Why does everyone cover the Serial #?

[Sylvester]

I know this may be a dumb an obvious question to some of you, but I honestly have no clue why every time someone shows a picture of there watch ID papers they cover the SN.

How come everyone does this ?

[LA_LEC]

So that a counterfeiter is not given a legitimate serial number to copy.

[Billywiz]

You know...I reported a crime recently...the detective from the Sheriffs dep't said " Did you give him you bank account number" , I said yes. He then said "Oh thats a very serious error on you part you should never give your bank account number and you must keep it a secret". I said...IT IS PRINTED ON THE FRONT OF EVER SINGLE CHECK WRITTEN HERE IN THE USA.
Amazing isn't it.

[anothernewphone]

Originally Posted by Billywiz

You know...I reported a crime recently...the detective from the Sheriffs dep't said " Did you give him you bank account number" , I said yes. He then said "Oh thats a very serious error on you part you should never give your bank account number and you must keep it a secret". I said...IT IS PRINTED ON THE FRONT OF EVER SINGLE CHECK WRITTEN HERE IN THE USA.
Amazing isn't it.

Hahah, mailing a check gives someone your name, address, bank account number... I wish I could gain access to people's accounts that easily. Who would go to work?

[Billywiz]

Originally Posted by anothernewphone

Hahah, mailing a check gives someone your name, address, bank account number... I wish I could gain access to people's accounts that easily. Who would go to work?

Exactly

[aeon888]

Originally Posted by LA_LEC

So that a counterfeiter is not given a legitimate serial number to copy.

So why can't a counterfeiter just go to several Rolex AD's and pretend to check out their watches while copying or taking note of the serial numbers? There are alot of ways to do it ie pretending to get a wrist shot, or simply writing it down, etc.

[77T]

The reason you see people masking the s/n is not a serious roadblock to counterfeiters - they already have all the numbers they need.

The reason is to protect the seller and/or the potential buyer from scammers. Scammers can fill out a police theft report (complete with s/n from picture) and then lurk for a few months before "discovering" the FS post to report his watch was seen on the Internet.

[mike@ec]

Originally Posted by 77T

The reason you see people masking the s/n is not a serious roadblock to counterfeiters - they already have all the numbers they need.

The reason is to protect the seller and/or the potential buyer from scammers. Scammers can fill out a police theft report (complete with s/n from picture) and then lurk for a few months before "discovering" the FS post to report his watch was seen on the Internet.

that makes sense

[mjclark32]

Originally Posted by mike@ec

that makes sense

x2

[Cc1966]

Originally Posted by 77T

The reason you see people masking the s/n is not a serious roadblock to counterfeiters - they already have all the numbers they need.

The reason is to protect the seller and/or the potential buyer from scammers. Scammers can fill out a police theft report (complete with s/n from picture) and then lurk for a few months before "discovering" the FS post to report his watch was seen on the Internet.

That makes better sense than protecting your sn from being used on 250,000 bolexes.

[Concord]

A friend bought a ladie's Patek (real) at a garage sale for $ 85.00. Some years later, he sent the S# to Patek to see what information was available. Six weeks later comes a knock on the door. It's the RCMP! The watch had been stolen in the early 1960s! The gendarmes seriously implied that he might have done the deed. He explained to them that he was eight years old when the theft occurred! They took the watch. Rolex watches are a major target for thieves. When we buy a pre-owned Rolex, we don't always know how many owners it has had, and whether it had perhaps been the victim of a theft at one time!

[Billywiz]

Originally Posted by Cc1966

That makes better sense than protecting your sn from being used on 250,000 bolexes.

ah ha!

[DiamondJack]

Originally Posted by 77T

The reason you see people masking the s/n is not a serious roadblock to counterfeiters - they already have all the numbers they need.

The reason is to protect the seller and/or the potential buyer from scammers. Scammers can fill out a police theft report (complete with s/n from picture) and then lurk for a few months before "discovering" the FS post to report his watch was seen on the Internet.

Spot on.... It's all about insurance fraud. A scammer will buy a fake Rolex and then try to find a real serial number to match that model. They then take loads of photos of them wearing the said fake plus will copy the close ups you post with the serial number visable. Then "usually" when on holiday will claim its lost and file a police report and have photos to prove they owned it.

