Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

I trapped scammers in an impossible maze [video]

youtube.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

241–250 of 332 posts

Re: I trapped scammers in an impossible maze [video]

#241

Post by kumarvvr »

I wonder, with increasing popularity, his videos are watched more and more by scammers, leading to less effective content and outcomes. Already, in a few videos, his name is asked out.

Its possible that the logical end to this is that Kitboga ends up interacting with the most gullible scammers, and the clever ones evolve to recognize the likes of Kit and protect themselves, if it can be called that.

Even this video, when sufficiently viral, is a beacon call to scammers to identify scam baiters.

How long before the scammers start using AI to find patterns in speech content and patterns, to identify Kit early on.

Re: I trapped scammers in an impossible maze [video]

#242

Post by guhcampos »

JaDogg wrote: post #116

Kudos to Kitboga! But let's really think about it, isn't it true that most things in the world are some form of a scam? Growing up in a poor country, I've realized that scams are everywhere, right from the day you start school: 1) Parents resort to scamming the school hiring board using fake addresses just to enroll their children in a good school. 2) In the early years, students learn how to cheat in exams to surviv…

Are you Brazilian? That sounds like home lol.

Some of these are arguably "victimless crimes" - like cheating at the school. Yet I agree that the constant exposure to moral failure may lead to desensitizing people of morality.

Re: I trapped scammers in an impossible maze [video]

#243

Post by kumarvvr »

TacticalCoder wrote: post #30

I love Kitboda's videos. The one thing that strikes me all the time is how arrogant, smug, full of themselves these scammers always sound. They do profoundly believe they're oh-so-intelligent and don't hesitate to make fun of the old people they (think they) are speaking to. Despicable scum of this earth. Thanks to Kitboga for fighting the good fight and it's great to see banks and crypto-exchanges immediately freezi…

For maximum probability of success, the scammers have to threaten, scream and shout. The most vulnerable of the victims respond to this.

If they were timid and accommodating, the call would most likely end up as "let me check with my bank and get back to you. Thank you"

Re: I trapped scammers in an impossible maze [video]

#245

Post by kumarvvr »

gnicholas wrote: post #39

Can someone explain how the scammers are pulled in in the first place? That is, what's the 'funnel' for this? I get that this is amusing and a good way to waste scammers' time, but where did he originally find the scammers?

In most cases, the baiter calls up the scammers. Most scammers send a mail of some sort saying the victim has been billed such and such amount. They leave a number for the victim to call.

Re: I trapped scammers in an impossible maze [video]

#246

Post by kumarvvr »

Ancalagon wrote: post #59

Not much sympathy for these scammers but I do wonder how desperate some of them have to be to waste so much time on a couple hundred bitcoin max.

1 USD is 80 Rs., roughly.

The average salary for a person working in a regular, semi-skilled job, in a tier-1 or tier-2 city, is about 50,000 Rs., or about 625 USD.

For a whole month, working 8 hours a day, if the scammer can scam just 10 people, out of 100 USD each, they will be the top 10% earners in India.

So, if there is a vulnerable victim, earning 5000 USD, means they can almost not work for another 8 to 10 months.

Re: I trapped scammers in an impossible maze [video]

#247

Post by kumarvvr »

xyst wrote: post #216

While it’s entertaining, it’s just a bit sad that people continue to fall for these scams. The one woman who believed the Amazon refund scam sounded young, maybe in her 40s. While the idea of wasting the call center operators time appears noble. After watching a few of these scam baiter videos, it appears the call centers are staffed with at least a few dozen people. If one dumb operator stays on the line for 8+ hrs…

The best way to stop, is for systems to be in place, put by family / govt., that limits wire-transfers, or other forms of money withdrawal in forms of cash, unless an authorized or approved guardian be present. Of course, this is for the very elderly.

For regular folk, who may not have much knowledge about computers and stuff, if they hear "mY nAmE is STevEN" with an Indian accent, tell them to shove it.

Re: I trapped scammers in an impossible maze [video]

#248

Post by saagarjha »

averageRoyalty wrote: post #234
naet wrote: post #111

The part where someone waits for a super long time in a queue, finally gets connected, but then gets sent to an answering machine that says "the mailbox is full" hit too close to home. I know this was set up on purpose but I've had that exact same thing happen to me on a real & important government system recently. I've been trying to call California EDD to get some back pay for my state paid family leave. There is n…

For the literal 98% of the world who don't know these acronyms: EDD: Employment Development Department, appears to be some sort of job seeker assistance group? PFL: Paid Family Leave - Maternity/Paternity or carer style leave.

It’s support for people who are unemployed/on leave.
Post reply on HN