45 Scammers Who Got ‘Destroyed’ By The People They Were Trying To Rip Off (New Pics)
Interview With ExpertThe internet’s a double-edged sword: information at your fingertips, but also scammers lurking around every corner. From phishing emails to identity theft on social media—it’s enough to make you paranoid.
Some people, however, choose to defend themselves against scams with humor. For the past few years, Bored Panda has been diving into the r/Scams subreddit and showing you hilariously embarrassing attempts to steal people’s money.
The subreddit’s community has more than doubled in size since we last covered it: there are 783K members now! To keep you sharp, we’ve gathered new posts from r/Scams along with tips from cybersecurity pros Chuck Brooks and Burton Kelso.
This post may include affiliate links.
Some Intense Scam, Be Aware!
Scams are hitting wallets hard these days. The Federal Trade Commission reports that Americans lost a staggering $10 billion just last year.
According to Chuck Brooks, President of Brooks Consulting International and Cybersecurity Person of the Year, modern technology has made it easier to fall victim. For example, AI can now create video and voice recordings that impersonate loved ones in distress to trick you into sending money.
Found In Tumblr
With 117k followers on Linkedin, Brooks shares insights on cybersecurity, emerging technologies, business development, and government relations. He notes that fraudsters pretending to be someone else is one of the most common scams.
This technique is known as spoofing. It’s usually done through phishing emails or text messages that look like they came from a trusted source, like a friend, a bank, or your workplace.
Friend Sent Me This And I Got A Kick Out Of It. Thought Y’all Would Enjoy Too
I’m Still Getting Those Random Messages. How Do You Deal With Yours?
In the past, it was easy to spot spoofs because they often had misspelled words, bad images, and claims that didn’t make sense. Now, scammers can convincingly fake entire webpages, caller IDs, and even IP addresses.
I Love Messing With Scammers. The Phone # Is A Spam Number That I Pulled From My Contacts
Apple Pay Scammer Gets Pissed
Technology expert and TEDx speaker Burton Kelso also advises to be cautious of suspicious ads, as they can lead to fake versions of company websites. To stay safe, check official websites independently.
Bait Not Taken
That’s it?! Your/my/our cat deserves better (edited to fix spelling)
F*****g With Scammers Is Fun
Even if you are tech-savvy, that doesn’t mean you’re necessarily immune to scams. For instance, younger generations who heavily rely on the internet are particularly vulnerable. According to a survey by Deloitte, American Gen Zs are 3 times more likely to fall for online fraud than boomers.
Kevin
I Was Surprised To Get A Message From A High School Friend's Father
I Just Caught This In The Wild
So while it may be entertaining to read these posts because some scammers are not the brightest, you need to be careful. The most effective way to protect yourself is simply to avoid interacting with them altogether.
It’s Not A Story The Scammers Would Tell You…
How My Buddy Deals With Scams
"Honey, what should we name our child?" "Well since we are super horny, let's call her Sexy Girl!"
Kindly Hit Her With That Uno Reverse Card
Brooks and Kelso recommend using multi-factor authentication on your devices to prevent scammers from getting your private information in the first place.
“This raises the bar toward stealing your passwords by requiring two or three steps to access data,” says Brooks. “You can use biometrics such as facial recognition, an eye scan, or a thumbprint to add an additional level of security”.
The Person Who Definitely Wasn't Talking With A Bot
If I was a bot, how would I be able to send live pic and videos? Lol
I Used To Live In Los Angeles. I've Never Owned A House. I Get These Texts All The Time
I have no idea how this scam even works or what the end game is. But I've started replying in ways that make me giggle
A Pleasant Conversation I Had With A Whatsapp Scammer Today
Hackers are also really good at figuring out passwords by themselves. On social media, they can find people’s birthdays, places where they lived, and phrases they like to use. Don’t use that information to create your passwords and change them regularly.
Scammer Was Asking Me To "Invest $300". Had To Do It To 'Em
6th grade humor of me is losing it-- sorry-- WHERE'S THE EXIT
If Messing With Scammers Is Wrong I Don’t Want To Be Right
You better watch out you better beware Albert said that E equals M C squared Einstein A Go Go
I Have Suddenly Been Receiving Lots Of Fake Check Scams, Probably Because I Respond To All Of Them. This One Is Gold🤣
Moreover, Kelso suggests being mindful of where you share your phone number and email address. If you give them out too freely, untrustworthy companies might sell your data. This could leave you with dangerous spam emails and unwanted calls.
