A while back there was a similarly-themed post here, or possibly on another PTG-managed list. At the time, I suggested a centralized notice board, rather than relying on everyone keeping a few emails for a long time or searching the archives for non-specific search terms. Surprisingly this doesn't seem to happen very often, but I think a public link from the <a href="http://www.ptg.org">www.ptg.org</a> home page with un-resolved thefts would be beneficial.  If a tech's new "customer" seems suspicious in describing his/her new acquisition, the tech could simply check the list. If a potential buyer is suspicious of a seller, s/he could check the publicly-accessible list. Perhaps a re-builder who stamps/stencils the serial number on the sound board could/should additionally record it elsewhere in a less conspicuous location in the piano... e.g. on the underside of the pinblock or on the keybed. Limiting such alerts to a few listservs limits the audience that becomes aware of a crime. I know that there are numerous techs who see a good many pianos over the course of a month that are too busy to monitor this list. Thoughts? Paul Bruesch Stillwater, MN <div>On 6/14/07, Kent Swafford <<a href="mailto:kswafford@gmail.com">kswafford@gmail.com</a>> wrote: <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Just when you thought you had heard everything -- A member of the KC chapter sold a piano, Steinway 190341, and was paid with counterfeit money orders. (The scam apparently included a bogus mechanism for checking the authenticity of the money orders.) The customer and piano have, surprise, surprise, disappeared. Any info on the piano would be appreciated. Send info to the PTG office, to me at <a href="mailto:kswafford@gmail.com">kswafford@gmail.com</a> and/or to <a href="mailto:KnottStudios@aol.com">KnottStudios@aol.com</a> Kent </blockquote></div>