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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 12:00 pm

My fellow Americans,

Well, I signed up here a while ago then was busy with stuff in RL so did not get a chance to even really get started. Well, finally remembered this and come back to find my bait account that I put out there to get the attention of lads has over four hundred messages!

Well, I figured most would be messages about enlarging my... well you know. Turns out most of them are 419 scams!

So, my question is. With a few hundred messages to choose from where do I start? As this is my first bait what should I look for in a 419 that would make it a good one to start myself out on?

Those ones that try to claim they are a religious person or even a pastor really get me mad. Maybe I should start with one of them.

John Henry Eden, President of the Enclave

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

Yep, go with the ones that interest you. A good illness scammer or religous nut can keep you amused for ages.

Just make sure you've read all the stickies, know how to bait safely, have signed up for a mentor ... and got your anti-lad hugging jab from Nurse Nasty.

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

In the beginning, it almost doesn't matter, as all you are trying to do right now is get comfortable with the lingo, the rhythm, and the manner of the bait. You should just "bait straight" at first, and get the lad producing his script. Then start taking steps to assert control over the lad and see what does and doesn't work.

Given that you have hundreds of emails to choose from, and given that there are tens of thousands more destined for your inbox, you have the luxury of abundance.

As you get better, you'll start to figure out what you are good at and what lads you enjoy baiting. I've always enjoyed church baits, but from the perspective of creating my own church, rather than engaging in the lad's religion.

Anyway, as noted, get a mentor ASAP. He/she will be very valuable to you. Good luck.

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 12:21 pm

My fellow Americans,

I have read the stickies and there is much good advice there that I will follow. And I always try for safety online; even my best friends online who I have known for five years do not know my real name. I am kind of obsessed with posting in character on forums though (If it gets annoying just let me know).

I will sign up for a mentor shortly, got a project here at the office to work on right now though that just came up. Back in a couple of hours.

John Henry Eden, President of the Enclave, President of your life.

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

John Henry Eden wrote:

I am kind of obsessed with posting in character on forums though (If it gets annoying just let me know).

That's a promise. Wink

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 1:10 pm

who are you calling American? Wink

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 1:58 pm

I second that question! Why do you address us as "fellow Americans" when a goodly percentage are not citizens of that Federation?

Not quite a Newb Joined: 06 Aug 2006 Posts: 37

I, for one, am quite offended for being called American.

Despite my namesake.

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 2:09 pm

Yastreb wrote:

I second that question! Why do you address us as "fellow Americans" when a goodly percentage are not citizens of that Federation?

Ever play Fallout 3? John Henry Eden is the President of the United States/Enclave. Well, there is more to it than that, but telling would be spoilers.

Here are some of his speeches from one of the in game radio stations, Enclave Radio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWVvJ0awR8Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvqo2liiDiE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnmIiXygUxc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mn4kpD5U3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q5PZtp134U

And yes, I know he does not say "My fellow Americans" exactly often but I was in a rush this morning so just slapped that on.

How about "My fellow Baiters" or something similar.

Master Baiter Joined: 23 Sep 2008 Posts: 236

Welcome to 418Eater, and fighting the good fight! Razz

Your best bet might be to start off by straight baiting several different examples of the different scam types out there, and seeing which you have most fun with.

I prefer Lottery Scammers, since for some reason they seem to believe me more than the NoK or Trunkbox ones. Other's stick with just Cheque Scammers, Craiglist Scammers, or Love Scammers. It just takes a while to find your niche (unless yours is wiping out the ghouls).

Fallout 3 for the win Very Happy

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 4:34 pm

Dear Colonist,

As NNN points out, go with the ones that interest you. First baits are easier if the subject of the scam is something that you have a degree of knowledge of but remember the lad is totally ignorant of whatever his line is.

For example, if you choose a few Gold offers, ask for an assay report, spectograph analysis, DeBeers Standard Appraisal Photographs and always insist on an invoice before you even consider weston onions.

As MA points out, most baiters find their niche after a few weeks and then really begin to have fun.

King George IV

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 4:57 pm

In contrast to Inkerman, I have more fun with baits where I know exactly nothing about the topic. It's the lad's job to educate me about the details.

I would like to post "in character" but no one appreciates the contributions of a filthy drunken layabout. Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh, fffrrrrrrsssshhhhhhh GONNA KILL YOU rrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh zzzzzzzzzz

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 5:24 pm

Fallout 3 ...hmmm never heard of it Rolling Eyes

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 5:39 pm

Quote:

In contrast to Inkerman, I have more fun with baits where I know exactly nothing about the topic. It's the lad's job to educate me about the details.

Exactly. Find out what you are happy with and go down that route. None of the advice (especially mine) is necessarily right for you, it just gets you off and running.

Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 8:17 pm

My fellow baiters. I am proud to report that the infinite resources of the Enclave have found a couple of good lads to start baiting on. The baits are scheduled to begin tonight.

The first involves a lad who sent a .doc attachment with the standard 419 scam in it; the main body of the e-mail was just something about important information being in the attachment. For this lad I plan to pretend to be completely computer illiterate and claim to have trouble with the attachment. I can honestly tell him that I am having trouble with my MS Word - I reinstalled Windows recently and found I had lost the CD Key for Word, how unfortunate. I use Open Office now but the lad does not need to know that. - and ask if he can send the attachment in the e-mail itself. I will also be replying with attachments of my own using the Open Office odf format for extra confusion.

The second I plan to be someone who is down from the economy and that money could really help me, but there is a problem that will make it difficult for me to send anything to him. I wonder how he will react when I tell him the problem also has a REALLY big payday if he follows through with the hoops I am going to have him jump through. I will reveal the details as the bait progresses. This is John Henry Eden signing off.

Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 8:37 pm

You might want to be prepared with more than two, especially if the ones you picked are older. Lad email accounts are constantly being closed, so it is not uncommon to have your response emails bounce. In addition, some lads may be slow in responding if they already have promising scams going (and now they'll be even slower since today is Friday and many lads don't work weekends).

Personally I think it is better to send a standard "I'm interested" response to several, then wait and see who responds. If too many respond, just choose the ones that interest you the most and either drop the others completely, or run a really slow bait in which you respond once every few days or once a week.

Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 10:47 pm

Dorothy wrote:

You might want to be prepared with more than two, especially if the ones you picked are older. Lad email accounts are constantly being closed, so it is not uncommon to have your response emails bounce.

I see what you mean, got about three or four to bounce back. Well, got another three sent, so we will see what happens.