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Not quite a Newb Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 27

Hi All, I have somewhat of an unusual situation on my hands.
I am baiting someone who claims to be from NY... but the grammar and writing would indicate different. I was also given a local #, and when I called, this person sounded like a native English speaker.
The emails reeked of Nigerian grammar.

When I outed her, she claimed "her computer must be hacked into, I must of done it, and she is calling the police"

Also worth noting, when I was on chat and offered to meet this person locally, they said no, they dont meet ppl on line, blah, blah. Within a DAY, they had a change of heart and gave me a local #.

Is this a new thing?

THANKS! Very Happy

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 577

Why did you oout her?

see what reverse phone directory shows.

Chec the email headers.

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:13 pm

It could be a local accomplice. A little unusual, but not unheard of. Must mean they had a lot of faith in you. Very Happy

I agree with Philo, calling her out on something like that probably won't advance your bait much, and may help her to do better next time with a real victim.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 27

I outed her because A) I am not an experienced baiter... B) I was nervous.

I did check the local listings-it came up as a landline.

thanks for your help!

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:45 pm

italigal wrote:

this person sounded like a native English speaker.

Do you mean that she sounded like American English was her native language, or that she spoke English very well but with an accent (like, for example, a British person would).

In the case of the latter, I'd say she was a(n educated) West African immigrant. Or, less likely but not impossible, I could say she could be using a free calling service. As far as I remember, iCall phones from a New York switch.

In the case of the former, someone already mentioned it could be an accomplice. Another possibility, although incredibly rare, is that some American was just trying their hand at 419. In fact, just the other day I received a 419 letter from San Francisco State University. Yes, from their actual e-mail servers (sfsu.edu).

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:41 am

^^ I hope you reported it to them so they could shut down the account being used, Nick.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 27

Hi-the woman sounded like an American-no British accent.
I did report her (esp since I had her #)

If someone PM's me, I can send you the email.

wow, Americans are scammng now? sheesh.

Juan's stalker Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 1423

Scammers are everywhere, the nasty pigs. Evil or Very Mad

No place is safe from them.

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:16 pm

italigal wrote:

Also worth noting, when I was on chat and offered to meet this person locally, they said no

there are two sorts of people who might react like that to the suggestion of a face-to-face meetings - scammers and women early in the dating game.
you didn't explain how you came to be baiting this person - can you explain how you identified her as a scammer?

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:18 pm

Sad to say, Americans are not immune to the character traits of scamming: greed, dishonesty, lack of concern for others' welfare, etc.

Just look at many public figures. Sad

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:18 pm

^^^ Exactly, that's how you get the presidency in this country Laughing

But yeah, especially with the recent economy troubles and subsequent layoffs, you will probably see more scammers from developed nations than you had in years past. Especially because they think the internet makes them anonymous.

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:57 pm

A new telephone scam preyin gon the elderly.

Sounds like a simple trick for the scammers, and moves them offline to less traceable media.

http://lakeconews.com/content/view/9003/764/

And from a boating forum...

Usually I consider family matters private, but in this case someone might benefit from this. My son, Matthew, called earlier to tell me my Mom had been scammed. She got a call from someone identifying himself as Matthew. The person says: I'm in Canada in jail on DWI and needed $XXXX to get out of jail. Please wire the money to my lawyer's account. And, I don't want anyone to know, so please don't tell anyone. Mom goes to the bank, then to Western Union and sends the money. Next day, another call from "Matthew" saying that only covered the fine, that he needs $XXXX for the lawyer's fees. Please wire the money, and send it from a different Western Union location. Mom does it. This morning, "Matthew" calls with a convoluted explanation of why he now needs $XX,XXX. Mom goes to the bank. Fortunately, her usual banker who was not there before, is there today. The banker gets Matthew's cell number from Mom and calls him. Matthew is actually here in Arkansas where he's supposed to be. Mom looks to me for financial advice and assistance. I feel a great deal of remiss in not having had a strong talk with her about scammers preying on the elderly, but I thought she was sharp enough to avoid this. The banker is helping her get linked up with the police, but I doubt there is much likelihood of catching the scammer.

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:37 pm

JumpinJayJay wrote:

^^ I hope you reported it to them so they could shut down the account being used, Nick.

Sir, you offend!

Naturally, the full e-mail including all headers was forwarded to SFSU administration... with a note, of course, so that they don't think I'm trying to scam them. I originally wanted to forward it to campus police ( Rolling Eyes

) but the unprofessional bastards didn't have a contact address on their website ( Rolling Eyes

again). And let it be know, I searched every damned page.

Anyway, to get back on topic, members have already said that there are now American "internet" scammers. I say "internet" because many of their formats are somewhat different to the traditional "419" as we know it. For example, not that I'm a fan, but go to YouTube and search for "Dr Phil Scambaiter". They record the bastards from beginning (false advertising) to end (arrest... sort of).

Now, that being said, I actually think Italigal's particular contact was an accomplice rather than a scammer. Take note of the following quote:

italigal wrote:

this person sounded like a native English speaker.
The emails reeked of Nigerian grammar.

If you'd like, post the original message up and we can confirm or deny that that is, in fact, Nigerian pidgin grammar and not just the work of some borderline illiterate fool.