# From a newbie: My experiences in getting started with scambaiting **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [October 20, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://techscammersunited.com/t/from-a-newbie-my-experiences-in-getting-started-with-scambaiting/28702 "2024-10-20T15:55:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dubloox3](https://techscammersunited.com/user_avatar/techscammersunited.com/dubloox3/32/21881_2.png) [@dubloox3](https://techscammersunited.com/u/dubloox3)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://techscammersunited.com/t/from-a-newbie-my-experiences-in-getting-started-with-scambaiting/28702/1 "2024-10-20T15:55:24Z")
As I’m currently getting started I read a lot of tutorials trying to get my scambaiting gear set up (VM/phone/bank…), so I thought I’d share my experiences. It’s not a “classic” tutorial (so I will post it in #General) more a collection of my experiences/issues in 2024 using other tutorials. This might be interesting if you are starting as well, or if you are struggling with e.g. newer versions of software/tools. I will link the tutorials I used and add some comments/issues that I was struggling with and how I got it solved (at least on my end). I’m not in the US (Germany over here 👋), so some issues are related to that. My “gear” is just a decent gamer PC: Desktop, 32GB RAM (which helps with a VM), WIN 11Pro + a VPN (NordVPN). Let’s get started > **1. General scambaiting tutorials** > > These 2 are the most useful tutorials (covering all kinda topics) > > - [Getting started with scambaiting! - A Guide](https://techscammersunited.com/t/getting-started-with-scambaiting-a-guide/11147) > by the OG @ScammerRevolts 😉 > - [Scambait Beginner’s Guide](https://scammer.info/t/scambait-beginners-guide/86232) > by thunder on scammer.info > > Here are some other tutorials or posts with collections of tips + tools: > > - [Jim Brownings FAQ](https://www.techsupportscam.com/faq/scambaiting) > - [How to scambait from scamfightclub](https://www.scamfightclub.com/how-to-scambait/) > - [Tools from Norristownunion](https://norristownunion1.vercel.app/moretools.html) > - [Scambaitingtools](https://www.scambaitingtools.com/) older page but has some funny tools on it > - [Scambaiting resources mega thread](https://scammer.info/t/scambaiting-resources-mega-thread/90854) > - [My Collection of Tools, Resources, and Fresh Scammer Number Resources for Newcomers to Scambaiting](https://scammer.info/t/my-collection-of-tools-resources-and-fresh-scammer-number-resources-for-newcomers-to-scambaiting/86652) > **2. Virtual machine** > > > **Setting up a VM** > > > > I picked VMware as I got it set up pretty fast (the other popular one is [VirtualBox](https://www.virtualbox.org/)) and decided to go with WIN 10. > > > > I followed [How to make a VM with VMware Workstation pro 15!](https://techscammersunited.com/t/how-to-make-a-vm-with-vmware-workstation-pro-15/1637) and it worked perfect for me even if I used a newer VMware version (17.6.0) > > > > While being a lil confused on how to download VMWare [Download VMWare Workstation](https://www.vmware.com/products/desktop-hypervisor/workstation-and-fusion) I found a good video tutorial: > > [Download and Install VMware Workstation Pro for FREE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTO810vbF_E) he gave simple instructions (and you will loooove his accent 😅) > > > > To get the [Windows 10 ISO](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10) download the “Create Windows 10 installation media” tool, run it and it will create the ISO file (previously you could just download the ISO from their homepage). > > > > Alternatively you can use a pre-made scambaiting ISO (I had some issues customizing it, but it’s cool): > > > > - [Pre-made Windows 10 Scambaiting Virtual Machine (2024 version)](https://scammer.info/t/pre-made-windows-10-scambaiting-virtual-machine-2024-version/161011) by NeeP > > > **Hiding your VM** > > > > - [[Tutorial] How to make a stealthy Virtual Machine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TM45vNI4Qc) by Jim Browning works great and will hide the VM info from your device manager and the VMware tools from the installed software. As the download file on YT doesn’t work anymore I posted a workaround already [A recent addition to Jims YT Tutorial “How to make a stealthy Virtual Machine”](https://techscammersunited.com/t/a-recent-addition-to-jims-yt-tutorial-how-to-make-a-stealthy-virtual-machine/28605). > > - [[Win10, VMware 