How to spot a scammer on 4ppl?

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 21 Aug 2011 Posts: 13

Hi there,

I've joined 4ppl to catch some romance scammers and have been inundated with emails from men and women from all over the world!

I've had everything from straight 419 letters to people who seem like they could be genuine. I'm not interested in the latter as I already have a wonderful partner, so I was wondering if any of you with experience of 4ppl have any tips on spotting the scammers.

For example, if a woman emails me (I'm posing as a woman myself) is it likely to be a scam? Are most emails from west Africa likely to be scams?

I don't want to bait someone innocent so I need to find a way of identifying scammers as quickly as possible.

I'd be grateful for any tips!

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:14 pm

Part of it comes from experience--once you've been doing this a while, you can spot them immediately.

There are several indicators that will steer you in the right direction, though.

First of all--have you chosen your character right? Your character should be older (50's is good), and if you use a photo, it should be less attractive.
A good example of an appropriate photo would be one like this one of Kathy Bates in Misery: http://www.solarnavigator.net/films_movies_actors/actors_films_images/Misery_Kathy_Bates_as_Annie_Wilkes.jpg
Please keep in mind that it is not appropriate to use an individual's private photo from a facebook page, etc. However, public figures are generally fine. I like to dig up sleazy weight-loss miracle scam websites, and use "before" photos for 2 reasons: (1) they are usually chosen to make the subject look as bad as possible (because of course they want the "after" photo to look exponentially better) and (2) the owners have chosen to make those photos public in support of a scam, making them fair game.

In addition, your character should have a few unattractive "quirks" that will make a "normal" person think twice about contacting you. It's also a good idea to state that you want someone from your area/country only. Then a scammer will be lying about their location, making it easier.

If you have done this, almost ALL of your responses should come from scammers.

Then, look at the responses: are they appropriate for your character, and what they claim? Is the person approaching you too attractive? If your character is a man in his 50's, and "she" is a sexy 20-something, odds are it's a scam. Does he/she seem completely oblivious to what is written on your profile? Are they going on and on about how beautiful/handsome you are? Are they "from" your country, but conveniently traveling somewhere else?

Is the language right? For example, if he/she is supposed to be from the US, is the English clearly wrong? I am using the US here, but the same test is true for any country.
Does he/she refer to the US as "the state?"
Does he/she start sentences with "am"
Does he/she fail to capitalize i in the middle of a sentence?
Does he/she use British English instead of American?
Is his/her name completely wrong (e.g. two first names, or last and first appear to be switched)?

If you see these things, it is most likely a scammer. If in doubt, you can always ask here too, and it is best to start with some "generic" responses until they make it clear.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 21 Aug 2011 Posts: 13

Thanks Dorothy, your tips are really helpful! I think my character is ok but perhaps should be uglier so I'm going to 'improve' her from a D-list celeb to a 'before' picture fattie as you suggest! The change of picture alone should indicate to anyone genuine that I'm not genuine. Let's see if the change leads to scammier responses...

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:52 pm

You might also go over to ScamWarners and browse the "Romance" sub-forum. Soon you will be able to recognise the typical approach, script and language of scammers.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 65

Are there any non-scammers on 4ppl? I don't think I've encountered such a thing. I might be wrong, but so far I've been offered deals from girls in refugee camps because daddy was leader of the resistance and shot or gorgeous girls from Russia or the Ukraine who lost dad at age two (or he walked out) and somehow can't find a guy over there but for just a small amount of money will shift over here to be with me. Or the Ukrainian specialty of gorgeous girl (stolen porn start photos) who is using a translation service, falls madly in love after a few emails, but now can't pay for more translations but doesn't want to loose me.....I got sick of that place. So much love, so little cash to satisfy them all. Laughing

Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:00 am

Actually, I have come across a few real people in 4ppl. And believe it or not, a member started to racially abuse my character. Seems she was too white and Jewish for this guy!