Rolex don't have an international lost watch register so this can go on in various different countries if the scammer is sufficiently organised. The only time you will notice is when following an RSC service, you are informed your watch has been registered stolen and you will need to prove ownership to get it back. Which can be fun if you didn't keep receipts or bought it pre-owned and didn't get a bill of sale.

Indeed, another scam is for the original owner of a real Rolex to sell them pre-owned and if a receipt is not requested, to then make their own insurance claim. If the watch is recently serviced, the chances are that it will be 5 years before the watch goes in for another service and often it will not be an RSC service but an independent.

So always remove the serial number from your photos, always take the location facility off your phone when taking photos and always get receipts when buying pre-owned..... and KEEP them.

[FLY-DOG]

Originally Posted by aeon888

So why can't a counterfeiter just go to several Rolex AD's and pretend to check out their watches while copying or taking note of the serial numbers? There are alot of ways to do it ie pretending to get a wrist shot, or simply writing it down, etc.

How would you do that with the bracelet installed?

[DiamondJack]

Originally Posted by FLY-DOG

How would you do that with the bracelet installed?

The serial number on new watches is on the rehaut so clearly visible hence the original issue about photos.

On older watches, as you correctly point out, the serial number is between the lugs.

[Strcdan]

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

Spot on.... It's all about insurance fraud. A scammer will buy a fake Rolex and then try to find a real serial number to match that model. They then take loads of photos of them wearing the said fake plus will copy the close ups you post with the serial number visable. Then "usually" when on holiday will claim its lost and file a police report and have photos to prove they owned it.

Rolex don't have an international lost watch register so this can go on in various different countries if the scammer is sufficiently organised. The only time you will notice is when following an RSC service, you are informed your watch has been registered stolen and you will need to prove ownership to get it back. Which can be fun if you didn't keep receipts or bought it pre-owned and didn't get a bill of sale.

Indeed, another scam is for the original owner of a real Rolex to sell them pre-owned and if a receipt is not requested, to then make their own insurance claim. If the watch is recently serviced, the chances are that it will be 5 years before the watch goes in for another service and often it will not be an RSC service but an independent.

So always remove the serial number from your photos, always take the location facility off your phone when taking photos and always get receipts when buying pre-owned..... and KEEP them.

Take location facility off the phone when taking pictures? Can u elaborate?

[ec51]

Originally Posted by Billywiz

You know...I reported a crime recently...the detective from the Sheriffs dep't said " Did you give him you bank account number" , I said yes. He then said "Oh thats a very serious error on you part you should never give your bank account number and you must keep it a secret". I said...IT IS PRINTED ON THE FRONT OF EVER SINGLE CHECK WRITTEN HERE IN THE USA.
Amazing isn't it.

This is pretty funny.

One thing I learned after almost ten years in EMS (a previous life) -- most people are dumb.

[rolio]

For all the reasons stated above

[mdozier]

not to hi-jack, but this brings to mind the concept of a "serial" number. Now that they are random (and not serialized or sequentially indexed) I guess it's no longer a "serial" number?

[77T]

Originally Posted by mdozier

not to hi-jack, but this brings to mind the concept of a "serial" number. Now that they are random (and not serialized or sequentially indexed) I guess it's no longer a "serial" number?

Right - prolly better to say ID #

[applebook]

I've never heard a documented account of anyone being seriously screwed over because he published the serial number of his watch on the internet.

Do it if it makes you feel safe, but I personally don't bother.

[bondtoys]

Another reason may be that grey market dealers don't want to disclose to Rolex - where their watches come from.

A Rolex employee may just note the serials in TRF sales ads and identify, who's supplying these sellers

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by anothernewphone

Hahah, mailing a check gives someone your name, address, bank account number... I wish I could gain access to people's accounts that easily. Who would go to work?

Not neccessarily so. They get my first and middle initial, my P. O. Box, no phone number, and I write it in gel ink.

[motoikkyu]

The thing with the false police reports/reporting someone's watch as stolen from you has happened to an acquaintance of mine: it makes sense to be a little cautious in this day and age, and guarding a unique identifier on a prized possession is reasonable. However, as has been discussed on this forum often, the numbers are frequently worn and re-engraved.

[nauticajoe]

No need to share the serial with the world.