Percentages of satisfactory bait ends?

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Not quite a Newb Joined: 09 Sep 2013 Posts: 25

Hi, I am new at this and am having trouble hooking fish. I could not find the answer to my question in the 'search' so can anyone tell me a fair estimation of the percentage of bites you get - say if you answer 10 scam messages how many will answer you back, and more importantly, what is the average percentage of baits that come to a satisfying end?

I think I have to work on my first answer emails as they are dropping me after a couple of emails, and I need to act a bit more naive I guess to hook them, or work on a better scenario.

I suppose I am just impatient and this is normal but I am interested to hear your experiences.

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:00 am

Welcome sharkpuncher.

One big suggestion to start with is to sign up for a mentor here, look for the "mentor" link - they can help you more specifically on a one-to-one basis.

People have been asking your first question on a regular basis but there is not really a definitive answer as it depends a lot on what kind of scams you are baiting, and how you start your approach.

Some of the scams that seem to have a really high initial response rate at the moment are lottery wins, loan scams and "work at home" scams. I think that nearly all of those will reply to an initial message if it appears reasonable, if sent fairly promptly after the scam message goes out. Longer delays = lower % of replies, some scammers accounts get closed, others are juggling so many scams at once they can't very effectively keep up with initial replies to the older ones.

But it sounds like your problem is not just getting them on the hook but keeping them after the first few messages. Many new baiters face this problem and it's often down to trying to do too much in the first few messages - at this time the scammer is trying to judge whether you have a chance of paying out, or if you are a time waster not worth further consideration. Remember for the scammer it's all about making money. So if you are introducing a complicated story, it may seem like too much effort from the scammer's perspective. Take a look back at what you've been saying to the scammers and maybe try something different - this stage is all about experimentation and finding something that works for you.

It also depends what you are trying to do with them - if you are just trying to keep them rolling along with you, you'll have much lower dropout rate than if you are trying to do something outrageous.

I've avoided saying anything about baits that come to a satisfying end because most of the time I don't know what the "end" is. If arrest, safari, tattoo, or other impressive trophy is the goal, I'm at 0% after a couple hundred baits in many years. But on the other hand I've been greatly satisfied by keeping a scammer on the hook for months, getting a few amusing quotes out of him, and then dropping off the map never letting him know what happened.
So it's hard to think of baiting in terms of success metrics.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 09 Sep 2013 Posts: 25

Thanks for your reply. There are no mentors available, and anyway I don't want to waste anyones time until I get the hang of this.

I was just a bit impatient when I posted as both my lads have now shown interest again after 24 hours. I think I will start with the date scam first as they seem best for learning on.

I realise that 'satisfying' is subjective and that is what I mean, how many do were you happy with when it came to a close, no matter what the outcome.

Thanks again

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:37 am

Good to hear your lads are back on board --- and check the mentor link again, I think you need to make a post or two before you can get a mentor.
Feel free, it won't be a waste of anyone's time if you find it helpful.

Satisfaction - I am only dissatisfied if the lad totally controls the situation and drops me without deviating from his script. Once in a while that happens, totally inflexible scammers are hard to bait (but really really satisfying if you do manage to budge them).

I do get dropped on a regular basis when my payment ultimately fails to reach the lad. But even this is satisfying in a way if the lad has wasted a lot of time on me already, and if it helps me develop better methods for next time.

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:54 am

Hi Sharkpuncher,
Try the mentoring link again, there appear to be positions available.

You ask a good question. Just general numbers, I'd say 60%or better get to the money demand . Obviously the percentage is higher if you jump in on a mass bait. And love scams are high.

Just a suggestion-keep your first couple responses very short. Make the lad work to hook YOU. Sure, lads twigg all the time and right now the demand for ID seems to be a real sticky issue. But if you take your time and make the lad work, your response rate should ncrease.

Ps-my definition of successful is can I piggify him, get forms, make him visit WU offices a few times etc.

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:56 am

sharkpuncher wrote:

I realise that 'satisfying' is subjective and that is what I mean, how many do were you happy with when it came to a close, no matter what the outcome.

You tend to lose count of how many lads you have baited in the first place after being around for a while. I could tell you that I remember about five of my old baits off the top of my head. They were each in some way memorable, but that does not mean they were specifically flashy. They just were memorable for me, mostly because of the lad and not something I did.

Since firehouse said it already as well as I ever could, I'm just going to repeat his words: it's hard to think of baiting in terms of success metrics. Think rather of the big picture.

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 10:30 am

All the above are good answers. The level of success has to do with the goal when you start out. In many cases I start with only the goal of wasting their time and if I can get at least one Bank account to report that's a bonus.

In the course of the Refugee scammer project I'm doing I send my first tickle to 10 lads and receive 6 - 10 replys. Usually it's 7 - 8 replys though and often times one or two drop me after the first couple E-mails. Success in this project is if I get all of the Banker & Lawyer details so I can post them at the Warning site. I shoot for two bank accounts from each one before I drop them. Occasionally the ones I've dropped will send me what I call their "Paraguay" script which usually gives me an E-mail account & phone number of a fake Pastor.

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 5:55 pm

I know at least one mentor happy to assist.

And he's a handsome devil...

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 5:59 pm

^ Thank you for those kind words. Very Happy

Baiting Guru Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 21155

Welcome to the board sharkpuncher! Lou must be talking about Derrick but he isn't in the mentor pool.

