Trying to figure things out still

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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:07 pm

Hi, I'm fairly new to 419 Eater.
Still reading and trying to figure things out.
I have set up an email box on gmail.
What I want to know is if I post on one of those dating sites
or leave my address on a guest book will I get alot of SPAM in addition to
scammers? I hope not to get the spam.

I would love to get a scammer I could bait in a love/romance scheme.
Anyone willing to take me under their wing for help when I need it?

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:27 pm

Welcome scambuster. If you go to this thread http://forum.419eater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=122306&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=275 , you can request a mentor. If you want one experienced in romance/love baits, add that your mentor request.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:48 pm

PRS Girly Girl wrote:

Welcome scambuster. If you go to this thread http://forum.419eater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=122306&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=275 , you can request a mentor. If you want one experienced in romance/love baits, add that your mentor request.

Ok, thanks a bunch!

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:52 pm

While you're waiting for a mentor, I'll just chime in here to say that putting a profile on a dating site doesn't usually get you a lot of spam. Seeding guestbooks, however, leaves you open to spam.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 10:14 pm

scambuster, I think it is wonderful that you want to target Romance Scammers.

They are the pits; not only wanting money, but prepared to totally break hearts in the meantime.

There are people here far more experienced than myself (I take also many other types of scam that walk my way), but here's what I think:

1. Love Lads/Vlads expect to 'meet' a real person. So you may need to think much more about your character, than you would if you were baiting Lotto Lads. The way I do it is think of a person I know (might be a real person, or might be a person in a book or a film), change a few facts about them (name, location, job, age) and then 'flesh out' anything I don't know about them (what are their politics/who do they vote for? what do they like to do in the evenings? what is their favourite colour?). If you want to go one step further, try this 'Test Your Characters' link (it's about story-writing, but quite useful):

http://hutchowen.blogspot.com/2009/05/staying-engaged-forever-test-your.html

Then I just pretend that I am them, and answer all mails likewise.

2. If you get a Lad from a dating site, he will undoubtedly want you to go onto Yahoo Instant Messenger. Some of my charactes just say, 'No.' They lose a few through this. It is probably better to prepare yourself to waste an hour or three of your Lad's time in this. Make sure you make notes about your character (all 'essential information', plus things and friends you have previously mentioned, anything you can think of) and have this open to one side of the Messenger screen for reference.

3. Make up your mind about cyber-sex. Personally, I'll only engage if I want or need to doubly-hook the Lad. It's crap. I open up a Kongregate game and play that in-between saying my part. Any delay in response is presumably not because I'm winning the arcade game, but because my character's hands are elsewhere. Some of my characters, however, would never ever ever do such external-to-marriage acts. I don't think it matters. Just be prepared for it coming up.

4. You don't have to 'fall in love'. You can also be a bit like who you really are. My characters love compliments and flattery, and are happy to be loved, but are Very (stereo)Typically Reserved Englishwomen, and have never said 'I love you' back. Sometimes I think I can hear a sigh of relief in Ladland. My aim is to get them writing really long and unique letters. I don't want copy-and-pasted love poetry/letters/drivel. I want a proper tale of their day, and an insight into their opinions. My characters get cross about love prose. They want information ..... or rather, the Lads sitting there typing away forever.

5. Remember you are in control. Be your character and act like your character, and if your character doesn't like this Lad: dump him and find another. Unfortunately, there are always more out there.

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 1:11 am

Also save all your replies, These can be used over and over again. Wink

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 3:44 am

Setting up profiles on key dating sites (I know you said in your other thread you are doing that) or even some good fake myspace pages will bring the scammers to you.

If you want to make sure your responses are from scammers, do NOT use an attractive model photo--then you will attract real people too and will have to turn them down/sort out the real from the scammers. Instead, if you use a photo, go for someone unattractive. Also slip some unattractive personality traits/ hobbies in your profile. The best ones to draw the scammers are 40 something or 50 something, with or without children, recently divorced is even better (makes you appear more vulnerable and possibly desperate).

