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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 12

I'm new to this, but have been reading the letters archive (Metimbers is a legend!) and am interested in wasting these scammers time. Fotunately I've never been scammed, I normally recognise a scam email when I see one, and just delete them. I'm fairly streetwise - these days. However going back a few years, I was really quite gullible and had I had a computer back then, I probably would have been easily scammed. If it had a sob story, I would be taken in!

My only concern is how dangerous these scammers can be - so I'm not sure if I'm quite ready yet to start. I'm going to hang around for a little while, read a little more to gain further insight before I go in 'for the kill'. I want to reassure myself of my safety before I take the plunge into the world of scam baiting.

I'm also not so confident of my ability to bait. Would it be ok if I started out slowly just by causing annoyance? (To the scammers, not to the forum!). Responding to their emails with loads of questions and probing, making myself sound interested and then saying "nah, but thanks anyway" or stopping responding?

Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:48 pm

Hi LittleScamp!
Welcome to Eater!
Anything that you do to waste the scammers time is useful.
Have you considered signing up for a mentor? http://forum.419eater.com/forum/cherrie_mentor_program.php

Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:11 pm

Welcome to 'Eater you LittleScamp you. Very Happy

Have a look at 'Eater University.

You have the right idea about starting out. Your lads won't mind if you take it as it comes. A straight bait is the best way to get a feel for them and their modalities.
Just think like a victim. Wink

If you feel a little worried, don't forget that we're here. If you feel a little out of your depth, your lad won't mind if you drop him and then come back to carry the bait on once you have thought about it.

Feel free to ask all your questions here. As long as they're bait related, you'll get all the help you need. Smile

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 12

Thanks for that - I think I might sign up for that once I've gained a bit more in confidence and am ready to engage in (false) dialogue with a scammer. I'd like to read a lot more before I go ahead and start conversing.

I came across this place after reading about someone on a money saving forum responding as "Bobby Davro" to a scammer. It had me in stitches with laughter as I saw this eejit con artist get his comeuppance, so I googled "Nigerian scams" to see if I could find any more similar tales of scammers being scammed (it really was funny) and found 419 Eater.

At first I thought it was just a bit of a laugh at the con artists' expense but as I've read further into it, I realised it is about so much more than that, and I'd like to help.

Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:31 pm

Hi LittleScamp, I like your attitude!

Reading (and reading and reading) first is always a good idea. Combining having some fun with distracting the lads from real victims is excellent.

Good luck with your baits!

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

LittleScamp wrote:

(Metimbers is a legend!)

He's a putz.

Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 9:00 pm

{sorry for laughing Mr Timbers}

Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:44 pm

Welcome, read all of the stickies, ask questions, learn up on the details.
As was denoted, mentoring is available and a great way to make sure you're being safe and sane!

Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:48 pm

Quote:

a great way to make sure you're being safe and sane!

Please explain this sentence.

Welcome to the monkey house Little Scamp, sanity is an optional extra, not many tick the box here.

Man who lives on a knife edge wrote:

He's a putz.

You know when you mention that name he shrugs off the shroud, shifts the lid and reappears. He will see that, who do you want to write your eulogy?

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:15 am

Hello, and welcome to 419eater, LittleScamp!

Reading up on baiting is a major priority, but don't let it impede your "baiting fun"!
(Yes, I'm somewhat insane, but it's a good insane!)

Anyway, once you feel ready, begin. If you don't like an approach, drop it, and the guy, too, if needed. If not, change your approach.

If you feel that you've messed up, that's fine. There are enough mugus out there, in the world, for everyone here to "mess up" at least one hundred times.

If you're looking to break some fake sites, well, hop on over! I usually spend my time there, seeing that I've a hectic lifestyle.

Sorry for the rambling, guys, and Metimbers is of the best.

Anyway, above all, bait, and don't forget to have fun!

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:47 am

Welcome to eater! Your doing exactly what you should be. Read what you can and then jump in to the fun. We have some fresh lads ready for you when you ready. Wink

Baiting Guru Joined: 10 Oct 2003 Posts: 4747

Welcome LittleScamp, when you bait correctly your safe. The biggest threats are to you sleep and social life.

Read up, get a mentor, and join us.

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:01 am

welcome LittleScamp to the world of baiting. As others have said it's good to read and as long as you use an e-mail provider that strips your IP (like Gmail) and don't use any RL info in your baits you should be safe from scammers. Wink

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:51 am

irishemigrant wrote:

Quote:

a great way to make sure you're being safe and sane!

Please explain this sentence.

Just trying to recommend the mentoring process available here... Confused

Edited to add:
I think I caught the errors of my ways, I should have said "baiting"
safe and sane...everyone's on their own on the other aspects of their lives!!

Trophy Videos · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 3:17 pm

Welcome to Eater, LittleScamp. Very Happy

Take baiting at your own pace. Don't feel like you have to respond to them right away, either. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Your delays in responding right away annoy them too, which is the most satisfying part. Smile

You can be as insane as you want to as the only psychological tests are given to the lads to fill out. So, have fun and enjoy tormenting them. Smile

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 3:43 pm

welcome LittleScamp! I too think your approach is totally appropriate - this is an excellent way to get a sense of how the scammers operate, and there's definitely no harm in amusing yourself by being annoying in whatever way while you do this.

I also like your idea of ending these baits (either no longer interested or stopping responding) - you will probably find that in both cases it will take the scammers a while to accept your final decision - and possibly more amusement/annoyance as they try to keep hold of you.

Looking forward to seeing how it goes for you.