Oftentimes the best way to get back at a scammer is by giving them a taste of their own medicine. No one likes having their time wasted, their intelligence insulted, and the feeling of being strung along and tricked.

Since scamming requires the scammer to inoculate themselves against the potential guilt of screwing people over, sometimes the best way to wake them up to the madness is through karmic trolling. Most of the time, this results in an angry outburst and swift end to the call, but for every pattern there is an outlier.

When Imgur user Eddi3v received a call from a scammer, he started his usual routine of calling out the scammer's game, however, this time the conversation entered a new emotional space.

I had another scam phone call at work. You know the ones - "Hello, how are you, sir? Good! I am calling from Microsoft technical support warning about scammers who are trying to take over your computer. OK? We need your IP address." Then further down the line, if you are a dope and believe they are stopping scammers, you give them access to your PC and they delete files or ransom it back to you.

When OP received the call he immediately scoured his head for which fake accent to put on for the duration of his trolling.

Oh, the irony! So usually I brighten my day by messing with them for a bit. Maybe put on a completely non-understandably-strong Scottish accent, lead the conversation in circles or whatever I can do to try and annoy them as much as they annoy all of us. But yesterday a call took a new turn, and I'm still thinking about it.

However, before he could get into character, OP's exchange with the scammer "Patrick" went off-script for both of them.

The call went as follows: "Hello, this is Patrick. I am calling you today, about your computer." spoke Patrick, who was a weary sounding man, with a strong Indian or Pakistan accent. "Hello Patrick, how can I help?" "I am calling to say that there are scammers online who are trying to take over your computer." I am sure, the person who thought of this script, pretending to help with stopping scammers, received a big promotion. It's pretty common. "I know EXACTLY what you mean, Patrick. There are lots of scammers online. There are also lots of scammers on the telephone. Isn't it terrible?..."

When OP called Patrick out for scamming, there was a pregnant pause, and then Patrick conceded the point before becoming very serious.

Que dramatic pause, to see if he gets what I am implying. He does. "Yes." Patrick spoke sadly. There was a very long pause, as I grinned and just waited to see if he would continue with the script, or just put the phone down, which are the two routes it usually goes at this point. "I just want to say one thing to you." Patrick continued slowly, he sounded even more weary than before. "I am not like the others in the office here. Every day I look for a new, better, honest job. I pray for a new job. I look for a new better life, than this." he was getting choked up at this point, I was pretty shocked at the sudden intensity.

Patrick changed the course of the conversation when he sadly admitted he is in fact a scammer, but he hates being trapped in the cycle that forces him into it.

Patrick went on to share that he prays daily for a more honest way to provide for his family.

I usually just mess with these callers and don't consider them as real people. Aside from bastard, crooked, preying, scam artist people! "It is just so hard." Patrick continued, his words caught at times and I realized he was trying to hold back from crying "There are no jobs. It is so hard to provide for my family and provide for my children." I really did not know what to say, I just replied with a lame "Thank you, for your honesty, Patrick... I am sorry to hear that." "I hope you can find it in your heart to bless me and pray I find a better job?"

The call ended with the two men exchanging well wishes and OP sincerely telling Patrick he hopes he finds better work sooner than later.

Well, I did not see this call going like this! "Sure. I really do wish you good luck and I hope you find a better job soon." Patrick said "Thank you." in the most crushed and sad tone I have ever heard from a man, and put the phone down. I can't think of an eloquent conclusion to write, apart from saying how it was a big shock to be hit with Patrick's reality on the end of the phone.

OP went on to share that the exchange made him reconsider his privilege that he's never been in a position where scamming was a means for survival.

How hard it must be to try to survive in some areas of the world. I think I have become pretty good at ignoring the media when it covers how bad conditions are in some places overseas. But when a guy calls and tells me this while on the edge of crying, I'm feeling pretty bad for him and the whole situation over there. 'Patrick' will never see this, but if i could call him back, I would really like to talk to him about helping to get him a new job.

FP EDIT: Imgur likes! Awesome :D Send traditional recipes from your part of the world!

TattorTottorPocket echoed OP's sentiments, sharing they would do the same as Patrick to support their family, if needed.

:( I can only imagine the pain of having to turn to something like that as an only option to support those you love. The internal battles.

Daevas thinks Patrick's sob story was a next level scammer move.

If you ever watch any Kitboga clips on Twitch/YouTube, you'd see that the last ditch scam is the "I'm sorry for what I do" scam. Trying to tug at your heart by saying that they try to find new jobs and that they need help. Then days later they call back asking for money.

Flodos thinks scammer or not, it's good to remember people don't fall within binaries of "good" and "evil."

Though it often seems otherwise, very little people actually choose evil for evil's sake. Most do what they need to, and wouldn't you?

Dep1213 has seen too much to have empathy for Patrick's story.

Having taken multiple reports from elderly/vulnerable victims who have lost their life savings from these people I feel no sympathy for him.

Since posting, OP's story has been read and shared by thousands of people, all of whom have vastly different takes on the interaction. Regardless of whether or not Patrick was genuine, this has for sure sparked a discussion.

Guy who likes to troll phone scammers is surprised when one breaks down crying.