Who are the victims of scams?

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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 6:23 am

I am interested in a breakdown of the demographics of scam victims.

Ages, locations, education....that sort of thing. can anyone point me to any information?

I keep wondering about how, as the population ages, a new generation is coming up with a higher level of computer literacy. (Sometimes I think with a higher level of cynicism as well). Does that translate into a lower number of potential victims in the future just through education? Or is it just a matter of the scammers evolving to meet this new challenge in ways we haven't seen yet?

I am interested in anyones thoughts on this.

Cheers

Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 7:23 am

www.scamwarners.com

have a look there

as far as ages go, I'd say 10% of the people that are new to the net, will get sucked in at some stage with a scam or phishing atempt.

it may be a romance, a refugee, a NOK, or just the usual craigslist/ebay scam, but they will be hit

If you want more specific details, sorry, we don't keep that, but I will venture a guess that the USA does figure highly in the victim figures

We deal with and see victims from everywhere in Scamwarmers, there is not time to collate or categorise as you ask.

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 18313

You probably won't find very accurate statistics, because victims aren't necessarily reporting this crime. Even those who are reporting it or finding help aren't all going to the same place for that help. Additionally, when we talk to victims at scamwarners, we don't always know their demographics.

I would say that as people become more aware of the standard NOK and orphan formats, the other types of scams are probably increasing: the fake check overpayment scams from auction sites, fake job (payment rep) scams and romance scams

I also notice an increase of victims in their 60's or older and victims from Asia, but that is based on my perspective and not on any statistics.

Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 5:51 pm

Quote:

Ages, locations, education....that sort of thing. can anyone point me to any information?

That's just the stuff that the internet takes away, if you can type and have access to a computer you're a possible victim. If you're not careful with your personal info, don't run a firewall or virus scanner you are bound to get trouble, no matter what age or language.
It is a "new" door to your home and lots of people haven't found out that the bad guys enter there too.
In the early days, if it was printed on computer paper (matrix printer, special lined perforated paper) it was true, no matter what. Wink

There is no internet school so everybody learns by trial and error, some pay a lot of learning money though. Confused

Adamu's soulmate Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 337

I would say its impossible to know for sure as so many people will never admit to having been scammed due I would think to feeling foolish for having believed.

I would hope that over time and as people become more aware through sites such as this and reports in the media etc that the public will generally recognise a scam when they see one. Particularly the most obvious ones.

Also anyone who uses internet/email on a regular basis would, I hope wonder just how many times its possible to win the Canadian/Spanish/anywhere else in the world lottery that you didnt enter. I win at least 6 times a week Or why so may top officials throughout the world need their help to get money out of their country.

Having said all of that we still know that many many people do fall victim and that new scams are circulating all the time Sad

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:28 am

I don't want to

, so I will say, look at the emails that get forwarded to you from your friends and family. All of those are potential victims (or active victims) to a scam. Too often the junk that is passed around is a vehicle to gather email addresses for scammers (not to mention it is annoyinig, invasive and silly).

The subject would make a good topic for a thesis. We occasionally get a graduate student stopping by looking for an easy thesis. Now we have one!

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 689

A generalisation would simply be anyone that is vulnerable.

For some it's religion for others it's an easy way out of hard times, it's charity, it's aiding the dying ... it's greed, it's naievity, it's sex. They're all vulnerabilities and those avenues are all exploited ruthlessly by lads and spammers alike.

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:11 pm

It's impossible to say as most scams go unreported, either the vic feels stupid and doesn't want to go to the police or the police take zero interest as they can't do anything. Anyone is a potential victim, you can read stories of rich intelligent people falling for scams or poor, uneducated ones.
There is no 'victim' template I'm afraid.

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 3:38 pm

Thank you all for your input!

I guess my greatest area of interest is in trends. For example:

- Is scamming a Baby Boomer phenomemum (probably spelled that wrong Very Happy

)? From anecdotal evidence it seems that Boomers figure heavily as the victims of scams. Will scamming rise as boomers continue to age? Will scamming decline when Boomers are out of the picture?

- Are the younger generations going to be less vulnerable to these scams since they are more computer literate (and I think more cynical of what they see around them in many ways)?

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:27 pm

Scamming will decline when it no longer makes the scammers money. Not before. As long as a scammer thinks they can play the numbers game for a profit, they'll try it.

And I think your "trend" will depend heavily on what sort of scam you're discussing. I find young people/young parents are far more likely to fall for a pet scam. They promise junior a purebred whatever and think they can save $400 by taking this doggie from this lady in Cameroon who is in the Peace Corps...

I also find, personally, I talk to more young victims of fake check scams. Seems they haven't learned the lesson of "The bank will always work this stuff to their advantage and screw you over if possible". They just trust the bank is nice and friendly and won't yank that cash back so fast it will make your head spin.

Quote:

- Are the younger generations going to be less vulnerable to these scams since they are more computer literate (and I think more cynical of what they see around them in many ways)?

(snort) Um, I work in a college. In the IT department. It's purely undergrad, and for that matter, supposedly one of the top colleges in the States, particularly of its size. You would think these kids would be reasonably savvy, right? Or at least that the faculty would be?

These kids regularly stun me with how naive they can be. See, ten to fifteen years ago, you had to work a bit harder and be a bit savvier to get online. Now, anyone can do it if you can pay a bill to your phone company.

The myth that "kids today" are more "computer literate" amuses me mightily. Yes, they don't usually run screaming at the idea of using a computer the way your granny might (depending on your granny). Do they know any more about safety on a computer, protecting themselves online or not falling for simple phishing or scams than the average college student did ten years ago? Nope. They know how to go online and download music. They know how to "facebook" and "myspace", and can usually use email, but that's it. They'll still click anything, trust anyone and misuse and abuse technology like crazy. We still have kids trusting their lone copy of their term paper to a floppy they stick in their back pocket. They don't know the basic workings of the internet or the computer.