Who knew International Chrysis was Jewish! Or maybe they didn't like Nick Nolte Wink

Not quite a Newb Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 65

Come to think of it. I'm still emailing one girl (well, let's presume it's a girl) from 4ppl. The first 2 emails had photos marked something like 1.jpg and 2.jpg which is usally a giveaway. But there has been no falling madly in love, no attempt to get me to pay for anything. Just fairly normal, unromatic, emails. Friendly 'hi thanks for the email, it's nice of you...' The emails even take more than a peripheral note of what I wrote. I sent a photo of a swan to this person and to another that I knew was a scammer. This person noted the picture appropriately the other was too busy staying on script. There has been no stream of photos like normally happens. She offered her skype and phone but has not pushed them since the 1st or 2nd emails. It's all been very unlike every other one really. I'm starting to wonder. Her family life is normal and unremarkable. No drunken ex-boyfriend or lack of job. Just claims to want a better life, but doesn't seem desperate. I'm thinking I should quietly drop this person for fear she's the real deal. I don't mind messing vlads but I'm not interested in messing around normals.....Could just be a consumate vlad. It's easy to spot most of them.

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 4:05 am

Often they write normal sounding stuff, 'cos they want you to think they're real. They can wait months and some cases years, building up your trust before something "happens", and bam, they suddnely need you to ship them cash.

If you really do think you're baiting a real person, don't hesitate to drop them, after all there's plenty of real scammers on 4ppl as well

Not quite a Newb Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 65

Thanks. It's probably a sleeper. There is some stuff suspicious, just so much slower than the usual 2 week game I'm used to with vlads from hi to buy (bye)!

I am going to pull back on the baiting anyway. I've told a few that I know are vlads (bat! in the header and so on) that I'm not interested. The better half is barely tolerating my new craze. I don't know how I do it. When I was looking for a partner not so many years back I had so many misses and obviously one hit. Now, I'm Mr. Magnetism. Just put up a profile on RussianCupid, no photo, next to no information and bam! Contacted by super-models left-right-and-center! I just got it I 'spose.

I enjoy the first part, what I call the seduction stage, I've had some great stories. One girl who was using photos of a model told me she'd had a drunken ex Dmitry who killed a potential lover and was now an important politician in her town and her life was difficult if not in danger because of it. That made my day. Poor Alena Petrovna Cheremnih of Lipetsk! Laughing

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:23 am

A baiter had an account on ok cupid under the title of "I won't murder you", plenty of lads still bit Wink

Some don't even bother to read the profiles, they just bulk email, some even use a standard script, not a romance script

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 10:20 am

If your partner's not crazy about you corresponding with hot models Rolling Eyes

Nev but you still want to bait may I suggest you change sex and bait men? That might make her feel a bit better (even though 99 times out of 100 you're baiting men anyway?)

Not quite a Newb Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 65

She knows they're just stolen photos. I think it's more that it has become a bit too much of a time sink. I'm the type of person who gets a little obsessive with new hobbies. Anyway, I've pulled back for the moment. And it's easy just to play a clueless guy as it's not so far from the truth. Laughing

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 21 Aug 2011 Posts: 13

Nev27 wrote:

Are there any non-scammers on 4ppl?

It seems unlikely! What a horrible site. Despite putting up a profile that's blank apart from an ugly photo, I'm getting about 50 messages a day, most of which are very scammy. I'm just concentrating on the best ones and already have plenty of lads chomping at the bait and declaring their love in their first email! Rolling Eyes

Master Baiter Joined: 09 Jun 2011 Posts: 197

Someone there told me to be careful because of all the scammers. I ask him what he means and he told me if I´m really looking for a love interest I should leave this site and join a serious one.
After that he never spoke to me again.

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:06 am

Must have been a fellow baiter.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 65

I 'fessed up and the person replied that s/he was shocked and adios basically. Very Happy

To my naive mind I think that she was sincere. The only doubt is the numbered photos and that she was pretty attractive.

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