# Fucking scammer motherfuckers

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [December 28, 2022, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240 "2022-12-28T21:57:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 29

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/561 "2025-02-10T17:15:45Z")

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> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> I’d rather do that on a daily basis than have her fall for some asshole’s ploy. The ones that are really onerous are the ones that try to take over your computer and tell you that you MUST contact Apple support at 1-819-MUMBAI and Do Not Attempt To Turn Your Computer Off!!!

Just got another one of these, only this time it was a dire warning that Windows Defender had identified a horribly virus and don’t try to turn off your computer! Call this number! Gosh, I might be a little concerned if it wasn’t for the fact that her computer is an iMac. 🙄

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**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/562 "2025-02-10T17:50:29Z")

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I got an email in my spam folder  
the name is Christian Matches  
& the email address is {something}{@}weinlove{dot}de

I’m _sooo_ clicking on that link _except for_:

1. She’d be _really upset_ if I signed up for an online dating site, which is a strong indication that I’m not unattached
2. If I _was_ looking, this is not the site I’d go for. If that’s the first thing you put out there about yourself you’re not the one for me, the same as if it was {Political party} Matches or \_\_\_ Matches
3. Assuming the above two _were_ not issues, I’m not interested in a German mail-order bride

🙄

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/563 "2025-02-10T17:58:00Z")

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Has anybody else been inundated by spam from South Africa lately? That seems to be everything in my filter - scams ending in _.za-com_.

I wonder why? 🤔

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**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/564 "2025-02-10T18:04:04Z")

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If it’s spam & a fake email address, what makes you think the last part o the address.(za-com) part is real?

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**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/565 "2025-02-10T18:36:07Z")

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> [@silenus](#):
>
> That seems to be everything in my filter - scams ending in _.za-com_.

That’s not a legitimate TLD so those aren’t real addresses.

The .za TLD is for South Africa and .com is a general international TLD. (It was originally meant for “commercial” usage but long ago changed to being used for anything.)

The “.za-com” is gibberish as a TLD, unless that’s actually a domain or other part of a URL you’re confusing for a TLD.

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/566 "2025-02-10T19:39:18Z")

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Got it. Just seemed weird everything since New Years has been ending with that.

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**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/567 "2025-02-10T20:43:19Z")

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> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> I’m not interested in a German mail-order bride

Somewhere out there in the world… Kirsten Dunst is weeping inconsolably because she could not land Spiderman.

_♫ Right there… there goes the spiderman!_

_♫ Is he strong? Can he warm the “bud”?_  
_♫ He’s got radioactive blood_

_♫ Can he swing from a thread?_  
_♫ Your chest & cheeks will be turning red_

_♫ Right there… there goes the spiderman!_

_♫ In quilts of Bayhead… at the scene of the crime_  
_♫ As he’s giving head… she’ll arrive just in time…!_

\*♫ Spiderman, Spiderman. \*  
_♫ Friendly neighborhood spiderman_

_♫ Wealth and fame, he’s ignored_  
_♫ Action is his reward_

_♫ Life is one great big fookup_  
_♫ wherever there’s a hookup_

_♫ You’ll find the Spiderman!_

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**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/568 "2025-02-11T02:00:27Z")

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If she bothered to look out her windows (plural) she would have seen my digits on a piece or paper spiderwebed right in the middle of the glass, but did she call? NOOOooo!

A guy will only wait for so long, yanno 😠

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**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/569 "2025-02-12T14:25:18Z")

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My email address is public, and so I semi-frequently get these “you can inve$t in this@!!” or whatever emails & dismiss them.

I got one this morning from a self-described “paralegal”, and it was like “your wife might be getting cut out of a will, you need to contact me at once!!!” and I started to dismiss it, but on closer reading the person knew too much about my wife’s family, and as it turned out it was…legit.

In fact, it turns out this guy administering the estate is famously skeevy within the family, and this is his sister ratting him out.

So, not a fucking scammer motherfucker, but a different thing all together. Though her brother is really a Nigerian Prince at heart, I suspect.

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**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/570 "2025-02-12T18:04:34Z")

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Well, while she’s incredibly beautiful, you’ll just have to look on the bright side.

There’s always Emily Stone… 😉

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**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/571 "2025-02-12T20:10:59Z")

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> [@Maserschmidt](#):
>
> So, not a fucking scammer motherfucker, but a different thing all together. Though her brother is really a Nigerian Prince at heart, I suspect.

