I’d like to think a few consequences an word gets around the IT realms that scamming in the USA is a bad idea. I suspect, however, that scammers might think they are untouchable since many of them are outside the USA. Might be time for some drone strikes assuming we can find good targets.
It’s a shame there are so many assholes out wandering among us. We are where we are due to lack of real consequences for behavior outside norms/laws/general decency.
Wait until they start calling your phone. But I get scam mails about once a day. Most are AI driven, but there are actual scam companies out there, some of which have been around for decades.
Then there's copyright issues, pirate issues, etc.
I have a lot of lawyers. A LOT of lawyers. I've even been to the US 2nd circuit court.
You can't be in this business without a lawyer these days.
They're already calling my phone. But I am in the habit of getting scam calls because all the house scammers still think my phone number goes along with my old house.
For anyone who doesn't know Kevin Poulsen, he's an original phone phreaker and early black-hat hacker. In 1990, he took over all of the telephone lines of LA radio station KIIS-FM to ensure he'd be the 102nd caller in a contest giving away a Porsche 944. He did five years in prison. I guess the feds felt driving a 944 wasn't punishment enough.
JVS is right. There always some scammer BS when you write stuff. It's part of the background noise in the legal environment we work in. But it's also another hat you have to wear, along with marketing and other non-writer business aspects.
TBH, this is the stuff that burns people out. You can watch people come into the biz, stay for a year or five, release some stuff, and then they get fed up with the steady stream of nonsense and close the whole thing down. So, you know, don't let it drag you down.
"But if one of you brilliant troublemakers wants to do a little Kevin Mitnick on the person and figure out how I might be able to have the pleasure of meeting him in person, then you will be permanently in my debt".
Shouldn't that say "I will be permanently in your debt"?
Yeah, because the person who identifies and locates the scammer and offers those details up to Jack will become an accessory to whatever actions are taken after that!
More or less, yes. What I meant to say: we will be engaging in a criminal conspiracy for me to deprive this person of between three and seven fingers, depending on my state of mind.
1 hour in and this person has not been doxed yet? I am surprised; or have they been and whomever did so has sent the information directly to our esteemed author in lieu of public shame?
Scott Adams has scam listings for his books and calendars on Amazon seconds after he releases something new. It only kind of stopped after he shamed Amazon repeatedly on his daily show.
And... the account finally got zapped, about seven hours after I was first notified. Not *too* bad.
Received a Substack Email that a “Jack Baruth” was following me on the ‘Stack. Something seemed “off” about it. Now I know.
Oh look a scumbag. Invite it for a swim in Dr. Evil's Piranha Spa pool. Lose weight fast.
Invite?! Throw them in!
The world should treat scammers the same way they treated pirates in the 1700s (and probably earlier)- death by hanging or indentured servitude.
I’d like to think a few consequences an word gets around the IT realms that scamming in the USA is a bad idea. I suspect, however, that scammers might think they are untouchable since many of them are outside the USA. Might be time for some drone strikes assuming we can find good targets.
It’s a shame there are so many assholes out wandering among us. We are where we are due to lack of real consequences for behavior outside norms/laws/general decency.
"Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats" H.L Mencken
Yeah. Reason #437 why it’s so hard to have nice things these days.
Real consequences would make the world a better place.
Well, that explains today’s new follower on my account!
Any updates on this? I have "1 subscriber" but when I click on that line or check my other tabs, there's nothing there.
The scam account got DELORTED.
Yep, me too
Ditto.
As I noted above.
Can't these people just be satisfied with defrauding Minnesota and their health care system? When is enough enough?
You know, being an author is a sucker's game.
The real money is in "LEARING CENTERS"
I prefer curing autistic children which is big business in North Minneapolis.
theres never enough when someone else has more
Hey-O! 😂
There are more scams in writing than in any other industry. Welcome to my world.
"Why is everyone in academia so vicious?"
"Because the stakes are so low!"
“I’ve worked in the private sector, they expect results.”
— Ray Stantz
Wait until they start calling your phone. But I get scam mails about once a day. Most are AI driven, but there are actual scam companies out there, some of which have been around for decades.
Then there's copyright issues, pirate issues, etc.
