At the top of the preparedness list should be education. I call scammers all day and mess with them. I try to gather emails and bank account information of the money mules, which I report to the banks and they shut them down. The like to use Anydesk and ConnectWise to connect to the victim's computers. I let them connect (to my virtual computer) and report the connection ID. In a matter of 10 minutes that connection ID is made invalid, and the IP that was using it is blocked. They have to stop their operation, reset the network router so it pulls a new IP, and uninstall Anydesk from every computer and reinstall it so it gets a new connection ID. That doesn't close the call center, but it stops them for a good long time. That network router has to sit for 24 hours until the lease IP from the provider renews at midnight. The higher level scambaiters know how to quickly reverse the connection so while the scammer can see YOUR computer, YOU can see THEIR computer. Once they have that reversed connection, they download all kinds of information, often spreadsheets full of victim information. They then start calling the victims to see if they were scammed, for how much, and help them try to recover the money they lost and also assist them, with securing the computer. Once you have downloaded Anydesk or ConnectWise Screen Connect that program plants a driver that keeps that connection alive forever, so any time you turn on your computer that can connect. They then look for password files, peruse your email, look for contacts with phone numbers to target, look where you have browsed to, download your photos... (I have a folder called Nudes. In that file is 200 files named nude1 thru nude200. They are the same picture of an anatomically correct horse. If they steal that folder, they will be shocked.)

If you are at all interested in seeing scambaiting in action, visit twitch.tv and look for FunGuyMedia. He is an English guy who is great at baiting the scammers. It's fun to watch in real time. There are also many great examples on youtube. FunGuy is there, Scan Sandwich, Scammer Revolts. A lot of good ones. Scammer Payback is the king, but he is taking some time off to address some personal matters.


+++THIS LINK+++ will take you directly to Fun Guy's Twitch page. He usually goes live about noon or so EST. BE AWARE that it sometimes gets quite salty so if you are at all language sensitive you may not appreciate what you hear. He can get a little carried away when he works a scammer over. Plus the British sense of humor can be a little different and bawdy. Our people over in Jolly Olde can attest to that.