For more than half a decade in the background of my regularly scheduled reporting I have casually asked hundreds of scammers who try and scam me how their scams work, without any luck. I've done something similar with all manner of anonymous online shenanigans from likely paid reviewers to planted marketing campaigns.
This is basically a hobby, I've never had high hopes. But today I reflexively went to reach out to the author of a grifty medium post advertising a self help book and realized I was wasting my time. I need to get better at this, change my whole perspective on how to report this kind of thing, or give it up.
How do I get someone online to talk to me who has every reason not to? What are some good opening lines? I've tried being direct, I've tried opening with by being vague, I've appealed to ego... The closest I get is just engaging with the scam for as long as possible, but every time the conversation still ends when I pop the question.
If we agree all opening lines will fail, how can I challenge the premise? Do I need to find some way to track down alternative contract information beginning with just a social media profile?
I'm working with the premise that if I could just convince the right person I am not a threat, the usual novelty and flattery of talking to a reporter will do the rest of the work for me.