If you want to draw scammers playing older men, raise the age a bit more, and try seniorpeoplemeet.com You won't find a lot playing older women--the lads' female characters are usually 20 something and many look remarkably like porn stars (maybe because they love to use photos from Raven Riley, Melissa Midwest, and Allison Angel).

For lads, try any free site, but known heavy hitters are 4ppl.com, plentyoffish.com, cuddlydating.com, tagged.com (and of course myspace)

For vlads, as weareborg suggested, try mybelovednet.com

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:54 am

Very good points Dorothy, childless widow of 50 gets plenty of hits.

Quote:

if you use a photo, go for someone unattractive.

Where can I find pictures please?

Fun can be had 'sending' Play Station 3 : laptop : mobile phone.

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 2:06 pm

I haven't baited as a man, so I don't look for men's photos. But for women, Kathy Bates can be good (they made her very unattractive in some of her movies!)

Or, if you want someone a little more obscure--the sleazy diet / diet product websites love to use "before" and "after" photos and they love to make the "before" pics look as unattractive as possible, so just google things like "before diet photos" or "before weight loss supplement photos". I personally don't like to use people's personal pre-diet photos from myspace pages, serious weight loss sites, etc. but if they are being used to promote a fake diet or sleazy supplement, or are freely posted in lots of places, I consider them fair game. Then just save a few favorites to your hard drive.

Here's an example:
http://www.hoodia-dietpills.com/hoodia-diet-pills-testimonials.htm

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 2:59 pm

Thanks Dororthy

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:04 pm

Quote:

do NOT use an attractive model photo-

So,what to do?
What are the differences between of an attractive and unattractive "borrowed" model pictures.
We have to use and borrow pictures,useless pics to me are those ugliests,which I can´t use.

Ethically not right,cos of my purposes right!!
DW,your voice...

Dorothy,the example was not so good.
Try to avoid this model... Very Happy

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:25 pm

Mayday,

I think you are a little confused. Nobody said you shouldn't borrow a photo (though what I said was that I personally prefer not to take photos from people's personal myspace pages, etc. but, I don't feel bad using a photo that the owner sold to be used for unscrupulous purposes--i.e. scamming people trying to lose weight into buying an ineffective and/or dangerous product--ever heard of hydroxycut??).

We said not to borrow attractive models' photos because you are more likely to draw real people to your profile (and on a side note, your profile is more likely to be flagged and closed down because people looking for scammers may report it.) Making the profile less attractive (not just the photo, also try not to make the personality too attractive) will result in a high scammer response rate and few to no "real" responses.

Scammers don't care if you are attractive--in fact they prefer those who are less attractive as they expect them to be more desperate and to respond to romance and flattery more. The only thing the scammer is really attracted to is your wallet. Using an unattractive photo or no photo at all also makes it easier to be certain when you are dealing with a scammer. If you are using a photo of a highly attractive model and a responder goes on and on about your beauty, you still can't say whether that person is a scammer or not. If you are using an obviously unattractive photo and that happens, you can be much more certain it is a scammer.

The point is, if your goal is to attract scammers and not real people, unattractive is better. Then you don't have to reject innocent real people who are just looking for love.

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:58 am

Your spot on with what you say Dorothy, about photo's This one's been more then successful for me . posing as a world famous resterantor.

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 6:06 am

Sounds like all good points to consider.
I've got a profile on okcupid, and an email box on gmail, but no hits yet.
Now I know what to look for in pictures.....
I had not thought about diet before pictures. That sounds like a good place to start!

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:24 am

Please remember 'scambuster" when all else fails and nothing works, and you run out of pictures there's alway the delectable betty wanker
or four-eye-d freddy And everyone's in love with those two little charmers.
I think I remember reading about someone who also had a talking Horse

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