Give and Take: An End-To-End Investigation of Giveaway Scam Conversion Rates

arXiv:2405.09757v1 Announce Type: new
Abstract: Scams -- fraudulent schemes designed to swindle money from victims -- have existed for as long as recorded history. However, the Internet's combination of low communication cost, global reach, and functional anonymity has allowed scam volumes to reach new heights. Designing effective interventions requires first understanding the context: how scammers reach potential victims, the earnings they make, and any potential bottlenecks for durable interventions. In this short paper, we focus on these questions in the …

anonymity arxiv communication conversion cost cs.cr end end-to-end fraudulent giveaway global history internet investigation low money scam scams