Omg They Sent It Again
The Person Who Was Kind Enough To Connect A Scammer With Some Other Scammers
Scammers Really Dislike It When You Force Them To Venture Off Script
Not Diana Prince I hope. You would not like to make her upset
Remember that scammers rely on psychological manipulation to take advantage of you. “They use fear-based tactics to get us into our primitive brain, which is always on alert,” Alex Melkumian, founder of the Financial Psychology Center, said for Time Magazine. “[This] really just hijacks our ability to rationally think through the situation.”
The Person Who Deployed Eighth-Grade Humor To Great Effectiveness
I Don't Know If This Is A Money Thing Or A Serial Killing Attempt, But It Gave Me A Good Laugh Today
That one could as well be someone who gave a fake phone number to a creep to make them go away
Most Common Lost Pet Scam (Verification Codes)
This happened to me and I was also at work when the scammer was asking for this code and I had not heard of such a scam before so it was very frustrating as I tried to answer texts while working. It was really heartbreaking, we never did find out cat. DON'T ever post a phone # in Craigslist
At the end of the day, Kelso says to “trust your gut.” Delete messages that make you feel uneasy and don’t make quick decisions. “If people really want to contact you, they will reach out [until they do].”
Very Bold
What Is Going On Here? (Birthday Cake Message)
They Didn’t Even Try
The Person Who Made Sure The Scammer Was Well Fed
The Person Who Found A Scammer Willing To Go To The End Of Middle-Earth To Scam Them
Had To Be Reminded
Update your *informations* below. I worry AI is going to help them improve their grammar and syntax, and they will just keep getting harder to spot.
This Sub Has Made Me Aware Of Literally Every Scam Before It Happens
Scammers Gonna Scam
I Hate When Scammers Don't Do The Smallest Bit Of Research Ahead Of Time
I Finally Received One Of These! I Feel Like A Full Member Of Society Now
Got This Yesterday. I Just Want To Rehome Some Guinea Pigs, Not Looking For This Nonsense
OK, this is like the 5th or 6th entry about sending a 6 digit code to verify if you're real. I don't understand this one. Can someone clue me in on this scam?
These Scammers Man
My Name Is Not Adora
I’m Sooo Tired Of This S**t
I was selling my car and someone tried the "six digit code thing" and my response was "I'm not downloading anything or clicking on links, as someone that works in IT I'd be straight up stupid to do so"
If You Weren’t 100% Convinced These People Aren’t Pieces Of S**t
Update, My Friend Did In Fact Get A Text. Details Inside
Thanks To This Sub I Knew Exactly What This Was. Wrong Number Scam
Scammers Failing Hard
Nah because he said “ayo” and it’s pretty informal, this one could not be a scam
Bravo! This is the kind of content that draws me to BP. Not some celebrity/influencer c**p.
Just go to Reddit, where they stole it all from.
Load More Replies...Don't answer, just delete. If you engage they know the number is in use.
Same as here. I'd almost guarantee the spammers make note of which comments get reactions.
Load More Replies...Can someone tell me what all these scammers want a six digit number and a phone number (if they don't have it yet) for?
Phone number is required for the scammer to log in/create accounts using your details, which then send this code to confirm that the number really belongs to them. If you give it to them then they're logged in as you somewhere.
Load More Replies...A recurring one for me here in Western Australia is a reminder to pay my road toll overdue amount. We don't have any road tolls here in this State. Obviously the originators of the scam have no way of knowing where the mobile number owners live. The s****y thing is that the text usually comes through very early morning. I keep my mobile on 24/7 because of family etc..
Suggestion: Add your selected people to your Emergency Contacts. Then, set the 'Do Not Disturb' feature on your phone to allow calls & texts from your Emergency Contacts to come through. Be sure to test/confirm that it works for peace of mind.
Load More Replies...Bored Panda. I am browsing this very thread talking about scam. And at the same you are showing an advert that scams people. Get your act together BP! 1000000286...564e00.jpg
I always laugh like that haha!
