How this started

I've chatted for ages.. I work alone but I'm a social guy and since my wife died it's nice to have an outlet.

I started on aol in the early years of the web, but then eventually found yahoo chat and some others. I have a nice profile that shows I'm a respectable businessman with a respectable profile.

Before long I started getting instant messages from scam artists.. Frankly I was surprised.. We've all gotten those letters in e-mail You know the kind I'm the son of Chief Muggawugga who was recently killed in a coup in Bungawunga land but befor he died he entrusted me with 42 million USD. But these were real live people you could interact with. Depending on my mood I'd sometimes see how far I could take something before they would figure out I was on to them.

Some of the best alas I didn't save but I'll post recollections as I have time. Others I kept the transcript and will just post it unedited.. profanity and all..

I'm sort of mixed emotions about them.. on some levels it's sad, on some levels it makes me angry that people try to steal but mostly it's funny how bad most of them are...The thing that scares me is that there must people that actually believe them