Is that CS user real?

We all get contacts from users who just seem 'too good to be true'. But how do you tell if they are real or not?

Here are a few tricks to help save the aggravation, frustration, and cost of airfare to go beat the crap out of someone who may be setting you up for a scam.


1) The old adage "If it's too good to be true, it probably is" always applies. No exceptions. Use your better judgement and utilize the power of the internet and especially search engines.

2) Most web browsers these days have tabs. One cool trick I love to do is open a second tab, navigate to an image search on your favorite search engine (I use Google Image search), switch back to the questionable persons image, and drag the image to the tab and up into the search box and let it go. Results are instant, and can often save you the heartache (and financial stress).

3) Scammers are sloppy. They pull the same scam over and over for a while, before changing their game. Utilize CS's 'Testimonial' and make sure everyone else knows they should steer clear of that scammer. Make sure to also report the profile (of course).

4) The scammers are all 'GOD FEARING' or seeking someone who is 'GOD FEARING'. The pictures are usually very blurry, or they seem too well manufactured to be real. My personal sign that the cheese in Denmark is smelly is "Hello. I am (insert random name) by name".

5) If they send you an email address, DO NOT REPLY TO IT. In the Star Wars universe, there's a saying: "IT'S A TRAP!!". It applies here as well, in this universe. If there's any room for doubt, message them through reply using the CS messaging system. Send a reply in CS asking them to fly over and visit you on their own dime. If nothing else, this'll get rid of them.

Now, go have some fun, but always play it safe. Don't be desperate, play it cool, and if that worm on the hook looks delicious? Think about what will be on some scammers plate later.

(Of course, if you love to have fun, turn the tables and tell them you need money to get to them, and they should send you all they have My guess is they'll leave you alone to move on to the next sucker)