How Many Scammers Are There?

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Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:07 pm

Does anyone have a feel for how many scammers there are out there? Is it a small concentration of lads sending many emails, or is it a lot, lot wider than that?

Seems that every now and then we stumble over each others lads...

Not quite a Newb Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 57

Its basically the nigerian economy. So, small and like a rickety bridge over a rocky lake. But the number of actual human beings is 1 scammer for every 3 or 4 non scammers.

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7103 Location: Yes

^^

Interesting analysis. You no doubt have census figures to back this up??

The answer to how many scammers there are is: "Many". On the whole, it's a very small percentage of the overall population obviously, but certainly, in some areas the concentration is higher.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

m1rkd1rk wrote:

Its basically the nigerian economy.

There are scammers worldwide, not just in Nigeria. Wink

Edit to add:

Quote:

It is the 12th largest producer of petroleum in the world and the 8th largest exporter, and has the 10th largest proven reserves and the country was also a founding member of OPEC

*Source

Yes, 419 scams rake in a ton of money, but I doubt it is "basically the nigerian economy"

Not quite a Newb Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 57

Yeh, but u know, nigerias the worst. I have nothing against nigerian people but it is true that a good 70% of that countries entire turnover is brought on by these scams.

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7103 Location: Yes

You will need to stop posting your percentages unless you can point to a verified source.

According to The Economist, the GDP of Nigeria for 2007 was $142 Billion. According to your figures, scammers rake in over $100 Billion. Sources please.

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:28 pm

I think it would be difficult to determine how many scammers are out there. Are you talking about 419 scammers, or scammers in general? If 419 scammers, would it be the ones who are presently active, and not counting ones who are on sabbatical? Or those who have dabbled? And then, how many would actually admit it? And how many would brag about it, only to find that they aren't actually 419-ers at all? Then there are the ones that sorta help out, but don't send the emails.

Quote:

But the number of actual human beings is 1 scammer for every 3 or 4 non scammers.

I think that 25% - 33% may be a bit high. But I really don't know. I would really hate to think that there are that many. It is possible that a lot of them with day jobs do it to supplement income. Most of us have day jobs and spend time baiting them, so they definitely can do this part time. One of mine was a security guard by day and did death threats in his spare time.

But you know, I have to admit that I often catch myself generalizing about Nigerians now. I sorta automatically assume that every Nigerian out there spends time at an internet cafe doing scams.

I was watching the Olympics and saw a Nigerian athlete on camera. My first thought, "well, nice to see that he's taking a break from his scams". I immediatley caught myself and realized that this is wrong!

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:28 pm

This question crops up quite a bit, and no-one really knows the answer for definate. If you look at scamming worldwide, we're certainly talking towards the hundreds of thousands.. some more experienced members put the figure somewhere around 200,000 but it could be more. As scammers are by their nature pretty elusive, you'll never get a proper estimate.

We bump into some of the same ones because we tend to look for them in the same places.

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:41 pm

Call me egoist, but I'm going to quote myself from an <a href="http://forum.419eater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=103851">old thread</a> concerning the same subject.

Me Myself wrote:

there was interesting little information in J.R. McNeill and William H. McNeill's book "The Human Web. A Bird's-Eye View of World History" about Nigeria and Internet. The following quote can be somehat wrong, as I'm translating it to English, but percentages are as they were presented in the book.

"In the year 2000 60% of the people of the United States used Internet on regular basis and of South Koreans about 35%. In Brasil, however, only 6% were users of Internet and in Nigeria less than 0,1% of the population."

Yes, the statistic is eight years old, but I'd still be a little careful with generalizing statements.

I might as well quote what I estimated to be their numbers back in the old thread, as my opinion hasn't really changed since then:

Me Myself wrote:

As for how many there are currently, the answer is simple: too many. Back to baiting.

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:49 pm

^Very interesting.

Quote:

"In the year 2000 60% of the people of the United States used Internet on regular basis and of South Koreans about 35%. In Brasil, however, only 6% were users of Internet and in Nigeria less than 0,1% of the population."

