Apart from financial loss, getting scammed brings about a profound mental toll. Victims typically go through bouts of shame and self-blame, while also dealing with anxiety and depression in worse cases.

So there’s always a deep sense of secondhand satisfaction upon seeing someone fight back, even get one over these fraudsters. That’s what the Scambait subreddit is for, and it has garnered quite a following for doing the Lord’s work of shaming these crooked con artists.

We’ve collected some of the best posts from the page for your feel-good entertainment today. Enjoy!

#1 I Have Way To Much Time On My Hands

#2 Been Getting Alot Of Text Scams Lately. Decided To Jave Fun With Them

#3 For When You Don’t Have The Time To Scambait For Yourself

One of the questions you may ask when reading or hearing about scammers at work is probably something like, “How could a person be this cruel and cold-hearted towards another human being?”

According to Florida expungement lawyer and Miami-Dade County Assistant Public Defender Attorney David Weisselberger, financial desperation is the most common reason.

#4 He Blocked Me

#5 Gave This One The Gift Of Knowledge

#6 When The Scammer Adds You To A Group Chat

“Most were under financial pressure, and the scheme became the option they reached for,” Weisselberger tells Bored Panda. “A first attempt sometimes worked, and the shame that should have stopped a second attempt had already faded by the time they tried again. Desperation lowers the bar for what someone is willing to try.”

#7 I’mma Go Buy Milk Now

#8 Thought This Would Be Funny

#9 My First One! Am I Off To A Good Start?

One sinister thing about scammers is that many of them may see no wrong in what they’re doing. According to clinical psychologist and attorney Dr. Lisa Strohman, it is one of the ways they can carry on with their schemes.

“They rationalize their actions to avoid feeling guilty and justify their behavior because others are scamming also. Some scammers even convince themselves that their victims can afford to lose the money that they are being scammed out of,” she said.

#10 I Tried To Scam The Scammer

#11 Online

#12 Not Sure If This Belongs Here, But I Had Fun

In order for a scam to work, these con artists must play on their victim’s emotions. They exploit trust, fear, authority, and urgency. Dr. Strohman says that while a dark triad personality best fits the role, the impersonal nature of online and telephone scams, in particular, can embolden them.

#13 Got This Text Today, Had To Share My Response

#14 Scammer Shooting Their Shot

#15 Enjoyed This One

“The perpetrator is at a distance from the impact of their actions, and the ‘victim’ is anonymous,” Dr. Strohman explained. “There is no personal contact or subsequent face-to-face meeting, which means that the normal constraints on behavior, including the empathic braking that would stop a person from directly harming another in their presence, are removed.”

#16 Didn’t Last Long

#17 A Tragic Tale Of Unrequited Love And The Corruptive Influence Of Capitalism

#18 She Took It Well I Guess

Many who fall for scams consider themselves street-smart, adding insult to injury. This is why Dr. Strohman’s number-one tip is to make time to think before taking action.

She also shared some effective responses when something feels off, beginning with calling off the conversation to investigate the claim and using a separate web browser to verify websites.

#19 Funni 2

#20 Becoming A Scammer’s Worst Nightmare With Chatgpt

#21 Well This Shut Them Up!

Dr. Strohman’s second tip is to verify the message through a second channel, like a family member. She strongly discourages using the same contact information provided in the original message.

“Purchase some time by saying out loud, ‘I need 24 hours,’” she advised. “This gives you time to think through the process and research the other party.”

#22 The Struggle Is Real!

#23 Turned The Tables

#24 Glory To Arstotzka!

Dr. Strohman also gave some warning signs that warrant immediate disengagement. Among them are demands for payments via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency; demands for secrecy and for transferring conversations to a private channel; and, most obviously, emotional pressure.