Scamming the scammer

July 4, 2003 3:59 PM

Scamming the scammer Somewhere along the line I think we've all wondered what would happen if we answered the Nigerian 419 scam email. Now we don't have to. Someone calling himself 'ebola monkey man' has been taking the scammer's on a email journey to the point that he will only agree to send them money if they send him a silly picture of themselves holding up a sign with their name on... [via b3ta]
posted by feelinglistless (11 comments total)

From the first email exchange:

I AM VERY HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU MR BO JANGLES I AM NOW MR .BUKKAKE, I LIKE THE NAME AND I WANT US TO BEFOVER PARTNER IN BUSINESS AND IN FRIENDSHIP.I TRUST YOU AND I LOVE YOUR WAYS.I LIKE RUFF RYDERS AS WELL AND WITH P.DIDDY

Hehe. Great stuff in the vein of Something Awful's pranks.
posted by euphorb at 4:46 PM on July 4, 2003

(This is not only ugly, but unfunny.),
posted by Slimemonster at 4:47 PM on July 4, 2003

To be perfectly honest, I'm sort of one the fence with this one. I think it's more interesting in terms of finding out how the scammers respond more than anything else. It's never that clear how engaged they are with the process.
posted by feelinglistless at 4:57 PM on July 4, 2003

(This is not only ugly, but unfunny.),

I'm starting to feel ambivalent about these 'scam the scammers' projects. They do appeal to notions of 'elegant revenge', but I doubt any of the people who choose this way to fight back have ever been victims of the scam. It feels a bit self-aggrandizing and a lot like shooting fish in a barrel...
posted by 327.ca at 5:14 PM on July 4, 2003

Haven't we been here before?
posted by languagehat at 6:22 PM on July 4, 2003

Many times, language hat. There seems to be about half a dozen different "Scam the Scammers" sites going around.

I want to see something different. Switch roles. I want to see someone pretending to be a Nigerian scammer record the responses of the stupid plebs who go along with the scheme.
posted by Jimbob at 7:20 PM on July 4, 2003

Not as good as Moshood and me.
posted by hipnerd at 11:02 PM on July 4, 2003

The fact this guy got pictures is comedy gold.

What I'd like to see, however, is someone working out which false persona these 'scam the scammer' people are using.. and then scamming THEM.
posted by wackybrit at 4:35 AM on July 5, 2003

Homophobic slurs and calling someone a "Mugu motherfucker" are pretty weak comedy material.
posted by poopus at 4:02 PM on July 5, 2003

And the racism. OK, I know which side of the fence I'm on now.
posted by feelinglistless at 5:26 PM on July 5, 2003

by the by, what the hell is a Mugu anyway? Is it a specific derogatory term for a Nigerian, or just a general slur against Africans? Anyone know?
posted by poopus at 6:51 PM on July 5, 2003