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How to Spot a Scam

Friday, January 30, 2009

Scambaiting: Stringing out a Conman

By now it should be obvious that a scam artist wants nothing more than your money. The allure of quick riches combined with their low moral standards makes Internet crimes attractive. But what if you could turn the tables? What if you could make them spend their stolen money?

The technique is called scambaiting and it comes in various forms. The end game is always the same; wasting the time and resources of those that wish to scam you. For instance, whenever a conman sends a fake check/money order, it costs them money. With this in mind, there comes a point when the scammer ultimately gets fed up and decides to move on to another target, but when executed properly has compromised himself.

The rules of scambaiting are fairly simple, there are no rules. Use common sense when applying this tactic and avoid sending personal information. Creative and ingenious ploys yield fruitful results.

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