Load More Replies...This is kind of funny. Except, a lot of scammers are actually human trafficking victims and would *love* not to be there. That's right, this is a thread of people being mean to someone who has a decent chance of being *an actual slave*. Some good sources on this include bbc.com/news/world-asia-66655047 (reporting on a UN report) theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/24/the-people-targeting-you-with-cyberscams-may-themselves-be-victims-of-slavery (note: opinion), and propublica.org/article/human-traffickers-force-victims-into-cyberscamming (from 2022, still good).
I think John Oliver did an episode about this. It made me view scammer interactions differently. Best thing is to just not engage.
Load More Replies...I’m kinda sad I don’t get these because I’ve never, ever given my number out. I give out a Google number that forwards to my phone so I can use Google to weed ‘em out for me. I’d kinda like to join in the fun, but if they happen a lot, I spose I’m icky I don’t get ‘em. Most of ‘em are unbelievably stupid, and I have a hard time understanding how people fall for ‘em in the first place.
Get onto the reputable scambaiting sites. They take it to a new level and will show you how to do it safely without a phone.
Load More Replies...I see attempts at reverse courier scams quite a bit, where the scammer will send a courier to collect an item sold over, e.g. FB marketplace and transfer the money across. All is great until they dispute the sale, claiming you sent them a box of rocks. FB Marketplace, paypal etc. almost automatically take the buyer's side. As they arranged the courier, you will have no paperwork to prove that you actually sent the item concerned. Thus you end up a) without the item, b) without the cash and c) with potentially other liabilities and problems to boot.
Had a call and Ive seen the number before. They act like you won a chance to be in a lottery, and I was just curious to hear what they would say this time. So this super excited guy goes "Hellio, we got some great news for you Dan!". And I reply, in a sobbing voice, "Omg are you sure? The chemo is working? She will be ok"?
I remember getting an email threatening to send my so-called personal videos to the internet. I did not respond and just deleted that email.
I have never seen or experienced most of these scams, thankfully. I never heard of the six number scam so I guess I'm glad I came here and saw that. Well BP is good for something anyway! Yesterday I did get a message from the IRS saying that my package was being held up because they don't have proper delivery instructions or address. Not sure what that scam is either but it made me laugh that the IRS would be contacting me about mail.
For more submissions, enter a six digit code in the replies I V
Some of these were really nasty. Thing is I don't mean the scammers. Some people make Genuine mistakes, I've messaged people similarly about confusion over a number I've saved incorrectly. They don't have to be immediately nasty, two seconds to ignore or double check in for Kindness. Some of these from the first lines were not even obviously scams and don't appear as scams on professional warning sites. Not everything is a scam
Just don't respond to texts from numbers that you don't know. If you're selling something, use email.
I posted a few things on both Kijiji and Craigslist. I'm not street smart even though I'm almost 60 so I always check with my kids. One of those guys wanted to send me money via something (I can't remember now) and all my children said it was a scam. They had to explain so I would be smarter for the next one. Turned out, I got 6 of almost the same scam stories. So I laughed at them, saying my children are saying you're scam, blocked and reported them, and deleted everything.
I called out my bank after the sent a semi-threatening email saying that if I didnt click this link to download their app and update my details, they would suspend my account. Sounded suspicious even though the email address was correct. I contacted them and told them that in this age of hacking/privacy issues that this might be the dumbest email anyone could send someone else. There was not even an option to do it online. I don't trust app security because there is no way to know if it is secure. A website at least has https and a key indication that I can see.
I kinda miss the old days of live telemarketing operators you could mess with. Tom Mabe's homicide scene prank is my favorite, but I had my own fun, too. Pretending to be hard of hearing and senile, being super friendly and asking a lot of just on the edge of stupid questions to see how much of their time I could waste, trying to recruit them for my made up cult, etc. :D
My current “favourite” scam is receiving an email from someone claiming to have hacked my computer. They have access to EVERYTHING and images plus video of me pleasuring myself to “nasty porn”. Pay $700-1,000 to this bitcoin wallet or they will send the ‘evidence’ to my entire contact list. Thing is, they always attach a blurry picture of some random guy with his, er, johnson out. I don’t watch porn and I’m not a dude. But I do have the bitcoin reporting page bookmarked. Did you know extortion is one of the options to report a bitcoin wallet? Don’t respond, do report, you may save someone less savvy when the wallet is first frozen then closed.