15.x] How to remove “Virtual Machine: yes” from task manager](https://techscammersunited.com/t/win10-vmware-15-x-how-to-remove-virtual-machine-yes-from-task-manager/852) gets rid of the VM traces in the task manager (“performance”) > > - I found a “VMware Tools Services” in the task manager/startup that I wasn’t able to get rid of, but I started a separate post about this [How to hide “VMware Tools Services” from Startup?](https://techscammersunited.com/t/how-to-hide-vmware-tools-services-from-startup/28700) > > > > Final check to see if it worked: > > > > - run devmgmt.msc to check if any of the devices still has a VMware name > > - run appwiz.cpl to check if you see VMware in the programs and features > > - run msinfo32 and dxdiag to check for VMware traces in the system summary / Diagnostic tool > > - run taskmgr to check for VMware under performance > > > > Note: I read that there are more hidden VM leftovers, but I assume this should be enough to get started. > > > **Personalizing your VM** > > > > - Install a couple of programs via [“Ninite”: A tool to quickly fill a VM with “normal-looking” programs](https://techscammersunited.com/t/ninite-a-tool-to-quickly-fill-a-vm-with-normal-looking-programs/28516) don’t over-do it, I installed to many and my VM slowed down and I got a ton of pop-ups from the programs > > - Fill your browsers bookmarks a little > > - Set a wallpaper (for those like me that didn’t know: even if your Windows is not activated you can right click on any image and hit “Set as desktop background”… right-clicking on the desktop to “Personalize” doesn’t work) > > - Create a scambaiting identity: [Fauxid](https://fauxid.com/) is the most extensive I found > **3. Creating a fake bank (free + paid)** > > Free fake banks > > - [DSJAS](https://dsjas.github.io/projects/DSJAS.html) explained nicely by JustAnotherJim [How to set up your very own fake bank website, right on your own machine](https://scammer.info/t/how-to-set-up-your-very-own-fake-bank-website-right-on-your-own-machine/87878) make sure to read the official documentation as well on [github](https://github.com/DSJAS/DSJAS/blob/master/docs/install/Getting%20started.md) > Here’s a few tips: > \< Use MAMP instead of XAMPP > \< If you see a red error message “Minimum PHP requirements not me” check this post [activating modules for installation · Issue #79 · DSJAS/DSJAS · GitHub](https://github.com/DSJAS/DSJAS/issues/79). I did not find all modules in my php.ini, but only fixing those who are in there helped to solve the issue on my side. > \< I got it to run on my host machine BUT wasn’t able to get the URL spoofing working and couldn’t access it from my VM (maybe due to my VPN) > - [Another Fake Bank, With Transactions](https://techscammersunited.com/t/another-fake-bank-with-transactions/13784) H.M. Financial by @POSE1DON, easy to use (I’m starting with this to see if they recognize it) > - [bankboga](https://github.com/maxichrome/bankboga) haven’t tried it > - [Norristown](https://norristownunion1.vercel.app/index.html) [The Fake Bank: Creating the Ultimate Virtual Machine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTaTYkPKH2A) haven’t tried it but looks kinda obvious > > Paid fake bank > > - [SinisterSpatula](https://sinisterspatula.gumroad.com/) > looks professional, costs $15-20/month (haven’t tried it myself) > **4. Setting up a phone** > > To dip a toe in the scambaiting water I tried to start with free phone services from various posts but I also looked into some paid versions (Remark: Most of issues I experienced are because I’m not in the US) > > > **Free phones** > > > > - [textnow](https://www.textnow.com/) (the most referred tool by scambaiters) > > It’s close to impossible to create a working textnow account from outside the US. You CAN trick the Microsoft Store (with a VPN + setting your “Region” in Windows to US) BUT in order to create an account you need to download the app on your phone and you need a google account that is set to the US (same with google voice below). I also read that you need a US telecom provider like AT&T, … but I can’t confirm that. > > - [Google Voice](https://voice.google.com/) > > The problem with using google voice from outside the US is not solved in just switching your VPN location. The bigger problem is that the google account itself is set to a different country. You CAN switch your location in the google account (only once per year a hidden in the depths of the settings) BUT as this might affect other apps that I’m using on