The Shocking Truth Behind Getting Scammed—And Why Some People Want It That Way
My Big Scammer Risk
If you’re a writer like me, you take your risks at the keyboard. Submitting a manuscript? Yes, albeit with trembling fingers. Ice-skiing off Annapurna in the Himalayas? Not so much. I stay safe at the computer, but there’s one risk on the edge of safety that I’ve always wanted to experience. It wouldn’t take me to Nepal, but the danger can be equally bone-chilling. It’s this. II’ve secretly wanted to experience an internet scam. What would it be like? What goes on behind the con artist curtain? I’ve thrilled to read the antics of Ebola Monkey Man (back in the days when anyone would utter the word “Ebola” in a humorous context), when a clever group of frat boys, according to legend, confused and irritated a Nigerian Prince scammer, trading emails that became more ludicrous by the day. I’m obsessed with stories about false identities and I’ve followed them ever since film maker Nev Schulman added “catfish” to our cultural lexicon. But I’ve never been a victim of a scam myself. Could I ski up to the very edge of that chasm (straining the metaphor) while still maintaining control over my identity and my bank account? I was too cautious to try, until one Friday afternoon when my email delivered an offer I couldn’t resist.
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