Straight baiting in action: "You are a nobody "

The bait is now properly up and running. I haven't tried any wacky stunts or major pranks. Instead I'm just keeping the lad stringing along. My previous baits have made him nervous enough that he wants to keep in constant phone contact.

The lad has invested time and emails in me. This "investment effect" is important. The more time, effort and thought a scammer puts in to a particular victim, the more likely he is to tolerate annoyances, "mistakes" by the victim or the reality of other characters who become involved in the bait. In my view, this is why and how Birlic and Linoline produced their great baits in this forum. They create such lucid, unique characters that the scammer has to stop and think about who he is talking to and what they want. This effort makes everything real in his mind, so real that he is prepared to borrow money to travel hundreds of miles to collect a package that never existed.

I'm not aiming that high here but still, I think we can step things up. I compare my baits to a boxer or MMA fighter who spends the first couple of rounds just finding their range and "feeling out" their opponent. It may seem dull but at some point the opponent will become overconfident and that's when the counter attack happens. That it comes by surprise just makes it more deadly.

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Barrister Baby's last message was:
You don't pick my calls. You have my number. Call me when ever you are ready. I hate insult.

Again, this is a very typical scammer message. It's a mixture of arrogance, insecurity and a fear that they may be wasting their time. It's also designed to be domineering, conveying a sense of authority and control. This probably works well on genuine victims who are very shy or low on confidence.

I wonder if it will work on Dr MW?

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You seem rather whiny for a prominent businessman. I am a junior surgeon and for that reason there are times that I must either turn off my phone and/or not have it with me at all. I also work nights regularly so need to switch off my phone to rest.
How can we proceed?

Notice the tiny little slap (or "jab" as I like to call it) but also the dangle of "how can we proceed?" to keep the money in his mind.

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About three hours later (but I read it the next day):
Dear Sir.
You have to be serious if you want us to finalize this deal fast. If you know that you're ready we can stop now. I told you that I need something to identifies you so that I will be sure of whom I am dealing with.
As I told you we need five documents to make this deal work.
Anti terrorist certificate Anti drugs clearance certificate. Certificate of incorporation from corporate affairs commission, NNPC contract certificate and Proof of ownership certificate.
If you're ready I will get the cost of the documents so that we can proceed.
Regards

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Hello Barrister, I understand your concern. A copy of my passport scan is attached. My full name is Michael J*** W*** and yes, please proceed with costing.

Attached was a junk file, half a gigabite in size, entitled "passport_scan.jpg". I knew the thief would either open it and complain about it - in which case many responses are possible or simply decide not to spend so much bandwidth and ignore it. The lad went with the second option.

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About 15 hours later
We have to apply for your contractors identity card first before the documents will be issue in your name. Attached the sample of the NNPC contractors identity card of another person. It will cost you only $550 dollars. Since we have your passport it will be paste on it
You have to send the money now through World remit. Google it on your phone WWW.WORLDREMIT.COM
First name Ab*****
Last name Sa****
Address DX3 Abuja
Phone +234  dialascammer
Regards

In this email the lad included this gem of credible, genuine and totally believable identification. Drum roll please..........

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The scammer thinks he is controlling the pace, so I will wait about 24 hours and then annoy him with a classic tactic: tell him I have a question but force him to ask what the question is.

Thank you barrister, I'm ready to proceed with the transfer. A couple of important questions first, though.

sure enough:
Which question?

Notice that I keep mentioning I'm "ready to proceed" or "ready to make the transaction", etc. This thief keeps getting reminded that his stolen money is just past the next email. Now let's annoy him by asking a technical question that he will have no clue how to handle. It's also, in my view, the type of question a real victim is likely to ask.

Actually I have one concern: tax. I am a UK citizen living in the USA. Will I have to pay tax in Nigeria, UK or USA?

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From now on, the anger and frustration will start to shine through in his messages

About 2 hours after my message:
tax have nothing to do with this deal. You have to follow my directives if you want us to finalize this fast.

And then about 7 hours later, which I read the next day:
I am suspecting that you're not a honest person. Can you disagree with me?

Yet another example of scammer psychology: acting as if the victim has to plead their innocence when actually the scammer is looking to reassure himself.

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Based on that last manchild's message, it's time to start swinging.
That afternoon:
If you suspect I am not honest then let's cancel the transaction. I wish you and your family the best.

Will the lad say "OK let's cancel. Goodbye."? More chance of winning a real lottery, I think...

An hour later:
Yes is that how you run your own deal business? I open up to you about how we will proceed you keep on playing pranks. How many time's have you called me on phone? I cannot do anything with any un serious person.

Me, an hour later (I wouldn't normally reply so quickly, but I was bored):
You behave in a very childlike manner. I called you many times, your setup is not professional, your secretary sounds like a child.
True story^^

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Barrister baby throws his toys out of the pram again a few hours later, but I read it the next day.
That's not an excuse. Did you keep to your word? Do you knew what I am going through here. Don't you know that things are not easy here.
My secretary have nothing to do with this. I have called you many time's you never pick or call back. You always flash without calling. The first time I picked your call you dropped.

I reply at my leisure:
Again, whining like a spoilt child. It is not my fault if your country has a poor telephone network.  Please cease all contact and spend the time training your secretary.

The barrister throws his final toy out of the playpen with a little inner monologue the next morning:
You are a nobody trying to survive

My character rubs salt in the burn about six hours later:
I am a qualified medical practitioner living in my country of choice. You are a buffoon who cannot even train your secretary. 

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The next morning I see the barrister is probably too busy mourning his lost dollars to reply, but it's getting fun now:
Let your secretary run your business. She is more professional and probably more of a man than you 

Scammers are very big on masculinity, adulthood and pride, questioning any of those often gets under their skin. Sure enough, my last comment pushes him back to action that afternoon:
Can you stop this insult. You're not ready for the money you're only playing pranks. What stops you from sending the money for your NNPC contractors identity card. My secretary?

I reply a few hours later and the jabs become hooks:
No barrister, the problem is not your secretary, the problem is YOU. That you cannot accept this is yet more evidence of your inability to behave like a man instead of a boy.
I sent you my passport, called you and expressed a willingness to pay. You evaded simple tax questions and resorted to childish remarks. You failed to comprehend that a medical practitioner may sometimes have to switch off his phone in a hospital.
Apologise immediately and sincerely and we can discuss payment, or cease all contact immediately. I am not impoverished and do not need to be insulted to earn a wealthy living.

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The next day shows no new messages in my inbox. That last punch may have been too hard for our scammer's fragile little ego, so I do what any baiter does and dangle the lure of dollars once more:
As a gesture of goodwill I am willing to send a small deposit this weekend

That afternoon.... TA-DAH!
Dr Mike I apologize if my secretary answered you rudely. I am very sure that with one mind we must archive this. I assured you from the bottom of my heart that it will not happen again. I am very sorry if you're angry with me.
Regards

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Now my lad has been a good little puppy and done as he was told, I pat him on the head the next morning:
I accept your apology. Kindly allow me to be clear. your secretary is not a problem.
I can send you the full sum within 48 hours. The only problem is that I will be in surgery for almost 26 hours in the next two days. When I am at work I cannot use my phone, outside of work I will be sleeping. I can send it on Wednesday instead, or I can ask the father of my wife to send the money on my behalf and provide you with the number. Kindly advise me how to proceed.

Lad replies:
You have the information to send the money through Worldremit
Keep me posted when you send it.