Facebook scammer tried it on with my Nikon gear

[andrewc]

You can tell- use the AskMid database and run the plate on one of these tyre finder sites. If it brings up the make and model of the correct car, its legit. If it's on AskMid it's legit.

If it fails one or both these tests - call dibble

Get vehicle information from DVLA

Check a vehicle's details, tax and SORN status and expiry dates on the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA) database - online and telephone enquiries

www.gov.uk

Check the MOT history of a vehicle

Check the MOT history of a vehicle from 2005 onwards, including if it passed or failed, its mileage and why it failed, download MOT test certificate

www.gov.uk

Both should be the latest versions.

Not sure which gets updated first if a car is stolen. The owner will still have an insurance policy outstanding and it will still be a silver BMW or something. Fake plates from another silver BMW could be used as well to disguise matters.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Fake plates from another silver BMW could be used as well to disguise matters.

Which is why VINs are now placed in visible locations around the bodywork. Number plates can be changed easily but changing a VIN is made as hard as possible.

 

[nog]

You can tell- use the AskMid database and run the plate on one of these tyre finder sites. If it brings up the make and model of the correct car, its legit. If it's on AskMid it's legit.

If it fails one or both these tests - call dibble

Would think plates are likely to be clone of same car model and colour though

EDIT. I should read all posts before replying

 

[WaltonR]

Wait up.... this isn't a watch forum, it's a tography forum. You sure she doesn't have a closet watch hobby?

Nahh! She just watches me! That's boring enough for anybody.

 

[andrewc]

Which is why VINs are now placed in visible locations around the bodywork. Number plates can be changed easily but changing a VIN is made as hard as possible.

Which is fine if you have priviliged access to information, but for most of the population looking up AB123XYZ on any website will report a silver BMW, but without being able to compare the chassis number against the V5 for that car or other manufacturered issued documents, will not tell you if its the silver BMW in question or another similar car.