Naive (?) question: why mask out digits in the VIN number when posting?

[ard]

Pardon my ignorance, but why do people sometimes mask out the last 2 digits of the VIN number, particularly when posting about somewhat rarer cars? I suppose if one subscribes to the "need-to-know-only" philosophy and the VIN minus the last 2 digits is enough information to identify unique features of a car this makes sense. I am not offended by it, just curious to understand what the cause for caution is. Do those with ill intentions put VIN numbers corresponding to desirable real factory cars on clones?

Thanks for enlightening me.

[911Freak]

I've noticed a couple scenarios that may apply:

*(As most here already know)
On the 911 VIN the last 4 digits are sequential production #'s so therefore irrelevant to the specific model/engine/year info already provided

* There are numerous groups that collect VIN #'s to track whom owns what and where (albeit mostly for small production 911/912's or other rare models etc) but none the less, there is always someone data mining on forums

I'm sure there are other reasons.........

Just my Monday morning .02

Cheers!

[jluetjen]

By the same token I always wonder why people mask out license plate numbers when they post pictures on the web. It's not like they don't drive around in broad daylight with the license plate numbers displayed on their cars all the time!

[911Freak]

Originally Posted by jluetjen

By the same token I always wonder why people mask out license plate numbers when they post pictures on the web. It's not like they don't drive around in broad daylight with the license plate numbers displayed on their cars all the time!

False sense of security?

Or... trying to avoid a (local to the poster) troll looking for a good local source for a five finger discount on parts?

[LakeCleElum]

It's a VIN - Not "VIN Number"

V = Vehicle
I = Identification
N = Number

No need to repeat "Number".....Sorry, just something a picky old instructor of mine harped on........

[911Freak]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

It's a VIN - Not "VIN Number"

V = Vehicle
I = Identification
N = Number

No need to repeat "Number".....Sorry, just something a picky old instructor of mine harped on........

No offense taken, thanks for pointing this out as it surely keeps us all straight

But seriously, it is always good to check all the VIN's located throughout the chassis... just saying

Flame away

I'm just trying to be helpful here...

[bklyn]

I could never understand why person(s) do this, being in law enforcement for over 25 years in the state of Florida you tag and vin- are public information, at least in the states that I am aware of. So if someone whats my tag and vin, they can pay my yearly registration fees while they are at it.

[BeyGon]

Yeah, it bothers me, come and steal it.

[bklyn]

Looks hottttttt!

[jluetjen]

Originally Posted by bklyn

I could never understand why person(s) do this, being in law enforcement for over 25 years in the state of Florida you tag and vin- are public information, at least in the states that I am aware of. So if someone whats my tag and vin, they can pay my yearly registration fees while they are at it.

Yeah. That's what I thought. Just an overactive sense of paranoia.

Soon our cars will end up looking like this!

[vreference]

In a forum where you are anonymous is makes a lot of sense to mask the plate; P.I.s have a good shot at being able to trace a plate number to a name and address. Most of us on this forum are making no attempt to be anonymous so it doesn't matter one bit here.

[David E. Clark]

Originally Posted by jluetjen

... Soon our cars will end up looking like this! ...

Or maybe this!

[BeyGon]

Or Mossberg