spotted possible scammers

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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:05 pm

Ok - I know that ALL nigerians are not scammers....but I had to smile. My father is visiting me, so I took him to ChinaTown and down this one alley was a whole lot of Nigerians (how do I know they were nigerians, because I decided to strike up a conversation). They were selling fake handbags, rolex watches, REAL cell phones, iPods, and all kinds of stuff. I wanted so badly to ask about 419 emails and to also take their pics - - if they weren't scammers - they were at least criminals for selling fake stuff down an alley. I asked my kid if I could take his pic with all the grafitti, but he said I couldn't take his pic there.

I also saw a guy haggling with a prostitute - he told her she was too ugly for her price and that he'd f* her if she'd lower the price by $50. I told my dad to listen to the convo and he got a kick out of it.

Broad daylight, too......

Then we saw some idiots telling the cops to arrest them and take them to jail. The NYPD officer wrote one a ticket - and he TORE IT UP and threw it on the ground!! I was like OMG. My dad was like - Look at this...LOL

You don't see stuff like this in the middle of the country where he lives. So he's always amazed when he comes here where anything can happen.

So anyway - - got an idea of how to strike up a convo with those guys if I can go back to ChinaTown to see if they may scam? I'd like to figure out if they are scammers....should I give a fake email addy and give my email and say I'm interested in buying things in bulk????? I'd just like to see if they are scammers - and if so....we could bait them....

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:33 pm

Nice... you can't call 3d as 4my cos your dad is here - then you take him to listen to guys haggling with ugly tarts! Classy! Laughing

ps

Quote:

I know that ALL nigerians are not scammers

you don't mean that, you mean 'not all Nigerians are scammers'

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:06 am

Quote:

So anyway - - got an idea of how to strike up a convo with those guys if I can go back to ChinaTown to see if they may scam? I'd like to figure out if they are scammers....should I give a fake email addy and give my email and say I'm interested in buying things in bulk????? I'd just like to see if they are scammers - and if so....we could bait them....

If, they'll be like the surplus section here, you have contacted them in RL so I would just leave it there. They have noticed your looks and excitement; real cons know their body language and might decide to follow you to your car/home/hotel which can be avoided of course, but is already more risk than I would like to take. In the end you would have a pen pal and you might know his face or not. No big thing, just another bait, but a bit more risky.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:13 am

You could try to tell them you're an Oga and see where that leads you.. Wink

In all honesty, as interesting of an idea as it is to try to give out your email address, I wouldn't as a safety precaution.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:15 am

Yeah I am with Bill2 and OD, too much actual contact with scammer for my taste.

But on the other hand you are much better at this than me Eliza.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:50 am

Eliza <---

Dangerous, dangerous, very dangerous !!!

And how did you get Nigerians in China Town? Shouldn't the Chinese be in China town? Smile

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:20 am

As a side note Eliza, what is there to do in China Town? I went to NYC last month with my wife and we did the whole Manhatten thing (stayed in Queens), but ran out of time to go to China Town as we originally planned. Other than reasurants, did I miss anything?

Baiting Guru Joined: 17 Sep 2006 Posts: 5905

At least you have not revealed your IP to them Wink

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:45 am

@OxygenDeprived - - Canal street is the main set of blocks in ChinaTown - there are LOTS of stores where Chinese people sell Junk - t-shirts, watches, jewelry, scarves, pens, all kinds of things. And people are ALWAYS contacting you to saying, "Handbags, handbags, Louis Vuitton, Coach, rolex watches" "DVDs" Etc. So, Between the two exits/entrances for the subway - closer to the one that doesn't have an elevator, is a narrow street that just screams poverty - - and that is where these guys were. They had briefcases and luggage - - all opened - and inside were the goods.

@all - you are probaby right about it being too risky - - but the temptation to find out if they also scam since they are involved in this other activity - just makes my mouth water.....lol.............

@GB - OOPS - yes - thanks for correcting that sentence for me - that's what I meant!

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

It's not just Chinatown. You'll see them in midtown as well -- or go to 5th Avenue around Rockefeller Plaza on a Saturday and you'll see troops of them toting their boxes full of fake handbags and Rolexes, looking for a clear sidewalk to set up shop until a cop tells them to move along. Yes, most of them are African, and while on the one hand they are selling you counterfeit goods, since you presumably know that, it's not like they're scamming you --only Prada, Gucci, Rolex, etc. (I'm not condoning it just being matter of fact).

Anyway, it's doubtful most of them would want to talk to you about scamming - they tend to be a bit skittish about having protracted conversations since they could be making money instead.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:51 pm

Well, life here is usually pretty bland for me ...but since my dad is here - - we've seen a lot of action.

We are watching the news right now because some idiot has done something really stupid 3 blocks from my apartment (I'd say what it is - - but since it's going to be all over the news, I'll refrain - - wouldn't want a lad to find an address within 3 blocks of me!!) I don't mind my city being known - as I'm a needle in a haystack of 8 million people.....but knowing the exacts....well, that's different.

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 1:35 am

~Eliza_Doolittle,

Ummm, I think I understand your excitement (in a perverse kind of way) but as others have said, it is a really really bad idea. Your post indicates that you are aware of the danger on some level! Listen to that awareness voice.

Often people (regardless of where they "come from") who choose to live beyond the law continue down a path and get deeper and deeper into a criminal lifestyle. Eventually the "goal" that they have (of getting what they want by what ever means necessary) leads to de-humanization of victims. "There is no honor among thieves."

Without saying to much RL info, I have worked with criminals in a professional capacity and know that if you look like any kind of threat to their activities, they don't have a problem dispatching you in one way or another (regardless of race or national origin).

Sorry for getting preachy, Embarassed

just don't want to see anyone get hurt just to satisfy their curiosity. Better to attend some court proceedings to see what criminals are like out of the cyber world.

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