Why 40% ???

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Can anyone here tell me where the lads came up with "40%" as the magic number for scamming victims? Confused

About 4 out of 5 lads seem to use 40% as the amount that the victim will get as his "cut". Sometimes it is a different %, but most of the time it is 40% - even in scams where it would be much more realistic to propose a much lower percentage.

Why 40%? Anyone know? Smile

Off the top of my head - here are my best guesses:

- In Ladland "40" is considered a lucky number. Much how "14" is considered lucky in Normalland.

- Long ago, one of the first scammers to make a big score off a victim used 40%. Since then all scammers have been imitating him.

- Lads have learned, from trial and error, that that 40% really is the ideal percentage to use when scamming.

- Lads are under the misconception that "40" is a lucky number in Normalland.

Anyone know the real reason?

Baiting Guru Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 2531 Location: AU

im not too educated in what you are asking but i would say that they are talking themselves up

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 2:42 pm

My guess is that 40% is a big number, but sounds more nrealistic than 50%.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 41

Percentages vary, 40% is not a standard for all scams, 4/5 is a rather sweeping statement, "7" is a lucky number where I'm from.

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 2:52 pm

Argue the toss and ask for 50%, it cracks me up when they fight you tooth and nail for a share of imaginary money.

It must be a pride thing.

If they refuse, just say 'Bye' and end it there, They always come crawling back... Smile

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:38 pm

I always start off with "I can't get involved for anything less then 50/50"...

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:03 pm

The reasoning I got when questioning 40% was - 50% for me, 50% for the lad. But I have to pay the bloody expenses and they're gonna cost 10%. Hence, I get the smaller share. Sad

Try negotiating with the lad to get a bigger cut and quite often, the little bitch will dump you, just as if the cash actually exists. Evil or Very Mad

Baiting Guru Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 2922

Two way split minus 10% for 'contingency expenses'-trouble is they never seem to remember all expenses are already covered. Rolling Eyes

But i've had lad's offer everything from 10% to 75%. Very Happy

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 720

Would they get more Victims if they used a realistic % ?

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:01 pm

^^^ What is a "realistic" percent? After all, we're talking about a truly unrealistic amount of money (I mean, c'mon - millions of dollars? In West Africa?). So, offering whatever percentage they offer is going to make the greedy or needy people who respond lose all sense of perspective and ability to reason.

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 720

Quote:

What is a "realistic" percent?

We don’t educate the Lads’s

Quote:

West Africa?

They scam from all over the world

Quote:

the greedy or needy people who respond lose all sense of perspective and ability to reason.

Maybe more of your so called greedy or needy people think 40% on 15 million
A tadge too good to be true

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:07 pm

After the firsts hurdle(personal info) the percentage is discussed, I tried to do it for free, but they wouldn't hear from it and I tried to go for 75% as I had to pay the taxes on it Wink

Always good for a few emails, but with them keeping the better part, they can feel in charge and with something close to half the victim can't complain. Still waiting for my first payment though, so i don't care how much I'm not getting Laughing

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:20 pm

It's fun to dicker with the lads over imaginary money but they usually tend to drop such victims. They want compliant victims, which is why they ask for passports and other details -- they just want to know you'll go along with whatever they say. A 'victim' who starts beating them up over the percentage portends hassle down the road. Unless they're really desperate, or especially sure of themselves, they'll usually just move on to someone easier.

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:07 pm

I recall a Lad, one Barrister Dav1d Bass3tt, who sent me this one:

Quote:

I wish to notify you that late Engr. Jurgen Krugger made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Seven Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars (USD$7,100.000.00) to you in the codicil and last testament to his WILL.Engr. Jurgen Krugger until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers. He was a very dedicated Christian who loved to be involved in charitable projects. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time.
Late Engr. Jurgen Krugger died on the 13th day of February, 2006 at the age of 80 years, and his WILL is now ready for execution.According to him this money is to support your humanitarian activities and to help the poor and the needy in our society. Please if I reach you this time as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job.

I replied as , and soon had this from the Lad:

Quote:

We are proposing a sharing formular of 15% for you for standing as the beneficiary, 75% for me and my partners as originators of the deal and the remaining 10% will have to be set aside to settle every expenses that will be incured by either party in the process of securing the fund.

I think he must have confused his formats. I gave him a slap:

Quote:

There's something wrong here.
You said that Jurgen Krugger named me as beneficiary in his will. I don't recall meeting him, but let's give that a miss for now.
What I was an explanation for is this: "We are proposing a sharing formular of 15% for you for standing as the beneficiary, 75% for me and my partners as originators of the deal and the remaining 10% will have to be set aside to settle every expenses that will be incured by either party in the process of securing the fund".
According to you, I AM the beneficiary! Exactly what makes you think that you're entitled to any of it at all?

His reply wasn't too convincing:

Quote:

We are proposing a sharing formular of 15% for you because you did not know that you where made the beneficiary to the deceased and 75% for me and my partners as originators of the deal while the remaining 10% , will be set for incure expences, haven said that, i will adivce that you send your pesonal info, to enable me file for the will of testament t the probate registry.
I presume that you understand the above explanations and look forard to hear from you soon.

I wasn't best pleased:

Quote:

I don’t accept that even for an instant!
If Jurgen Krugger left me $7.1 million – I can only guess that he may have somehow heard of my active service in Operation Desert Saber – then there is no way in creation that you are entitled to any of it! I'd be happy to pay that 10% figure to you as a fee for tracking me down, but 75% for you and your partners, whoever they are, is simply absurd.
I suggest that you take that under advisement.

A bit of nudging later, and he gives just a bit:

Quote:

i have agree to the 50 % each for both that you wish.please i will want you get back to me , so that we can move forward with this business.

Not enough!

Quote:

You may agree on a 50/50 share – but I don't! As I said before – as far as I'm concerned, you aren't entitled to any of it. I'm willing to give you 10% for bringing the will to my attention but that is all.

He drops quite a bit:

Quote:

Please i understand that the will is yours, but i want to beg of you to make my own share of it 15%, because i am going spend money at the probate registry, to get the will of testament in you name as the next of kin to the decease.Please, do get back to me so that we can move forward.

Still not enough:

Quote:

Your share will be 10%, and I'm being generous. No further discussion. I do not believe that any charges anywhere could add up to $300,000 – which is what you're asking for.

After a couple more letters:

Quote:

Good day to you.I have agree on the 10% that you agree to give to me.

The bait went on normally from there!

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:52 pm

I personally like to "humbly" ask for a lower percentage.
I am grateful for any of the money and the Lad is promising to do all the work.

Thus when he wants me to fill in forms and stuff, I can always throw his extremely high percentage back at him as the incentive to fill out the bank forms or other docs for me. Basically his really high percentage is used to keep me responding with 1 sentence, happy mails.

When the fees start flowing in, I forward the mails back to my lad partner and say "pay the fees." When he balks I throw the "you have so much more to gain that I do" line back at him.
I at least demand that he pay his "percentage of the fees."
This back and forth negotiating can take some time...no rush.

It also sets up some great, whiny, sobbing, begging, "no money" stories from the Lad partner. They are all such disaster life drama queens when the fees start piling up. Laughing

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:09 am

^^^
That's a great modality, Asiaguy! Laughing

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:14 am

Nice one Asiaguy, I have bookmarked that modality in my brain. Smile

Its like when salesmen are over-helpful, you feel you owe them one...