my phone I did not risk going down that road. Creating new google accounts w/o having a new physical phone is close to impossible nowadays (and unfortunately everyone forces us to to sign in via google… one might think that this is on purpose 🙄). > > - [Skype](https://www.skype.com/) > > The free part of Skype is pretty easy to gain some experience in scambaiting, after registering you can directly call toll-free US numbers (800/888/877…) for free (just make sure to NOT link your private number to Skype). > > The downside of the free approach is that you don’t have a number, so scammers might not pick up and they can’t call you back (which is a tactic sometimes with the toll-free numbers). > > - [talkatone](https://www.talkatone.com/) > > Does not have a desktop version and I don’t want to get my mobile involved (and using an Emulator in parallel to the VM might slow down my PC). > > I tried to install it on my phone anyway for testing and I was able to install it from the playstore, but it looks like you can’t sign up for new accounts anymore. > > > > There more free phone services mentioned in different posts but most of them triggered my security programs so I did not test them any further (Globofone, freetring, poptox, citrustel, …). > > > > In the end having your own scambaiting number(s) is the goal, so I looked at commercial alternatives: > > > **Paid phones** > > > > - [Skype](https://www.skype.com/) > > You can rent a US number from outside the US, which costs around $7/month (I tried it but due to some payment issues with my credit card I have to start over again). > > You can either buy Skype credits and pay per minute or use a subscription plan for around $3…10/month (just to get a feeling for the costs). > > For a newbie like me this is the best way to start scambaiting (I don’t need several numbers in this stage) > > - I guess there are alternatives to Skype but I haven’t tried them yet. > > > > Most posts advice to get a Softphone and a VoIP/SIP provider. > > > > **THIS IS WORK IN PROGRESS I WASN’T ABLE TO GET IT RUNNING YET** > > > > Softphone (free, I found 3 mentioned a couple of times) > > > > - [PhonerLite](https://lite.phoner.de/index_en.htm) free > > - [MicroSIP](https://microsip.org/) free > > - [ZoiPer](https://www.zoiper.com/) free = 2 numbers / paid ($65) = unlimited numbers? > > Without having a VoIP/SIP provider I can’t really say much about them. > > > > VoIP/SIP providers (this is the paid part) > > > > - [voip.ms](https://voip.ms/) > > price indication: calls $0.01/min, per phone number $0.85/month > > Drivers licence or passport needed (scanned) > > - [Zadarma](https://zadarma.com/en/) > > price indication: calls $0.012/min, per phone number $2…4/month > > Passport needed (scanned) > > For the registration they need a working phone number for OTP + email (funny: they didn’t accept proton or Hotmail but 10minutemail worked 🙄) > > - [Telnyx](https://telnyx.com/) > > price indication: calls $0.002/min, per phone number $1/month > > Passport needed (via onfido) > > > > I do understand the verification by scanning a document but this is a no-go for me in this stage: > > > > - I don’t know these companies > > - A scanned document might end up in someone else’s hands and (surprise) I might be scammed > > I assume if I stop sh\*\*ing my pants this is a good way to go… > > Some posts I got the alternatives from (so thanks to the ones that posted em) > > - [What do you guys use to call from your PC](https://techscammersunited.com/t/what-do-you-guys-use-to-call-from-your-pc/24969) > - [Creating a Textnow account outside the US](https://techscammersunited.com/t/creating-a-textnow-account-outside-the-us/22767) > - [Getting a free US number from Germany?](https://techscammersunited.com/t/getting-a-free-us-number-from-germany/18039) > - [Questions about SIP trunking](https://techscammersunited.com/t/questions-about-sip-trunking/17808) > - [TextNow alternative (should work outside US) - Tutorials - Scammer Info](https://scammer.info/t/textnow-alternative-should-work-outside-us/120477/1) > **5. Finding scammers/get numbers** > > I am in a very early stage so I only have a tip for the newbies: > > - check the latest TSU posts if you want to call someone and if you are using Skype for free just wait for a toll-free number > - watch [ruckfobocalls aka Doc Compton on YT](https://www.youtube.com/@ruckfobocalls) > he posts scammer numbers in his live streams, you can use them for training Hope you have as much fun reading as I had writing it 🤟