Case in point, in the last two weeks, we have had to have not one, but TWO separate public smackdowns on our user base at large (supposedly top college students and PhDs who attract top college students...) about not 1a) emailing the entire campus by actually copying and pasting everyone in the address book into the "To" line and 1b) when someone is stupid enough to do 1a, please don't 1c) do the same thing when you reply and or 1d) use frigging reply all to email all several thousand people in that email with your exceedingly witty "LOL" or "Please remove me from this list!" which tends to bring the email server to its knees after about 20 exchanges and 2) No, we do NOT frigging email everyone on campus and give them mere hours to reply to a gmail address with their password so we can "combat expiring passwords", or else their account will be locked tomorrow.

This doesn't even begin to count the number of students we have who come in with hosed machines because they installed The Most Obvious Malware Ever and, yes, we've had students ask if standard scams we've all seen here (generally sweeps or lottery scams) were true.

No, college kids today aren't more cynical, especially if you seem to be offering something or just plain old seem nonthreatening. I'm slightly disturbed that I've never, in all the time I've been here, had a college student challenge or even ask me what I'm doing when I just pop in off the street, without anyone in the office having a clue who I am, and ask for access to someone's office or computer. Yes, I'm all of five feet of generally smiling female, but I don't think I look THAT trustworthy, and hell, half the staff/faculty don't even know I work here, much less the students.

I get the impression they are similarly blindly trusting of people in their inbox. It's probably good that we have a pretty tight spam filter.

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:44 pm

Thank you! Food for thought. There is probably a doctorate or two to be made on this subject!!!

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:45 pm

There is a greater chance of success for a scammer against the less enlightened and financially desperate but I have read of cases of a University Professor in the USA getting hooked in a fake cheque scam, a financial advisor in Australia who paid over A$1m (not his money either) and the mayor of a reasonable sized town in the UK who actually flew out to Africa.

There is a stage in both scamming and bating where the subject is so deeply drawn in to the tale that there is hardly an earthly force that can prevent them sinking deeper into the pit.

When you have a Lad in that situation you suddenly realise that however unbelievable it may appear that intelligent people fall for these stories, there is a stage at which reason goes out of the window, and Lads are similarly vulnerable.

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 11:04 pm

It is easier to fall for when , you are 40+ like me , and lonely , you don't want to die alone , thinking that these foreign women are different somehow than American women , different cultures and values , it seems that way at first , you think that you may have a chance , your heart takes over ... not using your head . Then you realize in my case , If it sounds to good to be true , it usually is . Then they ask the money question ... I am thankful for sites like this , it verified my suspisions , ... but I still feel like crap .

Almost scammed in USA

Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:18 am

^^Welcome, and I am glad you are an "almost scammed". Please do post information about the scammer at our sister site (www.scamwarners.com). It can help others to find the M/O and email addresses used.

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:09 am

THX , even though I am a little crazy right now , mods correcting me
Just Pissed

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:22 am

I'm sorry that you were almost a victim, nicetry. Sad

It really isn't your age - There are many many victims of love scams from all age groups. Love scammers are really good at what they do. They will groom you for a long time, send you pictures of gorgeous woman, know exactly what to say and once they are convinced you are in love, they ask for the money. .

Quote:

THX , even though I am a little crazy right now , mods correcting me
Just Pissed

They're just trying to keep the board tidy. Very Happy

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:52 am

Full requote of previous post deleted. See it ^^^^

Thx , I was seriously considering selling one of my $20 gold pieces until I found this forum , donated $25 , damn worth it ... I have had a few laughs along the way , I love women , they just don't love me , I guess that I am wearing a cellaphane wrapper on my head that says sucker ... lol... scammed once for $300 , numerous others have tried ...

Edit : Maybe I am perfect bait material ... I am an evil bastard .

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 689

Well nicetry21 in due course and having learned all about it ("read the stickies, get a mentor") paying the beggars back is truly wonderful and the best therapy.

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:00 pm

Would definitely get a mentor here , would love a real good Vlad trophy ..
" The Feast of Resitance " .

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 689

Just never imagine the picture they try to paint of a pretty/lonely girl with nice ... teeth etc.

See the reality ... slob of a guy in vert and shorts, puffing on something noxious in a sleazy cafe in downtown "Anyville, Some Country". A GUY totally prepared to trample his own mother into the dirt or worse to get your cash.

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:14 pm

The person ! If he can play that role , he seriously wants something , ...

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 689

Now what sort of fun do you think Nurse Nasty gets up to with an amourous lad?

It aint pretty I tell you! Twisted Evil

BTW - stop fully quoting the previous thread (da mods dey 'ate eet!)

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 5:37 pm

I've removed the excessive quotes. Very Happy

Please - there is no need to quote the previous thread when replying to a post. Hit the reply button as opposed to "quote" Wink

Baiting Guru Joined: 17 Sep 2006 Posts: 5905

A lot of people on here understandbly have a downer on Ultrascan especially the recently departed SP because they charge victims a fee to try and recover money for them. However if it is stats you are interested in they have done some pretty impressive looking research, how valid it is remains unchallenged.

http://www.ultrascan.nl/assets/applets/2007_Stats_on_419_AFF_feb_19_2008_version_1.7.pdf

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 3:17 pm

That is an interesting document. It is full of statisitics but not a single footnote to say where any of the information is coming from. I am not saying that what they are saying is false but is does leave things wide open to exaggeration. Certainly some, if not most, of the statistical information is anecdotal in nature.

EDIT: Yes I agree the site looks dodgy. It seems obvious they are one of those scam money recovery outfits.

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