Spotting scambaiters?

By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics and access other forums reserved for members. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today by clicking here.

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:28 am

I'm new to this forum, and just thought I should mention something I've noticed. I only found out about scambaiting last night and found it highly amusing. I read a LOT of the stuff here, and then set off onto the web to have a look round. Please note, this was for my own amusement and I have NO intention of scambaiting. And now the point - While looking at various guestbooks, I noticed entries that were obviously from scambaiters. For example, on a guestbook related to horses that does not show email addresses, there was a message "good site. I am rich and want to buy a horse. [email protected]" (slight paraphrase). Isn't that a little obvious? Do scammers really fall for that?

Forgive my impertinence, I know I'm just a noob, but I am genuinely curious as to the need for subtlety in what you do. Surely lots of messages and even more patience would work better?

The only experience of scambaiting I have is with the fake Microsoft calls. I've had 4 or 5, and took great pleasure in wasting the scammer's time, but I don't know much about the practicalities of scambaiting via the internet. Again, I'm asking out of curiosity.

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:50 pm

Welcome to Eater Smile

You need to start somewhere, so if you want to start baiting, go right ahead. You'll find that as long as you stay nice, people here are very helpful.

A little list of stuff to do, should you want to get started:
- sign up for a mentor
- read the stickies
- read ongoing and finished baits
- bait safe
- have fun Smile

As for your question, some of the lads have made scripts to harvest e-mail addresses off guestbooks with certain keywords. One of the most used guestbooks is the one on 419baiter.com . For what other reason would a person actually sign that guestbook?

The entries are obvious, because lads don't read the messages anyway.

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:51 pm

They don't really care about what you actually write as long as they see a potential victim (any e-mail that doesn't sound too stupid).

419Eater is my life Joined: 07 Feb 2012 Posts: 438

they dont manually select your email from guestbooks. They use programs that scour the web and collect them. They are called email extractors . They look for things like guestbooks. The lad will never read your post 99% of the time.

To be honest lads rarely read your mails to them unless you ask them what are you talking about read.my last mail

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 1:42 pm

Yep they don't care or pay attention I've gotten tons of emails that say "Hello I saw your profile 419baiter.com Fonda Cox's list of master baiters"

Btw Welcome to eater azzthom!

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:49 pm

When I first signed up on a guest book, I wrote the following message:

Quote:

Looking for some hot online scamming? Contact me at [email protected] and I may be your Mugu tonight!

I have baited several mails that have arrived to this account, so no, I don't think it matters what you write! Laughing

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:15 pm

Thanks for those answers. Much appreciated. And funny.

If I do get any 419's in my inbox, I'll make them available to you guys via the appropriate forum. Keep giving those lads (and ladettes) hell!

Master Baiter Joined: 03 May 2011 Posts: 237

Welcome to Eater. If you don't mind me asking, is there any particular reason why you definitely wouldn't want to start baiting?

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:18 pm

It's not definite that I won't start baiting, it's just a time thing. I also lack patience. I'm just here for the laughs. Having said that, I already bait coldcallers on the phone and have had 4 or 5 scammers trying the 'microsoft support' scam. They were fun!.

In short, no time at the moment - but there's a good chance I'll change my mind somewhere down the line. I will be visiting this site daily, and sooner or later, I'm bound to be inspired...

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:22 pm

^^^Have you successfully baited Rachel from Credit Card Services?

Baiting Guru Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 3877

lack of time is no problem.

a general advise is, that the baiter should not send more than one mail per day.

this works usually, unless you want to get the bait really hot (trophies, safaries...). as more and more scammers have access to mobile internet (blckberry, smartphones, tabletts etc) they work on weekends too. so, 3-4 mails per week should be possible, and after some weeks, the scammer is hooked.

Baiting Guru Joined: 10 Oct 2003 Posts: 4747

Welcome to eater, mugus really don’t pay a lot of attention to your first emails. The most important thing they have is someone responding to them, and they believe they can con anyone.

Along with reading etc be sure to add your emails to scam warners, after you remove anything that can identify you (emails, etc). post emailings on warners increases the baiter to victim ratio. A mugus can never have too many baiters.

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 7:50 pm

Having read all the replies on here - I caved. I signed up for the mentor program and I've been assigned Piecrust. I'll be baiting a mugu very soon. Thanks to everyone here, I'm now one of you. Cheers!

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:05 pm

^^^Great always good to have more baiters! Oh and don't believe the rumors Piecrust is a little flakey. Smile

Baiting Guru Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 21158

azzthom wrote:

Thanks to everyone here, I'm now one of you. Cheers!

You were always one of us! People get to choose how they participate here.

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:47 pm

Welcome to Eater, azzthom!!! Very Happy

Not quite a Newb Joined: 24 Jan 2012 Posts: 72

Azzthom, how are you getting fake microsoft calls? I've never had one of those...and Rachel from credit card services?? The only scammers that have ever interacted with me were through email, never through coldcalls.

I guess I should be happy about that but I'm kind of annoyed since it sounds like another fun way to waste their time..

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:34 am

It was a few months ago, and I got 4 or 5 such calls in a 2 week period. The indian woman on the other end would say "this is Microsoft support/technical support/technical centre" or something to that effect. She would then say "We have received a report from your computer" and then waffle on.

I can only assume they purchased a list of phone numbers that included mine. I have never typed my phone number on the internet. Ever.

The first time I just said "no you're not" and put the phone down. The second time onwards, I just asked stupid questions and wasted as much time as I could.

I actually invented a game to play with her, but never got the chance to try it out. I may just try it by email if I get a bait going. Not giving details yet, I want to try it first.

Someone else mentioned Rachel from Credit Card Services, I've never had the pleasure.

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

Bait or not bait, question that is not

Sorry, couldn't resist the Yoda thing. Laughing

Seriously - don't bait if you don't want to - really, this site, and many of the other baiting sites, are set up to let people know about advanced fee fraud (AFF), and to get the information out...family, friends, coworkers - and while getting that information out, be informed and present it in a way that way that they can recognize the signs if they are targeted.

Welcome here - read and have fun... and share what you learn. Very Happy

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:35 am

Welcome

Not quite a Newb Joined: 07 Mar 2012 Posts: 45

Hi

I've had the "this is Rachel from credit card services" many times.

I didn't know this was a real scam. Just figured it was a generic attempt at getting a credit card consolidation going?

I've messed with them a few times, and tried to block calls (I have zero credit card debt).

Is this an opportunity for baiting?

Thanks

Baiting Guru Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 21158

A search for this Rachel person will show you the game.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 07 Mar 2012 Posts: 45

next victim wrote:

A search for this Rachel person will show you the game.

So I did a search. Yeah, it's a scam. Anything that can be done about it?

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:06 am

You can post about anything. As long as your email address is listed, you WILL get spammed. I promise.

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 10:23 pm

Qwackerjax wrote:

Hi

I've had the "this is Rachel from credit card services" many times.

I didn't know this was a real scam. Just figured it was a generic attempt at getting a credit card consolidation going?

I've messed with them a few times, and tried to block calls (I have zero credit card debt).

Is this an opportunity for baiting?

Thanks

They have been baited, but as mentioned before it is not advance fee fraud so these toads are not a concern of this forum. Here is a good example of a successful bait. Or you can just go to YouTube and put "credit card services" in the search box.