Why I do this?

I can't remember now exactly how I stumbled onto this 'hobby. I've only been involved for a little over 3 months as a 'scam baiter', and a little less than that as a 'romance scam baiter'.
I think it was during a period of boredom that I stumbled onto a link to a 'baiting' story at
http://419eater.com.
I have a sense of humour, and justice, and decided to get involved. I initially tried some typical '419' baiting, and then drifted into the 'romance' scammers when I became aware of them. They are much easier to play with, and for a single heterosexual man, the pictures and letters can be 'interesting' at times!
I have been lonely, and 'horny' at times, and can understand how it's possible to be taken in by them. Actually, there have been a few I found myself wishing were 'real'! Sometimes I would spend more time trying to prove to myself they weren't a 'scammer', than I did looking for the evidence that they were one. A few times I had to detach myself from the 'romance', and let them 'get away'.
I apologize to anyone who may be offended by some comments I make in the course of 'working' these scammers. I am not a crude, or insensitive person. The majority of these
'ladies' are young and attractive. A few are older, and maybe not so attractive.
'Somebody' behind these women is a criminal. Any rude, lewd, or angry comments, or jokes,
I make about these 'ladies', is intended to ridicule the crooks who are actually behind these scams, and to make reading my reports enjoyable.
In many of these pictures, the 'ladies' depicted are victims as well. Some are not involved in any way with the scam attempts. My apologies to them if I offend them. Other 'ladies' are involved, or were involved, and deserve our scorn.
These 'ladies' are, in most cases, nothing more than a collection of pictures, and a set of letters. The collection of pictures are used over, and over, again, as are the pre-written letters.
Sometimes the lady is actively involved, but that is difficult to prove.
The letters, called 'scripts' in the hobby, are pre-written, sometimes marginally personalized, and interchanged with other sets of scripts and letters.
I've only been at this a short time, but am recognizing faces, and phrases, already.
I'm not the type of person to sit for hours playing video games, or computer games. I will sit for hours at a computer, 'baiting' these ladies, and researching them on the internet.
I like the 'brain work' it takes. I like the challenge of the hunt for evidence they are scammers. I wish I could say I am 'out smarting' them, but I'm really not. It's too easy to 'bait' them.
While I do enjoy doing this, at times it's tedious, and sad. Then, I remember that the information I publish on the 'net may help some potential victim save a little money, and a lot of heartache. That makes it worth it!

My 'name' is not intended to offend Blacks. It was chosen in a moment that was less than inspired. I was trying to come up with a known 'name' that would be somewhat humourous, and identifiable to most Americans. 'Stepan Fetchit' is not used in any correspondence with the
'ladies'. I use an assortment of 'cartoon character', and other names, for that.
These 'scammers' create a little fantasy world, that is easy to get sucked into. If you ever find yourself in contact with one, slap yourself in the face, wake up, cut them off, and spend time with 'real' people! You're better off!

Mari El chapter of STEPAN FETCHIT FAN CLUB elects new president!

(Joke!)
You have to have a sense of humour, I think, when dealing with these scammers!
I have been in contact with OKSANA BELOUSOVA for about 2 and half months, and have a few hundred boring letters from her.
Did I say boring?
How about MIND NUMBING?
This picture showed up today at several of my characters email boxes around the same time.
It had some generic words of endearment on the 'sign'.
I could not pass up the opportunity for a little
photo-editing!

(Note: Mari El is a Repubic in the 'Former Soviet Union' that is the home to a majority of the 'Russian Romance Scams'. OKSANA claims to be somewhere else, but her emails come from
Mari El. )

More info. on OKSANA BELOUSOVA at:http://russianromancescammers.blogspot.com/2006/02/oksana-belousova-oksana1976-oksana28.html

Self-help tips! Do you think you are being Scammed?

I'm compiling a directory of self-help tips and tools for determining if you are in contact with a romance scammer. This will be updated, and added to as I think of things to write about.

If you have a computer, you are capable of finding a lot of information on a possible scammer,
and saving yourself a lot of heartache, and some money!

The evidence is usually there. It's up to you to find it! You can decide if you want to be a victim, or not.

http://russianromancescammers.forumup.org/viewforum.php?f=6&mforum=russianromancescammers

TIP! Think you're getting scammed? Google the email address!

Sometimes they'll show up on a scammer lists, or connect you to other information on the person you are writing!
If you've been in contact with a scammer, it's important to provide information on your 'sweetie' to the various 'scammer' sites. This makes the details searchable by the search engines, and may prevent another person from becoming a victim!

Nadejda Popova, (in progress) SUSPECTED SCAMMER

Just for kicks, since they're so rare, (middle aged scammer) I will answer the letter sent from this lady at a large dating site.

A check of her email headers show the email originated from other than where she claims to be!

This is 'in progress', and the 'victims' name in the letters is removed and replaced with 'X's'.

Why a scam?
Along with the email header information, this lady has sent 3 actual emails, and is suggesting an
assignation, with a man she has never seen a single picture of!

popovanadya59@mail.ru

More pictures and letters at:http://russianromancescammers.forumup.org/viewtopic.php?t=30&mforum=russianromancescammers