Advice

[+eatsleepcry]

I got an email today from a member saying

 

"You have posted pictures that clearly show the tracking code. That is supposed to be secret, only known by somebody who actually has the trackable in their possession

 

I am 5000 miles away I could post a log or "virtualy" grab it from you. It doesn't happen alot but that is why on the Travel bug page the TB also has a reference code"

 

I was aware I had taken photos incorrectly

 

I would like to try and understand what I did wrong and why, how could someone grab the trackable from a photo?

 

I am sorry if I made a noob mistake

 

Sarah x

[+The Blorenges]

OK...

 

The tracking number of any trackable item (travel bug, travel tag, geocoin) is the "magic" number that allows cachers to log a discovery on the item, or to move it out of / into caches - i.e. move it around the world.

 

I think most trackable owners want their item to receive real logs from people who have genuinely seem the real item, not simply a photograph of it somewhere on line.

 

There are cachers for whom numbers are everything and they'll actively search on-line photos of trackables to glean visible tracking numbers, and then use them to make "fake" discovery logs and sometimes the numbers get put onto list which are then circulated around among other geocachers who can also log the items etc etc... ad infinitum. If you want to refer to a trackable in a log, or forum post, or some other public place, then you can either mention it by name or use its public reference number, the one that starts with TB*****, and this can be found near the top of every trackable's home page.

 

You can delete the photo that you posted, erase the tracking number with a bit of photographic photoshop sorcery, then re-post the santized pic.

 

Read a bit more about it on this topic:

 

Please do not post tracking numbers online!

 

MrsB

[Pup Patrol]

Groundspeak Forums > Trackables > The Travel Bug

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=94185

 

 

 

B.

[+eatsleepcry]

OK...

 

The tracking number of any trackable item (travel bug, travel tag, geocoin) is the "magic" number that allows cachers to log a discovery on the item, or to move it out of / into caches - i.e. move it around the world.

 

I think most trackable owners want their item to receive real logs from people who have genuinely seem the real item, not simply a photograph of it somewhere on line.

 

There are cachers for whom numbers are everything and they'll actively search on-line photos of trackables to glean visible tracking numbers, and then use them to make "fake" discovery logs and sometimes the numbers get put onto list which are then circulated around among other geocachers who can also log the items etc etc... ad infinitum. If you want to refer to a trackable in a log, or forum post, or some other public place, then you can either mention it by name or use its public reference number, the one that starts with TB*****, and this can be found near the top of every trackable's home page.

 

You can delete the photo that you posted, erase the tracking number with a bit of photographic photoshop sorcery, then re-post the santized pic.

 

Read a bit more about it on this topic:

 

Please do not post tracking numbers online!

 

MrsB

 

Thanks mrs B, will do

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

What MrsB said... plus... the reference number that you mentioned allows folks access to the Trackable page and info however, they cannot perform any (action) logs with that number.

The tracking number itself is... well, supposed to be used ONLY by the person that has the trackable in-hand. Posting it in a photo opens the door for "less-than-good-doers".

 

You say that you received an email asking for you to remove it... you needn't necessarily removed the photo, but you should eradicate the number in the photo.

 

As an aside -- BOTH of the TB's that you have had contact with, you posted photos for each showing the number.

[+BlueDeuce]

TB photos (sans tracking number) are welcomed and appreciated. Keep posting those photos!

[+Bear and Ragged]

TB photos (sans tracking number) are welcomed and appreciated. Keep posting those photos!

 

Yes! But not with the tracking number on show...