If you think only losers fall victim to scams, you probably need to think again. Recent data from Gallup shows that one in three Americans have at least one family member who was scammed in the past year. 8% say they've been victims of financial fraud themselves.

While the numbers aren't that high, scams are still the second-worst crime worry for American households. 57% of respondents told Gallup that they often or occasionally fear getting scammed. The one thing that scares people more than scams is identity theft, as 72% of the respondents worry about it because they believe the ramifications might be worse than any other type of crime.

Most of the conversations we've collected here are clever comebacks to scammers, but people also love a good scam-baiting story. Mostly because it's so satisfying to see a swindler get their comeuppance. Usually, scam baiting refers to people wasting a scammer's time and resources so they can't con even more people.

Some people have even turned scam baiting into careers. Like the YouTube channel Scammer Payback, where creator and streamer Pierogi catches scammers and serves them justice, which has over eight million subscribers. Reddit also has dedicated communities where people bait scammers, like r/Scams, r/ScammerPayback, r/scammers, r/scambait, and more.

While scam baiting might be fun and satisfying to read about, there are many risks associated with it. While digital creators both educate and entertain their audience with their scam-baiting tactics, it can easily backfire for some. 

Global cybersecurity advisor at ESET Jake Moore kindly agreed to tell Bored Panda more about why it might be so dangerous. "Scam-baiting can bring personal safety concerns like retaliation, harassment, or even reverse cyberattacks," he says. "Scammers can often know much more about their victims than they let on, so, although it may be tempting, it can be very dangerous to lead them on."

He warns people that in some cases, there might even be legal repercussions. "Although it may seem counterintuitive, there could even be potential legal implications if the scam baiter crosses boundaries such as recording the conversations without proper consent or places any software on the scammers' devices."

Scammers try to rip people off using many different tactics: advanced fee payments, pretending to be customer service or a government agency, telemarketing, and many more. Yet the most common way scammers get people's money is by sending out phishing emails. "Attackers impersonate trustworthy entities to obtain sensitive information," Moore explains.

With new technological advancements, phishing has become increasingly difficult to spot. "Tactics have evolved significantly," Moore notes, "becoming increasingly sophisticated through the use of artificial intelligence, deepfake technologies, and highly targeted personalised approaches designed to appear more credible and convincing."

Bored Panda asked the global cybersecurity expert for some recommendations on how to stay safe from scams. "To protect themselves effectively, people need to remain informed about current scams and always verify the sender if something is unexpected or urgent, but especially if the request is for personal or financial information," Moore emphasizes.

"Using unique passwords, activating two-factor authentication, and limiting the sharing of personal information online can help reduce being caught up in a scam," Moore adds. "Furthermore, keeping antivirus up to date and simply being cautious of unexpected links or attachments will also help people stay safe online."

Other experts also say to be wary of clicking on links and new website addresses that may appear identical to the ones you frequent. Don't be like Michael Scott and don't help the son of a deposed Nigerian prince. And while you're at it, don't go on a date with someone who's looking for a healthy non-smoker with both kidneys.

Do you have any stories about scammers, Pandas? Even if it didn't end very well, share your story with us in the comments! And if you'd like to see more stories of scammers getting owned, head over here and here. And, remember: update your passwords and stay safe out there!