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WyldHrt -> RE: training camps (5/24/2009 4:34:12 PM)
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quote:
They use Yahoo only (many internet cafes no longer allow chat software, and Yahoo can chat out of a browser, it also passes on your IP address when you send a picture or file), which you can test by suggesting a different chat engine
Most of what you said is right on, Antipode, but this is slightly incorrect. For mail, they use yahoo, hotmail, and many others, including gmail. For chat, YIM is the most popular, but some will use gmail chat or skype, esp if they are successful enough to have their own computer and net access (or work for someone who has such a setup). It's not as common, but it does happen. What surprises me is that most of the scammers here seem to be of the West African variety, when some of the other scammer hot spots (Eastern Europe and the Phillipines leap to mind) tend to specialize in love scams.
As the OP has indicated that he wishes this thread to be a general warning thread about scammers, I will make a couple of further points. 1. Not ALL scammers show the very obvious signs that most people pick up on right away. Some are university educated and write/ speak English very well, choose realistic photos instead of glamour shots, and basically act like genuine people looking for a relationship. 2. Love scammers are very patient, and will sometimes wait for months before hitting their victims up for money or asking them for a "favor" (see below). They will happily make phone calls- using throw away cell phones and "follow me" phone numbers, and some will even send flowers and gifts- paid for with stolen credit card information, to make themselves appear genuine. While not as common as the typical scammers most of us have run into, the scammers who really know their stuff are harder to spot and far more dangerous, often involving their victims in cheque kiting, money laundering, and receiving stolen goods.
[/lecture] [8D]
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