Live data from Hacker News

I trapped scammers in an impossible maze [video]

youtube.com

301–310 of 332 posts

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

#301
post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In regards to the arrogance... I imagine they have to be like that in order to be able to sleep at night, they justify the scamming by saying (mostly to themselves) things like the West stole from the developing countries, so this is them stealing back, and they have to believe the victims deserve it so they can, I repeat, sleep at night. Another justification might be "Look at this stupid moron, I won't feel bad ste…

Yes, they definitely believe the West stole their money. This is what you hear every day from government propaganda (based on personal experience; refer to my other comment on the original post). Breaking out of propaganda is not a simple task for any individual. While the West may have colonized these countries in the past, it is the government and corruption that are currently responsible for the theft. Moreover, p…

Believe? Propaganda?

Did you ever have a single history lesson in your life?

Where do you think Afro-americans came from?

Why do you think half the continent is speaking french or English?

Why do you think 14 African countries use a money created and still controlled by France?

Plenty of mines and oil depots are still profiting European countries.

Multiple generations of slave descendants had to pay reparations to France.

Leopold II was chopping hands off Congolese people for rubber.

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

#303
post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please look up the population of India, then re-read my comment, paying attention to one word in particular: proportion.

Even when taking population size into account, India is still vastly overrepresented compared to other countries. Of course, tech support scams are just one particular kind of scam. Nobody is arguing that India has the largest percentage of scammers in general.

>Nobody is arguing that India has the largest percentage of scammers in general.

That is _exactly_ the spirit of what the parent comment was implying:

>they justify the scamming by saying (mostly to themselves) things like the West stole from the developing countries, so this is them stealing back

That comment doesn't specify India, but is definitively a blanket statement that (most) scammers are from those filthy, no-good third-world, non-Western countries, and justify their dirty third-worldly scams as a "revenge against the West".

Its a sad, racist non-argument. Quite depressing that it isn't greytexted into oblivion.

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

#304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seen over 100 of Kit's videos and they are definitely not staged and it's all improv'd from Kit's side.

I was thinking about the scammer’s side. If a password creation dialog asks for the daily Wordle answer and it doesn’t trigger a red flag, the predator isn’t smarter than the prey at all apparently.

While intelligence plays a part, even smart people will ignore obvious red flags if they think they are winning.

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

#305
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…

This is why I hate that saying "anari ka sona baara baani ka" (assuming you are from subcontinent)

I am a Sri Lankan expatriate. Based on the comments I've read, it seems my thought process is correct, as most of these observations apply to any other underdeveloped nation. These are simply personal anecdotes.

Unfortunately, I only understand Sinhalese and English. I used to be able to read and write Tamil since it was taught as my third language in school until 9th grade. Now, all I can do is count to 10.

There are a few things that are specifically unique to Sri Lanka, such as the civil war and all the atrocities, and now the new anti-Muslim sentiment, etc. Strangely enough, I have no idea why people ever voted for the president who fled the country (or his siblings), considering they embody the worst qualities from both left-wing and right-wing politics, with government-controlled prices and populism.

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

#307
post #251

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Essentially prank calling scammers gets old fast, and is just an avenue to make money from Youtube. Which means upping the ante to keep viewers, eventually videos reach a grey area where they get as mean as the scammers themselves. This automated method is cool though, so it makes an interesting video. Could have done without the Kraken shilling though, they are part of the problem.

>Could have done without the Kraken shilling though, they are part of the problem. That made me a bit sad. That now he's getting paid by crypto - arguably the greatest scammer enabling technology since the telephone.

YouTubers have not made the most informed decisions about who they accept sponsor from, but compared to traditional media, they have proven very responsive to campaign from their fans accusing them of shilling the wrong brand.

They pick widely, and drop the bad ones fast.

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

#308
post #305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is why I hate that saying "anari ka sona baara baani ka" (assuming you are from subcontinent)

I am a Sri Lankan expatriate. Based on the comments I've read, it seems my thought process is correct, as most of these observations apply to any other underdeveloped nation. These are simply personal anecdotes. Unfortunately, I only understand Sinhalese and English. I used to be able to read and write Tamil since it was taught as my third language in school until 9th grade. Now, all I can do is count to 10. There ar…

The saying is Hindi “only a clumsy/naive/novice person sells 24K gold” (without adulterating it)

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

#309
post #252
post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh, his latest videos and the package-thieves are way less entertaining than his previous ones. There are interesting hesitations when he ponders the ethics and legality, but it’s otherwise (unfunny) schadenfreude. I think that’s the influence of other YouTubers: he’s hanging out with the Safety Third guys, who are (as their name implies) trying to fast-run a Darwin prize. They make entertaining science-y stuff. He’s…

Tech Ingredients is the only person out of all you listed that I wouldn't describe as "insufferable."

He’s the only one who is an engineer first, and an entertainer… maybe?

There are a handful who I haven’t mentioned with the same personality—mostly around niche topics, like RC vehicles, though.

I’m curious what you’d think of Jay from the Plasma Channel: he clearly very personable, but his content is to the point, and he might find something major on the way.

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

#310
post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, they definitely believe the West stole their money. This is what you hear every day from government propaganda (based on personal experience; refer to my other comment on the original post). Breaking out of propaganda is not a simple task for any individual. While the West may have colonized these countries in the past, it is the government and corruption that are currently responsible for the theft. Moreover, p…

Believe? Propaganda? Did you ever have a single history lesson in your life? Where do you think Afro-americans came from? Why do you think half the continent is speaking french or English? Why do you think 14 African countries use a money created and still controlled by France? Plenty of mines and oil depots are still profiting European countries. Multiple generations of slave descendants had to pay reparations to Fr…

>>> Believe? Propaganda?

I'm fairly certain I was discussing scammers. However, I admit my phrasing wasn't as good as I had hoped. Unfortunately, I come from a former colony (Sri Lanka) and English is not my native language. I apologize if my words triggered any PTSD or brought back unpleasant memories for you. I never stated that what they believe is wrong or inaccurate.

The idea is not to scam the West, but rather to work hard so that the West becomes envious. (India recently achieved a milestone by reaching the moon, which stirred jealousy and anger among many people; it was amusing to witness.)

>>> Did you ever have a single history lesson in your life?

Yes, surprisingly, the Sri Lankan syllabus (which constantly changes with each political party shift) did not cover much about Africa or black slaves.

>>> Where do you think Afro-americans came from?

Clearly, they originated from Africa.

>>> Why do you think half the continent is speaking french or English?

Colonization.

>>> Why do you think 14 African countries use a money created and still controlled by France?

Do not know. What is being done to combat this?

>>> Plenty of mines and oil depots are still profiting European countries.

Certainly, I agree.

>>> Multiple generations of slave descendants had to pay reparations to France.

Yes, I agree.

>>> Leopold II was chopping hands off Congolese people for rubber.

Fair point.

---

I'm still not sure why historical atrocities matter. Constant talk about the bad past only serves to victimize people, making them unable to achieve their full potential. Don't waste time dwelling on the past; it's called the past for a reason.

Post reply on HN