If he wasn’t having carnal relations with his mother, then it’s at least an _improvement_.

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**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/572 "2025-02-12T22:13:37Z")

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> [@Atamasama](#):
>
> If he wasn’t having carnal relations with his mother, then it’s at least an _improvement_

I mean, it’s a low bar, but works for me.

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**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/573 "2025-02-14T11:43:26Z")

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> [@silenus](#):
>
> Has anybody else been inundated by spam from South Africa lately?

We just really, really like you.

As mentioned above, RSA has the “co.za” top level domain, and while there is some internal spam, we appear not to be big generators of international spam.

Still, if you want to have a romance, donate some money or engage in a blackmail scam, I am your man.

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**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/574 "2025-02-14T12:00:05Z")

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Fucking scammers need to be thrown in a tiny cell full of fleas and mosquitos, with the only parole option a small island infested with fire ants and they must be barefoot. 😡

Someone in another branch of our org got phone-scammed, and if the transactions can’t be blocked the company is out a large chunk of change, like low 5 figures large. What makes it worse is that this person is in a new role and has been having a hard time with it, but REALLY wants it, and has been doing everything they’ve been directed to do by TPTB in our org. And I can just see them dutifully doing what this person directed them to do thinking they were doing the right thing and being a good and helpful senior-worker-bee.

I don’t know if this will be the end of the road for them or if it will lead to a PIP or what, but I am just so sad for this truly good and hardworking person who simply has real difficulty with critical thinking in high stress, high info-volume situations. Not stupid at all, just the way the brain processes stuff.

I am furious and so very sad for them.

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**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/575 "2025-02-14T21:09:08Z")

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This morning when I looked at my phone messages, I had one from a number I don’t know that said “you are being deleted from this group.”

Obviously, this is using a FOMO approach to get me to frantically text back something along the lines of “wait, what? Who is this? I didn’t ask to be deleted from a group, what’s going on?” Then they will slowly get a conversation going and as we become “friends” and I start to trust them, they’ll let me in on a cryptocurrency deal or some such thing.

Or anyway, I think that’s a pretty safe bet as to what is going on. The question is, should I string them along?

I’ve been thinking of texting back something like “Hah hah, Bert, very funny - you can stop now.” And take the conversation from there.

Should I do this?

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/576 "2025-02-14T21:11:44Z")

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I would say no. Whatever you plan to do they have already encountered and are ready to deal with.  
BTW, if I get a scammy call about the house, I tell them it burned down and I am homeless (somewhat true).  
If I get a scammy call about health care, I tell them I won $43.5 million in Powerball and don’t need anyone’s help.  
If I get a scammy call about my cell phone service, I tell them I don’t own a cell phone.

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**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/577 "2025-02-14T21:31:26Z")

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> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> Whatever you plan to do they have already encountered and are ready to deal with.

But is there any harm in amusing myself until they figure out I’m just jerking their chain?

They might guess this up front, from the rather atypical response. But since this type of scam plays the long game, gradually trying to win over the mark by slowly building a sense of intimacy and trust, I’m guessing it might be possible to toy with them for a while.

I mean, I understand that YOU wouldn’t want to engage - which is a perfectly reasonable answer. I guess my question should be, is there any risk involved if I decide to answer (given that I would divulge no personal information at all).

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/578 "2025-02-14T21:35:40Z")

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Besides the risk that talking to them for any amount of time puts you on lists that they can then sell to others, I guess having fun with them can work out…as long as these words are printed/written out in large letters in front of you for you to see during the call-“This Is A Scam!”.

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**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/579 "2025-02-14T21:53:33Z")

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> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> puts you on lists that they can then sell to others,

Yeah, that’s the one possible downside I can see. I get extremely few scam calls on my phone. (I assume this is because the phone number was technically legitimate but the mobile phone itself was almost always turned off for 17 years, because we didn’t use the phone while we were living abroad.)

Anyway, it would be a shame to ruin that. As it is, I can safely answer calls from unknown numbers knowing that the chances it is a scam call are close to zero. I’d have to change that it the number got on more lists.

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-scammer-motherfuckers/977240/580 "2025-02-15T22:09:43Z")

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Just got a text from “Amazon” informing me that something I bought had dropped in price, so as a “gesture of appreciation” they wanted to issue me a refund - just click on the link. I go to my Amazon account, no notice of any pending refund.

Turns out it’s a known scam to harvest personal info. It did sound good for a few seconds.

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