. After the murder of Rebecca Schaffer, this was shut down across the country. You can now no longer run plates to get information.

Even if you could, the idea that you could do so in order to steal identity is ridiculous. The most you could EVER get was an address and a name - nothing more - and that was back in the 1980s.

I don't edit license plate numbers from any of my pictures. It's in the public domain, remember. You're no more likely to get your identity stolen because the image is posted on this website than you are if your license plate number is recorded when you're driving down the street.

 

You don't get all the info from the plate, but it's a starting point. From there, like you said you get an address, from there you can get more personal info, telephone numbers, birth dates, credit card info, any bill assigned to that house, the list keeps growing until it reaches the SIN.

I've done this a few times. Others have said that you can limit the info given to the DMV {I'm sure it varies from state to state} but I've never run into a roadblock at any level.

 

Of course, there are two problems with this theory.

One, why don't random people driving around just do this?
Two, if having an address is all that's necessary to steal someone's identity, then why does this not happen more often? Hell, you don't need a license plate number in that case - all you need is a house number!

It's a big jump between having a license plate number and what you're suggesting. Remember, these things are in the public domain. If it was really so easy, it would actually occur.

What was the most recent time you did this? EDIT: also it seems you aren't in the U.S. I'm not sure how these things are handled in Canada.

 

It can't be that different from the US.

And like I said above *read these words*>>> The plate won't give you all the info, it's a starting off point.

If you had their house number already would wouldn't need the plate. All I said was the plate can be a starting point, there are other ways to get information as most people don't spend more than 5 minutes a year thinking about the security of their information.

Also like I said above, most criminals and certainly most average citizens wouldn't know how to do this. If everyone knew how easy it was to get this information, there would be an overnight panic, I would be nervous and I take many steps to securing my info.

The most recent time I did "this" was just over a year ago, I gathered info to get a map of whereabouts and an outline of day to day life.

 

I plan to proudly display my license plate for the F355 whenever it comes in.

MANBRPG

I've never gone out of my way to hide mine, not that paranoid!

 

Actually;

One, once you have the address you need to find out which days are for trash pick-up so that, in the dead of the night or wee morning hours, you can snatch all of it.

Two, filter through the gunk and yuck to retrieve some phone numbers, email address, various account numbers, etc.

It's a dirty job...

 

LOL.

I honestly see no problem in showing a plate. What's the difference between folks on the web seeing your plate when just as many people are capable of seeing your plate out on the streets or in a parking lot?

 

all very good points

 

I can't speak for every state, but in Texas you can find out where the owner lives (physical address is required when registering the car), and additional personal information may also be available. Why advertise? Do you really want some Fchat Ferrari wannabe showing up at your front door? You guys are welcome anytime as long as you call ahead with a credit card, drivers license, and bring a lot of cash with you and a hot chick for me.

 

Just think of all those people that see it out on the street. Think about it, they could find out your name and address.

Wait a minute, that's already in the phonebook.

Crap.

WAIT, I just realized it is also on my mailbox posted out on the street

My God, They will know...

 

+1

Well said.

 

You guys are missing it again. I didn't say it was "the code breaker". If they don't know where you live, what your phone number is or what your name is, then it's all they have to start with.

If there's a Honda for sale and a Ferrari for sale in the same state, which owner will most likely be scammed? I've been contacted several times by people trying to rip off a car that I have for sale.

It's just one easy and quick way of hiding some of your info, that's all.

 

Aircraft N-numbers are easily accessible and so is the owner information. I don’t understand why there isn’t a policy similar to vehicle license plates.