"Scambaiting is frowned upon in legal circles," Metimbers told Wired in a 2006 interview.
Can someone with more legal knowledge explain why? I thought fraud was illegal and catching the bastard was the goal. If I get to beat him at his own game in the process, isn't that like... bonus points?
Last year I received an e-mail from the Psuedo IRS asking me for my social-security number so that I could claim $$$,000 in back tax refunds (that I knew weren't owed to me). I entered into a dialogue with the guy, told him I was uncomfortable sending that information over the internet and was there any other way to contact him. I got phone numbers, names, addresses, dog's names, kid's names, funny wife stories, then shipped the whole kit and kaboodle off to the Real IRS scam hotline. Will I be frowned upon in legal circles?