This Chatbot Wastes Scammers' Time, And It's Glorious

[TechLady]

I. LOVE. THIS.

"A security firm has created a chatbot that allows you to respond to all those annoying scam messages and waste their time like they did yours by sending the email in the first place."

https://www.rescam.org

"To use it, you just have to forward the first offending message to me@rescam.org. When you do, a proxy email address will start replying to the scammer’s emails for you. And the responses look pretty real."

 

[coffee]

Very interesting!

Just sent one over to them from some sex site invitation. lol..

Wonder if there is any feedback you get from them on the ones you send them?

 

[Diggs]

Cool! But I'm wondering how they make it look like "me" if all the replies are coming from rescam.org? I suppose most of the scammers aren't bright enough to research each email header?

I've been getting bombarded on my Charter accounts from phishing attempts to send me to .php links. (Your Amazon refund is being held - Your Google pictures are being released - Your Google listing needs updating - bla de bla....) I wish there was something for those types of emails.

 

[backwoodsman]

I tried 5 different browsers, and the most I can see on any of them is the (I assume) initial message, "$12 billion lost every year ... time we fought back." The domain whois info is hidden by a privacy service. Is there something fishy going on here, or am I just paranoid?

 

[GTP]

I tried 5 different browsers, and the most I can see on any of them is the (I assume) initial message, "$12 billion lost every year ... time we fought back." The domain whois info is hidden by a privacy service. Is there something fishy going on here, or am I just paranoid?

I think you mean something "phishy?"
They are canvassing and fingerprinting your browser as well, It looks a bit "dodgy" to me.

 

[TechLady]

The domain whois info is hidden by a privacy service.

Ummm...almost everyone uses that now if they have any sense. Also, given who they're going up against it would be pretty damn stupid if they didn't.

 

[backwoodsman]

Ummm...almost everyone uses that now if they have any sense.

hmm, really?

<admin snip>

Also, given who they're going up against it would be pretty damn stupid if they didn't.

Actually, I just didn't notice that many of the articles about it say who made it: https://www.netsafe.org.nz
So my difficulty in viewing it is due to very poor web design, rather than something suspicious.

 

[Your PCMD]

Just sent one over to them from some sex site invitation. lol..

Question is, why are you getting sex site invites in the first place? I mean, what you do is your business and all, but still...

 

[TechLady]

hmm, really?

<admin snip>


Actually, I just didn't notice that many of the articles about it say who made it: https://www.netsafe.org.nz
So my difficulty in viewing it is due to very poor web design, rather than something suspicious.

Yeahhhhh, thanks. I know, I just haven't had time to change it, and that's not actually my box number anyway. Generally speaking it's still a good idea--particularly if you're poking bears.

 

[backwoodsman]

<admin snip>

I reread the rules and didn't see anything that could be construed to disallow posting publicly-available whois info. But I just woke up so may have missed something. Would the admin who snipped that mind explaining why? One can't obey rules one doesn't know about.

 

[mraikes]

I reread the rules and didn't see anything that could be construed to disallow posting publicly-available whois info. But I just woke up so may have missed something. Would the admin who snipped that mind explaining why? One can't obey rules one doesn't know about.

Probably isn't a rule, I didn't bother to look. But it's not good manners. Even when making a rather humorous point (sorry Techlady!).

There are a number of Nibblers that try to avoid revealing their non-superhero identities. A couple have even bragged about being invisible. And although it didn't take long to identify them after their foolish brags (I'm probably not the only one who considered it a challenge ), I wouldn't "out" someone's personal info - even if it's actually public info.

 

[HCHTech]

Probably isn't a rule, I didn't bother to look. But it's not good manners.

Agreed. I had my "Jerk." reply all typed in and ready to go - haha.