We all know what a serial number is, right? It often acts as an identifier for a specific electronic device, usually used in contacting tech support or getting warranty coverage. If you buy something used and find the serial number missing, you can be reasonably sure you've got a stolen item on your hands.
Anyway, I had a guy call in today asking for the serial number off an Acer desktop.
My co-worker fielded the call. It was interesting for me to watch the exchange. Co-worker first thought the guy wanted the model number, so that's what he gave him. Nope, that wasn't it. So co-worker gives him the SKU, then the UPC. Niether of those are what the caller wants. Finally, co-worker shows me the UPC and says, "That's the serial number, right?" No. No it's not. Co-worker passed the call over to me.
I confirmed that the guy wanted the serial number. That was suspicious to me, so I asked him why he needed it.
SC: I just want to look it up on their website.
Me: You can look up computer information by model number.
SC: I'm not looking for specs, though.
Me: I'm confused, then. What are you looking for, and why do you need the serial number for it?
SC: I'm trying to get to their tech support site, and it won't let me in without a serial number.
I decided I was better off playing it safe. I told him I could not give out the serial number. Of course he wanted to know why, and I tried to explain that someone (not him specifically) might try to use that serial number fraudulently, such as registering software or getting tech support for a computer they don't own. He complained some more, at which point I asked why his own serial number wasn't good enough. He didn't have one. That said to me that he either didn't have one of those computer models, or he had one that was somehow missing its serial and he wanted a replacement.
So I again refused him. He said, "Whatever," and hung up on me.
I'm still thinking about this one, though. Am I right to have been suspicious? Did I do the right thing by refusing him? What could he have needed with that serial number anyway? Any ideas anybody?
Anyway, I had a guy call in today asking for the serial number off an Acer desktop.
My co-worker fielded the call. It was interesting for me to watch the exchange. Co-worker first thought the guy wanted the model number, so that's what he gave him. Nope, that wasn't it. So co-worker gives him the SKU, then the UPC. Niether of those are what the caller wants. Finally, co-worker shows me the UPC and says, "That's the serial number, right?" No. No it's not. Co-worker passed the call over to me.
I confirmed that the guy wanted the serial number. That was suspicious to me, so I asked him why he needed it.
SC: I just want to look it up on their website.
Me: You can look up computer information by model number.
SC: I'm not looking for specs, though.
Me: I'm confused, then. What are you looking for, and why do you need the serial number for it?
SC: I'm trying to get to their tech support site, and it won't let me in without a serial number.
I decided I was better off playing it safe. I told him I could not give out the serial number. Of course he wanted to know why, and I tried to explain that someone (not him specifically) might try to use that serial number fraudulently, such as registering software or getting tech support for a computer they don't own. He complained some more, at which point I asked why his own serial number wasn't good enough. He didn't have one. That said to me that he either didn't have one of those computer models, or he had one that was somehow missing its serial and he wanted a replacement.
So I again refused him. He said, "Whatever," and hung up on me.
I'm still thinking about this one, though. Am I right to have been suspicious? Did I do the right thing by refusing him? What could he have needed with that serial number anyway? Any ideas anybody?
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