Gun Broker seller's "CAUTION"

Ron Smith · 06-23-2009, 10:48 AM

I was just going through Gun Broker's auctions and happened to notice something that I had over looked in the past.

If you have an item posted on auction. Your State Flag, City State and Zip+4 is prominently displayed. Being an old Postal Worker, a bell rang. I entered the Zip+4 of a seller in a Google search just to see what would happen. I not only got his actual address, but also a photo of this residence.

I have sent GB Admin. the following message:

"FYI, I recently noticed on an auction page that the seller's City, State and Zip + 4 is prominently displayed.
Are you aware that by entering just a Zip code with the additional 4 digit code in a Google search, you can not only trace the seller to his general location or street, but in some cases, his actual house number and a photo of his residence will be displayed.
I thought that I would bring this to the attention of your legal department. It could lead to a very nasty law suit if a burglary or home invasion were traced back to this feature."

Ron

Edward Tinker · 06-23-2009, 11:39 AM

Thanks Ron, I have worried a bit about things like this for a while and when I came to Penn, I got a PO Box and use that for Ebay and Gunbroker, although it was more for when payment time comes, as I noticed that my address was shown to the buyers....

Ed

Ron Smith · 06-23-2009, 11:54 AM

When I first started buying and selling on GB. I got a message from a guy through their site about a Browning HP that I had listed.

He gave me some song and dance about how his Grandmother lived in a dangerous neighborhood in Chicago. He wanted me to sell the HP to him, so he could give it to her for protection. He didn't have a C&R or FFL and wanted me to ship it directly to him. He promised that he wouldn't tell anyone. BATF???

I told him that I wouldn't sell him a gun, even if he was on fire and surrounded by Indians.

Ron

FNorm · 06-23-2009, 04:56 PM

WOW! Good catch, Ron!

FN

Ron Smith · 06-26-2009, 01:26 PM

I received a reply saying that they would check into it. I notice that all of the +4 routing numbers have been removed this morning.

cma22inc · 06-26-2009, 01:29 PM

Well Done!

sheepherder · 06-26-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Smith

If you have an item posted on auction. Your State Flag, City State and Zip+4 is prominently displayed.

I don't ever recall seeing the ZIP+4...Was this something new??? I don't see it now either...

FWIW...I tried my ZIP+4...5 hits...None have my correct address...and no names...City & State are correct...Map is too vague to be any use...

Ron Smith · 06-26-2009, 04:16 PM

It's something that they added to "version 4" of their site.

I entered my zip+4 and I got 4 hits listing the odd numbered house address sequence on my street, which is a short dead end with about 6 or 7 houses on each side.

I entered another arbitrary seller's zip+4, it not only gave me his actual address, but showed a photo of a full front view of his house. That was when I decided to contact them.

The number represents an encoded routing sequence for any or all of a segment of a building, an entire building, section of a street, or an entire street.

The number can also be a part of a city block, or a section of a town. It all depends on the size of your town or city, and the number of homes in your neighborhood, whether you're in an apartment, mobile home park, incorporated neighborhood, suburb, or if your home is rural.

So, it all depends on these circumstances as to what, and how much will come up if you enter the zip+4 in a search.

Ron

Edward Tinker · 06-26-2009, 05:18 PM

Ron, I just entered my zip and +4 and it has my actual home address, albeit with the former owners name, but also with the house under a real estate listing from last year....

sheepherder · 06-26-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Smith

It's something that they added to "version 4" of their site.

OK, I see it now...I still use v2 (default), and the few times I used v4, I did not notice the ZIP+4...but it is there...

I tried a couple; didn't see any names I knew, and the few I tried gave multiple names/addresses...Google seems to be looking for business names...

06-23-2009, 10:48 AM	#1
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Gun Broker seller's "CAUTION" I was just going through Gun Broker's auctions and happened to notice something that I had over looked in the past. If you have an item posted on auction. Your State Flag, City State and Zip+4 is prominently displayed. Being an old Postal Worker, a bell rang. I entered the Zip+4 of a seller in a Google search just to see what would happen. I not only got his actual address, but also a photo of this residence. I have sent GB Admin. the following message: "FYI, I recently noticed on an auction page that the seller's City, State and Zip + 4 is prominently displayed. Are you aware that by entering just a Zip code with the additional 4 digit code in a Google search, you can not only trace the seller to his general location or street, but in some cases, his actual house number and a photo of his residence will be displayed. I thought that I would bring this to the attention of your legal department. It could lead to a very nasty law suit if a burglary or home invasion were traced back to this feature." Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-23-2009, 11:39 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,930 Thanks: 2,030 Thanked 4,527 Times in 2,090 Posts	Thanks Ron, I have worried a bit about things like this for a while and when I came to Penn, I got a PO Box and use that for Ebay and Gunbroker, although it was more for when payment time comes, as I noticed that my address was shown to the buyers.... Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

06-23-2009, 11:54 AM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	When I first started buying and selling on GB. I got a message from a guy through their site about a Browning HP that I had listed. He gave me some song and dance about how his Grandmother lived in a dangerous neighborhood in Chicago. He wanted me to sell the HP to him, so he could give it to her for protection. He didn't have a C&R or FFL and wanted me to ship it directly to him. He promised that he wouldn't tell anyone. BATF??? I told him that I wouldn't sell him a gun, even if he was on fire and surrounded by Indians. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-26-2009, 01:26 PM	#5
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	I received a reply saying that they would check into it. I notice that all of the +4 routing numbers have been removed this morning. __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-26-2009, 01:29 PM	#6
cma22inc User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tampa Bay FL Posts: 93 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Well Done! __________________ Matt A. Tampa, FL (C&R) Collector

06-23-2009, 04:56 PM	#4
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	WOW! Good catch, Ron! FN

06-26-2009, 04:16 PM	#8
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	It's something that they added to "version 4" of their site. I entered my zip+4 and I got 4 hits listing the odd numbered house address sequence on my street, which is a short dead end with about 6 or 7 houses on each side. I entered another arbitrary seller's zip+4, it not only gave me his actual address, but showed a photo of a full front view of his house. That was when I decided to contact them. The number represents an encoded routing sequence for any or all of a segment of a building, an entire building, section of a street, or an entire street. The number can also be a part of a city block, or a section of a town. It all depends on the size of your town or city, and the number of homes in your neighborhood, whether you're in an apartment, mobile home park, incorporated neighborhood, suburb, or if your home is rural. So, it all depends on these circumstances as to what, and how much will come up if you enter the zip+4 in a search. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-26-2009, 05:18 PM	#9
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,930 Thanks: 2,030 Thanked 4,527 Times in 2,090 Posts	Ron, I just entered my zip and +4 and it has my actual home address, albeit with the former owners name, but also with the house under a real estate listing from last year....