I have a lot of lawyers. A LOT of lawyers. I've even been to the US 2nd circuit court.
You can't be in this business without a lawyer these days.
They're already calling my phone. But I am in the habit of getting scam calls because all the house scammers still think my phone number goes along with my old house.
Wasn’t there such a thing at one time as a “do not call” registry? I am imagining that?
Haha. India doesn't respect that. They spoof Caller ID and have endless time available to waste yours.
And endless Indians.
Presumably, you can’t understand a single word said on the other end, then?
Unless you are in Minnesota.
"I would love to meet you so you can explain your issues with me and we can resolve them to everyone’s satisfaction"
I belonged to a cop + firefighter gym in my 20s and there was once a rash of locker thefts. The warning read:
"Someone's been robbing lockers. Help us catch him. We'll let you watch."
Noice!
That's what ya get for braggin' on earnin' upwards of hundreds of dollars on the book.
Its not very far upwards though!
I'm just here for the Kevin Mitnick reference. I also would have accepted Kevin Poulsen.
Would you have accepted Kevin Bacon?
Yes, even though he is not a hacker.
For anyone who doesn't know Kevin Poulsen, he's an original phone phreaker and early black-hat hacker. In 1990, he took over all of the telephone lines of LA radio station KIIS-FM to ensure he'd be the 102nd caller in a contest giving away a Porsche 944. He did five years in prison. I guess the feds felt driving a 944 wasn't punishment enough.
Embarrassingly, I was thinking of Kevin Pollack.
Holy cow, that was a FEDERAL crime?
I don’t remember seeing anything about this.
Fun video about the phreaker days from a friend of mine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i2wcEIwtuY
Kevin Bacon is never the wrong answer.
Sure, he's always six degrees away
Exactly! 👍
Bacon 🥓 is always good, especially with ham and sausage on the same Croissan’wich!
Does anyone remember the Yumbo from Burger King? Just some hot ham slices and American cheese on a bun! I used to LOVE those!
I’ve found that the ham Croissan’wiches are as near as dammit to those!
Hmmm! Breakfast tomorrow! 😋😋
(Apparently, courtesy of the BK app, today is National Bacon Day!!)
DO NOT REEEDEEEEEEEM
Do the needful
JVS is right. There always some scammer BS when you write stuff. It's part of the background noise in the legal environment we work in. But it's also another hat you have to wear, along with marketing and other non-writer business aspects.
TBH, this is the stuff that burns people out. You can watch people come into the biz, stay for a year or five, release some stuff, and then they get fed up with the steady stream of nonsense and close the whole thing down. So, you know, don't let it drag you down.
Curious that it ends with "FanPage."
It’s their “out” for charges of impersonation.
"But if one of you brilliant troublemakers wants to do a little Kevin Mitnick on the person and figure out how I might be able to have the pleasure of meeting him in person, then you will be permanently in my debt".
Shouldn't that say "I will be permanently in your debt"?
Uh, no ~ I think Jack knew *exactly* what he wrote there =8-) .
-Nate
Yeah, because the person who identifies and locates the scammer and offers those details up to Jack will become an accessory to whatever actions are taken after that!
More or less, yes. What I meant to say: we will be engaging in a criminal conspiracy for me to deprive this person of between three and seven fingers, depending on my state of mind.
Yes but ;
Only if caught .
-Nate
Correct!
I’m sure that country folk like Jack have ready access to wood chippers and other such implements! 😁
1 hour in and this person has not been doxed yet? I am surprised; or have they been and whomever did so has sent the information directly to our esteemed author in lieu of public shame?
I’m sure Substack will get right on this.
Scott Adams has scam listings for his books and calendars on Amazon seconds after he releases something new. It only kind of stopped after he shamed Amazon repeatedly on his daily show.
I'm going to hold my breath.
Also going to hold my breath about them hiring me to fix this awful platform.
It's been nice knowing all of you!
See you back on Riverside Green!
Blocked the scammer, thanks for the heads up!
How did you block him/her? In substack, e-mail, or both?
Up by where it says follow, the three little dots, press that and the option to block appears near the bottom.
use the options within the ellipses
And it should block their ability to email.