If, like Unspun and the millions of internet users out there, you’re fed up with receiving endless e-mail from someone posing as the relative of some deposed African Dictator trying to scam you, then read this article by Tom Crampton, whom Unspun knew in his Asia Times days.
Tom’s gone on to a great career at IHT and this is a an amusing story he’s written. Makes you feel good that there are people out there giving payback to those scam artists who spam us with their inane ploys. Check out some of the tricks the scambaiters plan on the scammers. LOL.
When Unspun grows up he wants to be a scambaiter.
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Scamming the e-mail scammers
By Thomas Crampton
Published: July 1, 2007
PARIS: Ever been tempted to respond to that e-mail message offering untold millions from the relatives of a deposed African dictator?
For some, replying to these Internet scams is a rewarding hobby. Calling themselves scam-baiters, ordinary citizens have started taking justice into their own hands.
Scam-baiters turn the tables and scam the scammers. They antagonize, humiliate and frustrate scammers who think they have unwary victims. The baiters trade tips, tales and “trophies” on thriving discussion boards like those at 419eater.com, scamorama.com and aa419.org. The 419 is a reference to the section of the Nigerin penal code that addresses fraud.
“My reason for scam-baiting is to waste the time and resources of the scammer,” said Scam Patroller, who declined to provide any identification beyond an e-mail address. “Each minute a scammer spends on my bait cannot be used to scam a real victim.” |
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Yes, it’s true, this one’s really funny. I know of one guy who tricked a Nigerian scammer into calling him, long-distance for 1/2 an hour, including a 20-minute wait, after the promise of a massive investment, only to tell the scammer he’d “changed his mind.” The expletives were colourful. :-0
Haha, the scammers getting scammed. The next such letters will surely get my interested reply and start wasting their energy and time and hopefully reduce their capability and manpower to trap more victims. Good Idea!!!
I like the way this person thinks.
I just retired and now have time to play their stupid little games and have a bit of fun at the same time.
Thanks for a good idea.
@pobept: Hope you have lots of fun in your retirement and succeed in scam-baiting the scammers. Also please share your success stories here. we all love a good story when these scammers get the short end of the stick!