Knowing Your Lads (Nigeria 101?)

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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:03 pm

Any marketing major will tell you that you have to properly know your audience in order to reach it effectively. 419 scammers avoid this by shooting off so many emails, it's bound to reach SOMEONE who will be duped and reply.

After reading this forum, it seems to me that this same sort of formula is followed by us baiters, and that the rate of success of keeping a bait going and going to the point of trophys or whatever is somewhat low. Basically, we seem to be shooting in the dark, and hoping that their greed will be enough to draw them to us.

Well, I hope to turn on the light. Idea

I think what is needed to increase this rate of success is a better understanding of the typical 419 scammer. And since most of them seem to come from Nigeria, I think we ought to understand them first.

Sure they're greedy, and they seem to be mostly young males with basic english skills, but other than that, what do we really know about them?

So, ask your lads- What sort of food do they like? Music? Any favorite games? Hobbies (other than scamming)? Do they wear boxers or briefs? Are their parents living or dead? Do they have any brothers or sisters? Ect. Then post their answers here.

I think we just might find a sort of common thread of likes and dislikes and maybe even background among scammers- and then we can use that knowledge to better tailor our counter-scams, and see if we can increase the rate of biters.

After all, we are smarter than they are. I think that if we put our brains to this and take a semi-scientific approach, we just might beat them at their own game.

Baiting Guru Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 11857 Location: UK

Lady Kat wrote:

So, ask your lads- Do they wear boxers or briefs?

Q: Do they wear boxers or briefs
A: Trunkboxers

Laughing

Western Union · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:31 pm

They wear boxers. Wink

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:39 pm

An interesting idea Lady K, however the problem is that lads lie about everything. They even lie about lying. Rarely some insight is given, but most of what we know about Lads is from how they operate and how they communicate.

To be honest I prefer it like that, then you have to use your wits in a 'cat and mouse game' probing to discover more about them, but knowing most facts are pure 'hocus pocus'.

Baiting is more a skill or art form than a science, and that's why I enjoy it. Certainly if any marketing expertise you have gives you certain intuitive insights into their needs and interests it will be of value, but I think most baiters know where their interest lies.

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:41 pm

Quote:

...So, ask your lads- What sort of food do they like? Music? Any favorite games? Hobbies (other than scamming)? Do they wear boxers or briefs? Are their parents living or dead...

One difficulty here is that you probably won't get honest answers. They are pretending to be heirs, barristers, bankers, etc. and they will choose answers that they think will strengthen their story.

Personally, I have not had much difficulty getting responses. The straighter I play it, the more hits I get. Keeping them on board is another story. I find it difficult to interest them in any dialog that doesn't revolve around sending money.

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:44 pm

Mine wears Bridget Jones panties

Other than that, everything they say can be treated as a lie.

Rice and meat seems to be a common dish. They never say WHAT meat though Shocked

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:46 pm

But on the other hand...

http://forum.419eater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=106507

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:49 pm

Not sure if it has come up before, but this article called "Voices of Lagos" is an interesting and sometimes heartbreaking look at life there. Sample:

Quote:

Tina, prostitute and trained sex adviser
I came here two years ago from Edo state to get money. I had just left school. In the rural areas, it is very hard to make money. I would like to be an accountant. I don't enjoy this work. There are about 50 women here at the New Bendel Hotel. The men say they don't want to wear condoms . They need persuasion. The policy now is that everyone uses one. The men are beginning to understand. I tell them about HIV/Aids. They offer me money for not using one. I say no, only with condoms. We buy them from a nearby shop. The good thing is that the police harassment has now stopped. They now know that we are trained facilitators. No, I do not enjoy it here. I will not tell you how much rent we pay, nor will I let you take my photograph. If I had the money I would go back home. But I have nothing.

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 7:14 pm

I have tried on numerous occasions to "get into the mind" of these lads.

I've even managed to keep 'penpal friendships' going for a well over a year. But ultimately, they will tell you what they think that you want to hear.

A typical convo, with a mugu that I had been in contact with for 8 months.