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 6:26 pm

Even though I am still waiting for the Safari assist, if TheDane's your mentor, expect a rocketship to Mars!

Not quite a Newb Joined: 09 Sep 2013 Posts: 25

Thanks for the information. I now have a mentor and look forward to adding my interesting baits to the site to give everyone a laugh.

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 1:38 am

Welcome shark, take your time with the first baits, suggest you read on some of the completed baits. I read a lot of the baits from some of the professionals before I started on some goods baits. Your mentor should have a lot of advice. There is a lot of help in the forum

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 1:55 am

^^^ Professional Baiters??? I didn't know I could get paid to do this! Where do I sign up??

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 2:21 am

I should have said professionl liers Laughing

Trophy Videos · Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 4:29 am

Read, read, read....Stickies and Eater University, too. This is a baiting college with no end in the courses in sight, where you learn something new every day. And in baits, patience and flexibility are the keys. Don't rush things, and do not be too rigid in your plans. Sometimes a scammer will give you a better (meaning worse for him) way to screw him up good. Keep your eyes open. Smile

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:56 am

If I'm wasting a month or more of a lad's time, I'm happy. It inevitably gets to the point that they realize no money's coming and you just can't stretch things out further, no matter how hard you try.

Sometimes I just get tired of it, too. If they're going to just consistently whine at me, I'm going to slap them, tell them the deal's off, etc. which increases the chance they'll twig. Maybe I'll get an insult or two out of it. But once they reach the petulant stage, it's hard to move the bait forward. Even then I usually walk away satisfied with the bait overall because I've just raised some lad's blood pressure and kept him away from real victims for a while. Plus I always have other accounts I can use to hook him again.

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:07 am

I learned most from the baits I messed up. Early successes made me overconfident, the mess-ups brought me down to earth again.

Imho the no 1 problem is how to show just enough "victim behaviour" while leading the lad where you want him.

My approach to baiting now:

1. have a fully developed and detailed character in a carefully crafted environment (Vatican, Oil Rig, Aid Organization) which comes with certain limitations and restrictions that can be expanded or modified if necessary.
2. use Gimp and Publisher to create fake documents backing up my claims (fake letterheads, fake account statements, fake banks, charity leaflets, etc)
3. take one step at a time, don't rush things. I was tempted to try too much in one bait (see More Grace to Your Elbow) which simply overwhelmed the lads' mental capacity so I got dropped. It was fun but it could have lasted a lot longer with piggies.
4. try to find out the lad's attitude/personality once he is "off-script" and use this information - not the stuff the lad writes.

My ideas so far - learning by doing and not getting discouraged by being dropped.

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:52 am

Rowan wrote:

It inevitably gets to the point that they realize no money's coming and you just can't stretch things out further, no matter how hard you try.

I wish. I have long since stopped updating my lad vs teen bait, but we are still going rounds with David asking for WU receipt and me asking if he received the money I mailed him. It's so stupid I'm seriously considering dropping him myself.

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 10:40 am

^ I agree, it is possible to string along some of the dumber or more persistent lads almost indefinitely, even just using straight baiting techniques. Sheer persistence can pay off. I never abandon a bait unless the lad doesn't respond to multiple pokes over a week. And some of them come crawling back later anyway.

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 12:52 am

Big X wrote:

^ I agree, it is possible to string along some of the dumber or more persistent lads almost indefinitely, even just using straight baiting techniques. Sheer persistence can pay off. I never abandon a bait unless the lad doesn't respond to multiple pokes over a week. And some of them come crawling back later anyway.

Yep, I've run into those lads, too, who just keep asking and asking and asking for the WU receipt. As long as they keep talking, I'll keep responding. But more often than not, my excuses frustrate them and they either quietly disappear or I get a nice insult to consider putting in my signature line. Laughing

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 1:36 am

This Thread reminds me of one of my favorite Baits which never really produced. I was sooo disappointed but to this day I correspond with the Lad. I recall keeping him on the line whilst vacationing in Europe (RL) and stringing him along and then finally having to let him go as we couldn't come to terms. This has been going on for well over a year but sporadically now as I only contact him on Holidays and such.

From 2012:

Quote:

Hi charlie,

Many thanks to your kindly good news on our project,my family are well fine and hope you we have more time to spend with your family so they will not feel neglected.

Once again it nice to hear that the investor are ready to help us on this project. Regarding the B.J Breaking Ceremony I agree to your opinion.

Am very greatful to all your great effort on this B.J institute and I hope we can get everything started as soon as posible charlie because the property owners are waiting for us.

Many thanks for your kindly new.

Have a lovely weekend and stay well with your family.

I wait your kindly reply.

Thanks & best Regarding

D.J

You see D.J. is David Jack and I got him off script by asking if his Brother was my Best Friend Billy Jack AKA B.J. We planned the B.J. Institute which included a Cooking School (BJs Taste Good) and a proper ground breaking ceremony which was to include Billy's favorite song 'One Tin Soldier Rides Away'. There was to be a series of photographs of a man wearing a suit of armor riding a goat while others were to hold signs and well that's about it....I was going to call it 'One Tin Mugu Rides Away' and put it on YouTube but but but....

All in all I am happy as he never knew he was being Baited and we do still exchange XMas Greetings so that's not a bad thing....

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 3:45 am

Many of my baits come to a very sudden end because I am baiting for evidence on a fake site and then report the site. Once the site dies I am satisfied and move on looking for another domain to nuke. Very Happy

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