IMO: In case the census is based on connectivity (i.e. customers with a dedicated connection) - Then the figure may be missleading. As we know most scammers (at least in w. Africa) use cafes... So each cafe connection could represent 100s of lads (?)

Oh, BTW, I read somewhere that JMRazor is in fact a lad... :yikes:

See for yourself:

http://forum.419eater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1211574&highlight=#1211574

(The fact that JMR reads The Economist certainly backs this up) Smile

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:45 pm

juju4u wrote:

Oh, BTW, I read somewhere that JMRazor is in fact a lad... :yikes:

That explains why she asked me to marry her! Laughing

I think it would be easier to estimate sums than the number of scammers. A hitman probably can't earn as much as a professional maga.

P.S. Welcome to Eater Very Happy

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:46 pm

Fish in a Blue Bag wrote:

Does anyone have a feel for how many scammers there are out there? Is it a small concentration of lads sending many emails, or is it a lot, lot wider than that?

IMO, ONE is too many. Evil or Very Mad

I am going to start a rumour that the number 419 is used because orignially there were only 419 scammers in the universe. Wink

Fish in a Blue Bag wrote:

Seems that every now and then we stumble over each others lads...

This is due to the Six (or Seven) degrees of Kevin Bacon, or because many baiters pick up their lads from Surplus, or because lads send out mass emails all of the time and the odds are that some us will get the same lad emails. Some sort of statistical thing.

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7103 Location: Yes

~ Niagara, O roar again!,

I've been called many things while on Eater, but never a "she". Interesting.

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:59 pm

ParaNoid wrote:

IMO, ONE is too many. Evil or Very Mad

I am going to start a rumour that the number 419 is used because orignially there were only 419 scammers in the universe. Wink

Or how about that 4:19 is when they call it quits for the day? Presumably, they all take a break at 4:20. Wink

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:40 pm

I actually saw this in The Inquirer (Tech news!) today. Not sure if the figure is correct but it seems to have at least some basis in fact.

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/08/22/nigerian-scam-victims-should

Shemp

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:56 pm

So people who think they've won the lottery, or who think they're helping a refugee get his/her rightful funds, or helping a dying widow disburse her fortune to charity, or help the person they've fallen in love with get un-stranded -- all those people are guilty? Yes, to me they are guilty of being gullible and compassionate, but that isn't a crime in my book. Mad

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 589

Too many

Master Baiter Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 114

m1rkd1rk wrote:

Yeh, but u know, nigerias the worst. I have nothing against nigerian people but it is true that a good 70% of that countries entire turnover is brought on by these scams.

Hmmm, pretty sure that this figure came from The Big Book of Talking Bollocks. Try not to just make stuff up, unless your baiting a scammer, as it lowers the integrity value of the entire forum.

Mod edited. TS

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:29 am

I think it was 132, 573 at last count. Wink

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:37 am

Actually Reaper, it's 132, 575. I just found two more lurking in JM's lad lounge.

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:43 am

Are we talking about how many lads are now in Chad due to some strange church drawing them there? Laughing

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:03 am

About 4, give or take.

They're just very creative.

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:03 am

All we need to know is that there are loads of lads. It's that simple; I don't think we're ever going to get an accurate estimate.

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 7:36 am

<br>In actual fact there are only four in the world. He whose name is never mentioned locks them in the cafe with their scripts and God help any of them that don't come out with some juicy mayee. The word 'chop' in its literal sense springs to mind. Shocked

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:45 am

I hope you're counting Mr G0mer, and there are hundreds of him, and that's just the one who are members of 419eater. If you add in the Lads who are him too then he is hundreds all on his own. Very Happy

I wonder what that pompous Nigerian diplomat's attitude would be about what baiters do. Would he also consider that the Lads are just victims of stupidity and greed too when they go on cross border treks chasing fools money ?

If so - maybe we could make him an honorary 419eater member, or am I just a cynic ?

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