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I set a trap for a book-marketing scammer (2025)

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Re: I set a trap for a book-marketing scammer (2025)

#31

Post by Xmd5a »

danielheath wrote: post #14
strenholme wrote: post #9

I met a guy who fell for the romance version of that scam over and over again. He was living in an assisted living facility by himself and was very isolated there. He would, as we all do, get those messages via email/Instagram/other chat networks (I get the most of this kind of spam on Telegram, to the point I have disabled Telegram sending me notifications, but the occasional one slips through on WhatsApp; it seems…

Loneliness is hard. Maybe believing that it was real was the only thing keeping him going.

He didn't even believe it.

Re: I set a trap for a book-marketing scammer (2025)

#32

Post by liendolucas »

> Authors are desperate because books aren’t selling, traditional marketing isn’t working, and publishers are offering less support per title. We’re feeling pretty helpless about our career trajectories, watching sales numbers decline while wondering what we’re doing wrong.

What's wrong? There's nothing wrong. Just people addicted to FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Netflix, YouTube, etc.

Re: I set a trap for a book-marketing scammer (2025)

#33

Post by TheOtherHobbes »

bambax wrote: post #21
strenholme wrote: post #9

I met a guy who fell for the romance version of that scam over and over again. He was living in an assisted living facility by himself and was very isolated there. He would, as we all do, get those messages via email/Instagram/other chat networks (I get the most of this kind of spam on Telegram, to the point I have disabled Telegram sending me notifications, but the occasional one slips through on WhatsApp; it seems…

Yes it's infuriating to see someone you care about fall for an obvious scam, yet... I don't know... If it's his money and it makes him happy, or a little less sad, a little less lonely... Why not...

Because the same techniques are used in the media and politics to get believe and vote for things that aren't true, by people who will not just scam money from the victims in many different ways, but do far worse things to other innocents.

We don't need voter id or age verification laws, we need laws that make any form of deliberate online deception for profit a crime punishable by jail time.

Re: I set a trap for a book-marketing scammer (2025)

#34

Post by shiandow »

walthamstow wrote: post #22
bambax wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes it's infuriating to see someone you care about fall for an obvious scam, yet... I don't know... If it's his money and it makes him happy, or a little less sad, a little less lonely... Why not...

You'd give away all your money to feel a little bit less sad?

When you put it like that it doesn't sound like the worst idea.

Re: I set a trap for a book-marketing scammer (2025)

#35

Post by walthamstow »

shiandow wrote: post #34
walthamstow wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'd give away all your money to feel a little bit less sad?

When you put it like that it doesn't sound like the worst idea.

It sounds terrible. You used to be sad, now you're still sad and you're destitute too

Re: I set a trap for a book-marketing scammer (2025)

#36

Post by aljgz »

strenholme wrote: post #9

I met a guy who fell for the romance version of that scam over and over again. He was living in an assisted living facility by himself and was very isolated there. He would, as we all do, get those messages via email/Instagram/other chat networks (I get the most of this kind of spam on Telegram, to the point I have disabled Telegram sending me notifications, but the occasional one slips through on WhatsApp; it seems…

!!SPOILER ALERT!! in Shutter Island:

When he realizes he's committed a terrible crime, the next day he goes back to believing he's a US marshal. His last words:

- this place makes me wonder...

+ Yeah, what's that, boss?

- Which would be worse, to live as a monster, or to die as a good man?

This is a sad reality of life, that leads many, to choose a fantasy over reality. How many of us consistently avoid this trap?

Re: I set a trap for a book-marketing scammer (2025)

#37

Post by shiandow »

walthamstow wrote: post #35
shiandow wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you put it like that it doesn't sound like the worst idea.

It sounds terrible. You used to be sad, now you're still sad and you're destitute too

But less sad!

Honestly the main problem is one of efficiency not whether buying happiness with money is a bad idea. Being less sad is more important than having money, but you do need to plan ahead so you don't run out too quickly.

Re: I set a trap for a book-marketing scammer (2025)

#38

Post by [deleted] »

shiandow wrote: post #37
walthamstow wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds terrible. You used to be sad, now you're still sad and you're destitute too

But less sad! Honestly the main problem is one of efficiency not whether buying happiness with money is a bad idea. Being less sad is more important than having money, but you do need to plan ahead so you don't run out too quickly.

[deleted]

Re: I set a trap for a book-marketing scammer (2025)

#40

Post by nkrisc »

walthamstow wrote: post #22
bambax wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes it's infuriating to see someone you care about fall for an obvious scam, yet... I don't know... If it's his money and it makes him happy, or a little less sad, a little less lonely... Why not...

You'd give away all your money to feel a little bit less sad?

I can’t tell if you’re joking but people do that all the time, every day. It might be alcohol, strippers, or just random stuff they don’t really need.

If this sounds surprising to you then probably you have enough money that you don’t need to give all of it away to be less sad.

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