The problem with those scams is they are often obvious on purpose. So someone who falls for it is usually kind of oblivious or too trusting, in other words: an easy target to go through with the scam
in 2014, then william webster started receiving phone calls from a man with a jamaican accent saying that he had won a $100,000.00 lottery and a ranger rover s.u.v. a $10,000 deposit was needed. mr. webster immediately knew this was a scamm and ignored the calls. even at 90, he was still in cull control of his mind. the scammer knew that mr. webster had been a naval officer, a lawyer and a judge, using these to wear him down. still nothing. then the calls became threatening. this was a mistake. the scammer missed TWO BIG things in mr. websters bio. mr. webster is the ONLY person in united states history to have been head of the f.b.i., 1978-1987, and head of the c.i.a., 1987-1991. a trace was put on the phone, scammer was located in jamaica and was extradited, serving 10 years in federal prison. mr webster turned a 100 a couple of months ago.
I thought that said merriam webster and was wondering how/why someone would try and scam a dictionary
Load More Replies...What's actually disturbing about these scammers is that they successfully scam enough people to stay in business.
When you are using slave labour in Cambodia it doesn't cost much to keep these scams going.
Load More Replies...As someone who regularly uses Reddit, I can assure you, most of these are fake.
Bravo! This is the kind of content that draws me to BP. Not some celebrity/influencer c**p.
Just go to Reddit, where they stole it all from.
Load More Replies...Don't answer, just delete. If you engage they know the number is in use.
Same as here. I'd almost guarantee the spammers make note of which comments get reactions.
Load More Replies...Can someone tell me what all these scammers want a six digit number and a phone number (if they don't have it yet) for?
Phone number is required for the scammer to log in/create accounts using your details, which then send this code to confirm that the number really belongs to them. If you give it to them then they're logged in as you somewhere.
Load More Replies...A recurring one for me here in Western Australia is a reminder to pay my road toll overdue amount. We don't have any road tolls here in this State. Obviously the originators of the scam have no way of knowing where the mobile number owners live. The s****y thing is that the text usually comes through very early morning. I keep my mobile on 24/7 because of family etc..
Suggestion: Add your selected people to your Emergency Contacts. Then, set the 'Do Not Disturb' feature on your phone to allow calls & texts from your Emergency Contacts to come through. Be sure to test/confirm that it works for peace of mind.
Load More Replies...Bored Panda. I am browsing this very thread talking about scam. And at the same you are showing an advert that scams people. Get your act together BP! 1000000286...564e00.jpg
I always laugh like that haha!
Load More Replies...This is kind of funny. Except, a lot of scammers are actually human trafficking victims and would *love* not to be there. That's right, this is a thread of people being mean to someone who has a decent chance of being *an actual slave*. Some good sources on this include bbc.com/news/world-asia-66655047 (reporting on a UN report) theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/24/the-people-targeting-you-with-cyberscams-may-themselves-be-victims-of-slavery (note: opinion), and propublica.org/article/human-traffickers-force-victims-into-cyberscamming (from 2022, still good).
I think John Oliver did an episode about this. It made me view scammer interactions differently. Best thing is to just not engage.
Load More Replies...I’m kinda sad I don’t get these because I’ve never, ever given my number out. I give out a Google number that forwards to my phone so I can use Google to weed ‘em out for me. I’d kinda like to join in the fun, but if they happen a lot, I spose I’m icky I don’t get ‘em. Most of ‘em are unbelievably stupid, and I have a hard time understanding how people fall for ‘em in the first place.
Get onto the reputable scambaiting sites. They take it to a new level and will show you how to do it safely without a phone.
Load More Replies...I see attempts at reverse courier scams quite a bit, where the scammer will send a courier to collect an item sold over, e.g. FB marketplace and transfer the money across. All is great until they dispute the sale, claiming you sent them a box of rocks. FB Marketplace, paypal etc. almost automatically take the buyer's side. As they arranged the courier, you will have no paperwork to prove that you actually sent the item concerned. Thus you end up a) without the item, b) without the cash and c) with potentially other liabilities and problems to boot.
