So Why Hangouts?

Almost all the beautiful girls who want to share my life online try to persuade me to stop using Messenger and change to WhatsApp or Google Hangouts.

Obviously they are up to no good, so, naturally, I don't want to do this.  

I do have WhatsApp, and even use it.  

And I have had Google Hangouts ever since Mr and Mrs Google first invented it, though I haven't used it for years and years.  

But of course I'm not going to say that to the scammers.  

So first way to mess with their heads is to feign ignorance.  Well, I've worked in Tech Support, I can do ignorance.  

"What is WhatsApp?"

"Oh, for chatting on line?  I use a thing called Messenger"

"How much does it cost?  Really?  Excellent"

"Oh, I don't know how to do that stuff"

Eventually she persuades me to try to download it from the App Store

"Access Denied"

"Am I doing something wrong?"

Eventually I suggest talking to Pavel Ivanovitch, the IT guy.  He will sort it out.  Pasha isn't in, unfortunately.  Not surprising, since he doesn't actually exist, but hey ho.  After a while, Pasha tells me that company policy is not to allow these things to be downloaded for security reasons.  I share this.  At this point she gives up.  Sometimes she blocks me, but usually she tries to continue in Messenger.  

So Why Hangouts? 

Well, according to this article, Google Hangouts site has few controls and multiple avenues for deception that makes it perfect for the Islamic State and other groups to raise funds surreptitiously through various scams.  The regular dating sites check to see that people are real.  Hangouts and WhatsApp don't, hence their attraction to the scammers.  

I think my scammers are mainly motivated by a desire to separate me from $100, rather than to impose an Islamic Caliphate.  Their willingness to share their bosoms with me argues against any great religious puritanism.  

I imagine my scammer tearing her hair out, trying to persuade this stupid old fool to download something.  I do hope so.  Because while she is doing that, she isn't talking to someone who believes her story.  Like this poor guy:

I really appreciate that you took the initiative to do this article. I had not been so lucky as I stand on the verge of bankruptcy. Had I been more adamant, I would never have taken out loans to help my so-called girlfriend online totaling $100,000.