They put so much energy, thought, and other resources into cheating good people who are trusting by nature.

Greatest invention since poison ivy.

as a scam (excluding of course known entities such as my spouse!).

it is tiring. just one slip can put you in the poorhouse.

and don’t even get me started on what i have stopped my MIL and my mother from losing.

If it's a name or company I don't recognize, and I can't trace the email source, I just delete it. Clicking on it and then deleting gives them at least some of your info. They can see that you opened it, but if you don't respond and just delete it, they will hopefully move on.

So you open a pay pal account.......Then different scam companies start charging fictitious sales to your pay pal account which automatically uses your credit card for the reimbursement....The first time you realize it is when you get your credit card statement.....

Fortunately, so far, nothing.

How much of a cut is he getting on all scams?

When I hear that Indian accent from 'John or Sally', I sense an alert.

Today ---- regular call about 'this is your cable company.'
Going to replace your cable boxes.
Usually, I kill it before the pitch, but I let them carry on.
I said 'sure, let's set up an appt'.
Instant notice that they need the credit card number.
When I said I rent the boxes, you own them........ CLICK!
.
When they want your credit card, use this one.

If I do happen to get a payment due email from a business I use then I go to their web site directly. I don't click any of the links in that email. Be safe folks.

to call the company. Look up the company phone number yourself and talk to security......Especially if it is your credit card company that is supposedly emailing, mailing you, or calling you........

I haven't seen any evidence that they actually have access to our PayPal accounts, but I change my passwords compulsively now for no reason just to keep things stirred up. SO ANNOYING!

And I ain’t gotta sign shit.

Have a nice day.

They are almost all the same - a “confirmation” of my order (never say what was ordered), go to this link to confirm your payment.

I delete them.

My delete button is really getting a workout.

I’m getting bombarded with spam messages on gmail. 25 overnight got through the gmail junk mail scanner. 12 more within an hour. Someone or something got my gmail and is spamming the shit out of me. Ugh.

But the death penalty for scammers is looking better every day.