Had a call and Ive seen the number before. They act like you won a chance to be in a lottery, and I was just curious to hear what they would say this time. So this super excited guy goes "Hellio, we got some great news for you Dan!". And I reply, in a sobbing voice, "Omg are you sure? The chemo is working? She will be ok"?
I remember getting an email threatening to send my so-called personal videos to the internet. I did not respond and just deleted that email.
I have never seen or experienced most of these scams, thankfully. I never heard of the six number scam so I guess I'm glad I came here and saw that. Well BP is good for something anyway! Yesterday I did get a message from the IRS saying that my package was being held up because they don't have proper delivery instructions or address. Not sure what that scam is either but it made me laugh that the IRS would be contacting me about mail.
For more submissions, enter a six digit code in the replies I V
Some of these were really nasty. Thing is I don't mean the scammers. Some people make Genuine mistakes, I've messaged people similarly about confusion over a number I've saved incorrectly. They don't have to be immediately nasty, two seconds to ignore or double check in for Kindness. Some of these from the first lines were not even obviously scams and don't appear as scams on professional warning sites. Not everything is a scam
Just don't respond to texts from numbers that you don't know. If you're selling something, use email.
I posted a few things on both Kijiji and Craigslist. I'm not street smart even though I'm almost 60 so I always check with my kids. One of those guys wanted to send me money via something (I can't remember now) and all my children said it was a scam. They had to explain so I would be smarter for the next one. Turned out, I got 6 of almost the same scam stories. So I laughed at them, saying my children are saying you're scam, blocked and reported them, and deleted everything.
I called out my bank after the sent a semi-threatening email saying that if I didnt click this link to download their app and update my details, they would suspend my account. Sounded suspicious even though the email address was correct. I contacted them and told them that in this age of hacking/privacy issues that this might be the dumbest email anyone could send someone else. There was not even an option to do it online. I don't trust app security because there is no way to know if it is secure. A website at least has https and a key indication that I can see.
I kinda miss the old days of live telemarketing operators you could mess with. Tom Mabe's homicide scene prank is my favorite, but I had my own fun, too. Pretending to be hard of hearing and senile, being super friendly and asking a lot of just on the edge of stupid questions to see how much of their time I could waste, trying to recruit them for my made up cult, etc. :D
My current “favourite” scam is receiving an email from someone claiming to have hacked my computer. They have access to EVERYTHING and images plus video of me pleasuring myself to “nasty porn”. Pay $700-1,000 to this bitcoin wallet or they will send the ‘evidence’ to my entire contact list. Thing is, they always attach a blurry picture of some random guy with his, er, johnson out. I don’t watch porn and I’m not a dude. But I do have the bitcoin reporting page bookmarked. Did you know extortion is one of the options to report a bitcoin wallet? Don’t respond, do report, you may save someone less savvy when the wallet is first frozen then closed.
The problem with those scams is they are often obvious on purpose. So someone who falls for it is usually kind of oblivious or too trusting, in other words: an easy target to go through with the scam
in 2014, then william webster started receiving phone calls from a man with a jamaican accent saying that he had won a $100,000.00 lottery and a ranger rover s.u.v. a $10,000 deposit was needed. mr. webster immediately knew this was a scamm and ignored the calls. even at 90, he was still in cull control of his mind. the scammer knew that mr. webster had been a naval officer, a lawyer and a judge, using these to wear him down. still nothing. then the calls became threatening. this was a mistake. the scammer missed TWO BIG things in mr. websters bio. mr. webster is the ONLY person in united states history to have been head of the f.b.i., 1978-1987, and head of the c.i.a., 1987-1991. a trace was put on the phone, scammer was located in jamaica and was extradited, serving 10 years in federal prison. mr webster turned a 100 a couple of months ago.
I thought that said merriam webster and was wondering how/why someone would try and scam a dictionary
Load More Replies...What's actually disturbing about these scammers is that they successfully scam enough people to stay in business.
When you are using slave labour in Cambodia it doesn't cost much to keep these scams going.
Load More Replies...As someone who regularly uses Reddit, I can assure you, most of these are fake.