Requests for serial number photos when selling a used bike

Triathlon Forum
1

I have had three separate requests for photos of the serial number on the bike I am selling. Am I being naive to think that the potential buyers are just protecting themselves against the potential for a replica “knock off frameset” or…
…are these folks using the serial number photo to post a fake ad and scam someone else using the photos of my bike and it’s serial number?

Thoughts?

2

On higher value used bikes I always ask for a photo of the serial number and then call the manufacturer to verify it’s not a fake.

3

tricky situation indeed
For an honest buyer, I can see the need to have some proof of authentication of the frameset.
And for scammers, the need to harvest official serial numbers.
To make life a bit more difficult for the scammers while still servicing an honest buyer, I would atleast add some sort of watermark (like you can use for photo’s of ID’s) to the photo; in which you might include the buyers’ name, date and anything else to make it difficult to use as a generic scam photo.

4

Police or bike theft victims tracking down stolen bikes?

5

tricky situation indeed
For an honest buyer, I can see the need to have some proof of authentication of the frameset.
And for scammers, the need to harvest official serial numbers.
To make life a bit more difficult for the scammers while still servicing an honest buyer, I would atleast add some sort of watermark (like you can use for photo’s of ID’s) to the photo; in which you might include the buyers’ name, date and anything else to make it difficult to use as a generic scam photo.

Good points.

To prove to somebody an item isn’t stolen, I’d probably instead provide a receipt of some kind that blurs out any sensitive information and tell them “call the shop” or “call up Pro’s Closet” or wherever you got it.

If a bike is beyond the 2nd owner, nope. Won’t do it. For a 1st owner bike, perfectly reasonable. Otherwise the paper trail gets a bit ridiculous. You show an image the 1st owner showed you and you show your Paypal paid to the 1st owner as you the 2nd owner? Nah. I’d just pass.

For a local, I’d just offer to meet in person up to 25mi away.

6

Tell them that they can come see the serial number in person.