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Comment by iratewizard | Hacker News Reader

I answer and talk to the scammer every time. I ask them why they do this for a living and generally try to make it psychologically hurt for the scammer. I've done this more than 50 times at least. The vast majority have Indian or Pakistani accents. A small percentage have south American accents. None have had American accents.

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Weird! I wonder why there's such a difference in our experiences.

I also don't think making it psychologically hurt is going to make any difference, especially not when you're asking them why their fellow countrymen shit in the streets. Based on what I've heard and read, a lot of them justify their work by villainizing us in their eyes. Which isn't unfair! We're vastly richer than them, and they don't see any particular problem in what they see as being a Robin Hood-like character. Insulting and abusing them just further justifies their actions in their mind.

I used to try to waste their time as well, but after I postulatede my prison-work theory, I no longer do that - they don't have a choice, and it's cruel to put them through that.

It's not always insulting or abusing. I've noticed considerably more psychological damage from normal conversations. Questions like "do you think seeing yourself as a scammer is going to cause long term effects on your health?" Abusive questions only get a rise out of them and then they either stay on longer, incoherently angry, or they drop the call quickly.

I'm curious if they have ever divulged their actual location to you? Obviously with a big grain of salt.

A few have told me they were from Pakistan when I asked them questions like why such a high percentage of the country defecates in the streets.

It’s funny that you could ask the same question to anyone living in San Francisco, particularly Tenderloin.

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