Is "scam baiting" ethical?

[suncrafter]

Have you ever gotten one of those Nigerian scams in your email? You know - where they say you won millions in a lottery (or whatever)?
Well the webmaster on this site http://www.419hell.com/ is a "scam baiter" - he answers those scam emails and does everything he can think of to mess with the scammer's head and waste their time.

So is "scam baiting" ethical? Is it OK to lie to a lier? Cheat a cheater? Etc...



P.S. -
Here is a fake photo ID that one of the scammers sent him...
(I think I could eat a photo with some paper and poop a more convincing ID!)

 

[morningstar2651]

I think it is ethical for those who know what they are doing to discourage these people from continuing their scams. However, the FBI does work to try and catch these guys. Personally, I think baiters would be better off assisting the FBI in any way possible. Check the IC3.

For everyone else - these guys are dangerous, don't try to bait them if you don't know a fair bit about social engineering and network security.
Nigerian Letter or "419"

• If the "opportunity" appears too good to be true, it probably is.
• Do not reply to emails asking for personal banking information.
• Be wary of individuals representing themselves as foreign government officials.
• Be cautious when dealing with individuals outside of your own country.
• Beware when asked to assist in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts.
• Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation.
• Guard your account information carefully.
• Be cautious when additional fees are requested to further the transaction.

 

[Athene]

I honestly don't care, I support what scam-baiters do. The 419 scammers pray on ignorant poor people and anybody who wastes the time and effort of the scammer is doing the world a valuable service.

 

[Braunwyn]

I responded to a money transfer scam in order to scold the scammer. He actually emailed me back and gave me his sad story of why he was doing it, how poor conditions were in his country, etc. I was surprised.

 

[CreedIsChrist]

Have you ever gotten one of those Nigerian scams in your email? You know - where they say you won millions in a lottery (or whatever)?
Well the webmaster on this site http://www.419hell.com/ is a "scam baiter" - he answers those scam emails and does everything he can think of to mess with the scammer's head and waste their time.

So is "scam baiting" ethical? Is it OK to lie to a lier? Cheat a cheater? Etc...



P.S. -
Here is a fake photo ID that one of the scammers sent him...
(I think I could eat a photo with some paper and poop a more convincing ID!)

I think it was a riot, never laughed so hard. He actually got the scammers to call them. This one really made me laugh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXt0...419hell.com/Charles_Soludo/5_Email_Scams.html

 

[Athene]

I responded to a money transfer scam in order to scold the scammer. He actually emailed me back and gave me his sad story of why he was doing it, how poor conditions were in his country, etc. I was surprised.

That's actually reasonably common. If they can't appeal to your greed they try and appeal to your sense of compassion and get you to send them a donation.

 

[lawtonfogle]

Have you ever gotten one of those Nigerian scams in your email? You know - where they say you won millions in a lottery (or whatever)?
Well the webmaster on this site http://www.419hell.com/ is a "scam baiter" - he answers those scam emails and does everything he can think of to mess with the scammer's head and waste their time.

So is "scam baiting" ethical? Is it OK to lie to a lier? Cheat a cheater? Etc...



P.S. -
Here is a fake photo ID that one of the scammers sent him...
(I think I could eat a photo with some paper and poop a more convincing ID!)

I think I have pooped a more convincing ID. No pictures for obvious reasons.


Anyways, yes I think it is ethical in that it, to some degree, hampers the efforts of the criminals. It is like the police using guns in a shoot out where there own life is only threatened due to their own choice of involvement. Basically put, if the 419er is busy with a 419baiter, then there is less chance of an innocent (and mentally lacking) person falling for this.

 

[lawtonfogle]

I responded to a money transfer scam in order to scold the scammer. He actually emailed me back and gave me his sad story of why he was doing it, how poor conditions were in his country, etc. I was surprised.

Most likely a bait technique. While I do not doubt that there are many many sad stories out there, the money needed to do what some of these people do, while not a lot, is not 'on the brink of starvation' poor either. While I will not say these scammers are well to do, the few stories I have read though complete involved scammers who lived a decent enough of a life.