How to Waste Scammers' Time (and Have Fun Doing It)

Initial Gold Shipment Proposal

Solomon Odonkoh proposes shipping gold to James, starting with 25 kg worth approximately $2.5 million, offering 10% commission on distributed gold. James escalates the proposal by claiming to be a hedge fund executive and demanding at least a metric ton.

$2.5 million

Initial gold shipment value (25 kg)

Solomon's opening offer

The Absurd Chart Strategy

James creates a fake chart and tells Solomon he's prepared a visual for the board meeting to convince the company to ship larger quantities. This ridiculous gesture keeps the scammer engaged while James escalates the absurdity.

Personal Spending Plans

When Solomon reveals he'll spend his commission on real estate, James responds that he'll spend his cut on hummus, then launches into an enthusiastic tangent about hummus varieties at Sainsbury's and dipping carrots. This non-sequitur confuses Solomon enough that he says he needs to go to bed.

Introducing the Nonsense Code

James claims security concerns require a code for all future emails, then invents absurd substitutions: Lawyer = Gummy Bear, Bank = Cream Egg, Legal = Fizzy Cola Bottle, Claim = Peanut M&Ms, Documents = Jelly Beans, Western Union = Giant Gummy Lizard. He also demands to be called KitKat.

James's invented security code system

Solomon Uses the Code

Remarkably, Solomon complies with the code and sends an email using all the candy substitutions, requesting 1,500 pounds via a Giant Gummy Lizard. This moment represents the peak of the absurdity and demonstrates how far James has pushed the scammer.

The Broader Experiment

After the Solomon exchange, James decides to spend three years replying to as many scam emails as possible. He frames this not as cruelty but as time-wasting that prevents scammers from targeting vulnerable adults.

3 years

Duration of James's scam-reply experiment

Systematic engagement with spam emails

Safety Precaution: Pseudonymous Email

James warns viewers to use a pseudonymous email address rather than their own, citing his early experience of waking to a thousand emails about penis enlargements when using his real address. This practical tip prevents real-world harassment.

The Winnie Mandela Email

James receives an all-caps email from someone claiming to be Winnie Mandela, Nelson Mandela's second wife, needing to transfer $45 million out of the country due to Nelson's health condition. The email includes fake authorization letters.

$45 million

Amount Winnie Mandela claims to transfer

Classic advance-fee scam opening

James's Morbid Response

When Winnie mentions Nelson's health condition, James replies that since Nelson died three months ago, his health condition is 'fairly serious' — the worst health condition being not being alive. This dark humor exposes the scammer's ignorance.

Bob Marley Song Replies

When Winnie demands compliance, James responds with Bob Marley song titles: 'No Woman No Cry' and 'I Shot the Sheriff.' This absurdist approach keeps the scammer engaged while making the conversation ridiculous.

The Final Money Request

After James's song lyrics, Winnie's banker requests a $3,000 transfer, continuing the classic advance-fee scam pattern where victims must pay upfront to access larger funds.

$3,000

Upfront transfer requested by Winnie's banker

Typical advance-fee scam demand