ok to tell someone serial number?

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dviantdviant
Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
I'm selling my old Powerbook on ebay and got an interesting question from a potential buyer. He says hes a Certified Apple Technician and recently got burned on Ebay because the machine wasn't exactly what the seller claimed it was. So he is asking for my Powerbook's serial number so he could verify it with Apple before bidding. Assumedly to verify the Applecare and whatever else he could.



Is there any potential harm in me giving this out? Is there any way I could get burned by someone having my machine serial number?



I'd like to be helpful but am wary.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 21
    formerlurkerformerlurker Posts: 2,686member
    It's possible that he wants to know more about you as well. An Apple Tech will have access to Apple's "Vantive" database, which will show your name, address, phone, and e-mail, if your computer is registered, or has ever been serviced, and that info will be tied to your machine's serial number.



    Honestly, I suppose there is no harm as long as both of you are on the up-and-up.
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  • Reply 2 of 21
    dviantdviant Posts: 483member
    Well thats just it, I don't know this guy at all just a single email with the request. My listing isn't hiding anything, just not sure if I care to give some stranger info like that?
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  • Reply 3 of 21
    johnqjohnq Posts: 2,763member
    Don't do it.



    No one but a scammer would ask for that.
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  • Reply 4 of 21
    dviantdviant Posts: 483member
    So if he is an ACT, can he find my computers info just by using my name? or my email address? or does he need serial first.



    Or is there a way that I can verify that he's an ACT somehow? That might make me trust him more if I knew who he was.
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  • Reply 5 of 21
    sailfishsailfish Posts: 163member
    People have been burned on eBay, people sell stolen computers on ebay.



    It could be THE COPS!, RUN!



    Ok, just kidding. Ask for his name and run it by Apple, say your concerned that someone is passing themselves off as a ACT, if it checks out then your ok.



    I'm sure a ACT can get his hands on a cheap Apple anytime, wonder why he wants yours?
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  • Reply 6 of 21
    torifiletorifile Posts: 4,024member
    He may want your serial number to pass off later as a serial number for a "computer" he's trying to sell. I'd be wary.
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  • Reply 7 of 21
    alcimedesalcimedes Posts: 5,486member
    well, you might also want to call up apple and see if you need to give him the entire SN for him to know the make model. i'm sure just part of it contains all of that info.
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  • Reply 8 of 21
    keilwerthrebornkeilwerthreborn Posts: 129member
    He may also suspect you're selling his recently-stolen computer.
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  • Reply 9 of 21
    macusersmacusers Posts: 840member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by KeilwerthReborn

    He may also suspect you're selling his recently-stolen computer.



    I could see that as being a pretty good explanation, but still you don't know this guy at all... maybe ask his name and run it by Apple...
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  • Reply 10 of 21
    dviantdviant Posts: 483member
    Did a little digging based on his email address... from some kind of Apple Reseller in Boston. Registrar email for the domain matches up, apparently had the address since 1996. There's a phone number, maybe I'll just call him heh. Think that'd be too "i track3d you down with my (not so) l33t int3rn0t sk33lz" ?



    They're selling a AIBook 1ghz for $1852 with "no shipping charges/units drop shipped from Apple". Is that legal?
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  • Reply 11 of 21
    vox barbaravox barbara Posts: 2,021member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by dviant

    I'd like to be helpful but am wary.



    perhaps you are the guy, who is gathering some information and we all, naw ... er ...



    Off top of my head there are two things you should consider:

    1. The guy is a cop. And if you don't give your serial you surely get under survey.



    or



    the guy is a burgler and if you give your serial no., the guy has another one to trade with.



    yes indeed.
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  • Reply 12 of 21
    bartobarto Posts: 2,246member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by alcimedes

    well, you might also want to call up apple and see if you need to give him the entire SN for him to know the make model. i'm sure just part of it contains all of that info.



    Nope, you need to enter the whole serial number. Damn I miss being an Apple technician...



    Barto
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  • Reply 13 of 21
    agent macintoshagent macintosh Posts: 187member
    DO NOT GIVE HIM YOUR SERIAL NUMBER!
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  • Reply 14 of 21
    dviantdviant Posts: 483member
    hey Barto... can he find the information he needs if I just give him my name? I don't feel comfortable handing out the machines serial, especially after some of the scam suggestions posted here lol (paranoia sets in). If he is legit I'm assuming he's just looking to see if my 1yr of Applecare is there, if its a Combo drive not a DVD etc.
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  • Reply 15 of 21
    alcimedesalcimedes Posts: 5,486member
    if you have a digital camera, take a photo of the system profiler. sure it could be faked, but that should be good enough for most people. just blur out the S/N.
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  • Reply 16 of 21
    macusersmacusers Posts: 840member
    just take a screen shot of the system profiler and blur the serial... he might think your hiding something but that's the same thing we're thinking about him, so let em deal with it.



    You could use a digital camera, it would look more non-fake
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  • Reply 17 of 21
    dviantdviant Posts: 483member
    Just got off the phone with Applecare. They said I probably should be hesitant in giving out my unique machine's serial. Although really the worse they could do from Apple's end is attach their name to the machine, machines can have as many users attached to them as you want. They support the machine not the person (ie you could put your whole family on there). Some of the other scenarios presented here are what are really bothersome.



    The Applecare guy said that if he did indeed have access to the Apple database with all that information he would be considered a "trusted" technician and should be able to access that with just my phone number (like Applecare does when you call in).
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  • Reply 18 of 21
    macusersmacusers Posts: 840member
    You said this guy doesn't work directly for Apple right? So then he isn't an AppleCare guy at all... I don't know.. I would send just a shot of my system profiler
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  • Reply 19 of 21
    torifiletorifile Posts: 4,024member
    Do the system profiler thing and if that's not enough, screw him. It's not like it's a tight market for sellers on eBay, esp. Apple products. You'll find someone else to buy it.
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  • Reply 20 of 21
    murbotmurbot Posts: 5,262member
    torifile's right. I used to jump through hoops for buyers, then I realized that 99% of the time the guys end up not bidding anyway.... do the system profiler, send some photos of the product, and leave it at that.



    If he decides not to bid, too bad for him. There are thousands more waiting to overpay for your computer, don't you worry.



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