ME: What sort of music do you like?
Mugu: I like all music.
ME: Such as..?
Mugu: All types.
ME: Do you like Jazz?
Mugu: Yes.
ME: Who are you favourite artists?
Mugu: All of them.
ME: Do you like classical?
Mugu: Yes.
ME: Who are you favourite composers?
Mugu: All of them.

Mugu: Who are your favourite bands?
ME: Worzel Gummidge & The Shitkickers
Mugu: Yeah, me too, they are great.
ME: Are you just saying that to please me?
Mugu: Yes.

Well you get the picture....... Rolling Eyes

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

There are countless stories of lads scamming or trying to scam genuine acquaintances, even "friends". There was a recent article in the New Yorker about a reporter who traveled to Lagos to try to get a hand on its underground economy, and how such an impoverished city can function at all. He had friends over there and was introduced to associates of his friends. One lad, after days of showing the reporter around, casually mentioned his access to a hidden sum of money belonging to a dead general and that he could really use a Westerner's help in getting the money out of Nigeria. The reporter smiled and said he knew it was a scam -- the lad told him he had to try for if he didn't, his friends would have belittled him for letting the chance slip by.

All you need to understand is that they are greedy. You don't need to know why -- whine all you want about colonialism, multi-national corporations, and disease -- they're all valid points -- but they don't give anyone the excuse to rob people blind.

There's always room for a better mousetrap in catching the lads out, but to suggest that the people here don't know what they're doing is silly. "Understand" the lads (African or otherwise) all you want, but it is like trying to grasp how deep is the ocean -- you can probably measure it, but what good will it do you -- it will crush you after a few hundred feet anyway.

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:25 pm

Eh. I'm going to put together a questionaire and give it a go anyway. I think that if I offer to pay up for each survey filled out I might be able to gather info AND play stick and carrot at the same time. Twisted Evil

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

If you're doing it to waste the lads' time and possibly glean some relevant information -- then that's a goal worth striving for. Wink

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 10:04 pm

The way I see it is, the more you know about them, the better equipped you are to push their buttons and really piss them off. A frustrated lad is fine, but an angry lad is divine.

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 10:12 pm

Interesting concept, market reseach on the lads Laughing

Still more lad hours used up in the Cyber Cafe gets my vote Wink

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 10:33 pm

I trust my mugus 100 % they never lie to me Laughing

I lie to them Cool

Welcome to the eater Laughing

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:43 am

And of course the two most important questions
1) why do birds suddenly appear, every time, you are near?
2) Wilma or Betty? Samantha or Jeanie? Ginger or Mary Ann?

I know; it is sort of 3 questions in one but they on the same topic and you have to know all three to make an accurate personality profile.

Baiting Guru Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 2922

@DrWho

You forgot Kylie or Danni??? Very Happy

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:48 am

Or for the lad in the closet
1) Who put the ram in the ram-a-lama-ding-dong?
2) Fred or Barney? Roger or Tony? Professor or Gilligan?

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:40 am

I�d love to see a baiter feedback questionnaire.
(I think it might go something like this�)

1. Are you more likely to be deceived by a male character or a female character?

2. Rank the following organizations from most convincing to least convincing:
___ Church
___ Charity
___ Art Scholarship Foundation
___ Film Company
___ Wrestling Federation

3. How many trips to Western Union will you typically make before you twig? _____

4. Which of the following best describes your photo-editing skills?
-A. I couldn�t 'chop my way out of a paper bag.
-B. I have used photo editing software, but everything I do looks like butt.
-C. I can fool some of the people some of the time.
-D. I�m a Photoshopin, dolla-choppin mastah.

5. Have you ever been tattooed?_____

6. If yes, how many times? _____

7. If your answer to question 6 was more than two, did it make you give up scamming?___

8. How many security questions will you answer for $500 USD?______

9. If the first response to your catcher email is more than 1000 words, will you�
-A. Delete the response without reading it?
-B. Skim it and send the second script just in case?
-C. Tattoo a phallic insignia on my head and take a picture of myself holding a sign that says �I�m an idiot with a dickon myhead�.

10. etc.

Edit: fixed many spelling mistakes. It's late.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 28

All lads are curious, nosy even! They love anything thats shrouded in mystery which is a good way to get them under control. Hint that you know of a secret that you might want to share with them and they are eating out of your hand. Very Happy

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