Victims, Vigilantes, and Advice Givers: An Analysis of Scam-Related Discourse on Reddit
summary
Qualitative analysis of Reddit scam threads uses pushshift data and open coding on n=2435 posts to map concrete scam types—pig butchering, SIM swapping, phishing, tech‑support, job and crypto fraud—and documents two community functions: preventive and engagement communities (scambaiting). Results show widespread gaps in mental models and technical literacy, practical peer advice centered on 2FA and password managers plus independent verification, and active flagging of fake “recovery” helpers by moderators and bots.
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chapters (9)
- 0:00Scam discourse on Reddit
- 1:57Research questions and methods
- 3:20Scam community types
- 4:24Common scam types reported
- 5:27User awareness and susceptibility
- 6:31Reddit as scam support
- 8:15Advice to counter scams
- 9:40Recovery scammers and moderation
- 10:02Implications for sectors
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