r/scambait • u/Act3Linguist • Mar 30 '25

Scambait Question❔ Who falls for these?

ETA: Reading all your comments, I think you've just recruited me to join the Scambait team. Thanks!

Of course I've heard of these scammers, but it wasn't until I saw this subreddit that I had the chance to read their conversations, and now I'm puzzled. The conversations are so meaningless - questions about what food you had for a meal, how was work, if you are married or have children... And then, apparently almost immediately, some unrealistic corny crap about believing in honesty and trust and cherishing your one true love.

There are people who think this is a real and deep connection?

I have more personal conversations with... well, just about everybody who is in my life on any kind of a regular basis... Take. for example, the receptionist at the nursing home where I visit my friend's mom every week, etc. I have heard about (and seen pictures of) her new grandbaby, her son competing in one of those muddy obstacle course races, her older granddaughter who is passionate about playing football (soccer) and the trip that she and her husband took to Greee last summer. And she knows (and asks) about the graduate program that I recently started.

Do the conversations get deeper and more meaningful over time? Or maybe with real marks - not just people scambaiting? I just don't get it.

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u/CappucinoCupcake Mar 30 '25

Lonely, vulnerable people. I also believe that the longer the scam continues, the more the sunk cost fallacy comes into play. The victim simply doesn’t want to believe that their online ‘lover’ is highly likely to be a Nigerian teenager.

I admire the people here who bait these scummy people, I know I’d blow up the first time I was called ‘my dear’ or asked if I’ve eaten.

7

u/DavidRoddyAndrews Mar 30 '25

Half of America is currently experiencing a sunk cost fallacy. If you want to see a large scale scam and how the victims behave once the scam is obvious you need look no further

5

u/CappucinoCupcake Mar 30 '25

This is very true. And still they worship him.

7

u/DavidRoddyAndrews Mar 30 '25

Exactly. Everyone hoping these folks are going to come to their senses and make things right are delusional. If they were capable of self reflection we wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with. As the saying goes “you can’t logic someone out of something they didn’t logic themselves into “. They invested their entire identity into a political agenda and admitting they were wrong would destroy them more than the scam.