Thursday, March 02, 2017
A little numerology
When radio and TV cop shows in the 40s and 50s dealt with scams and blackmail, the amounts involved were either $5000 or $50000 depending on the scale and moxie of the scammer. Scam goals ALWAYS started with a 5.
In those years 5k was a pretty decent annual salary, typical of managers. 50k in a savings account would support you comfortably but not extravagantly for life. Criminals always live extravagantly, so that's irrelevant; but non-criminal listeners would understand the implications.
Modern scams universally use $7000 a month as the goal.
Neither figure is realistic, of course. Real blackmailers and kidnappers pick their own threat numbers for their own reasons. Real work-at-home scams earn no money at all. But the change from 5 to 7 as the Reference Unit For Big Money is interesting.
When radio and TV cop shows in the 40s and 50s dealt with scams and blackmail, the amounts involved were either $5000 or $50000 depending on the scale and moxie of the scammer. Scam goals ALWAYS started with a 5.
In those years 5k was a pretty decent annual salary, typical of managers. 50k in a savings account would support you comfortably but not extravagantly for life. Criminals always live extravagantly, so that's irrelevant; but non-criminal listeners would understand the implications.
Modern scams universally use $7000 a month as the goal.
I'm making over $7k a month working part time. I kept hearing other people tell me how much money they can make online so I decided to look into it. Well, it was all true and has totally changed my life. This is what I do...7k is hardwired in the scam-generating algo.
Neither figure is realistic, of course. Real blackmailers and kidnappers pick their own threat numbers for their own reasons. Real work-at-home scams earn no money at all. But the change from 5 to 7 as the Reference Unit For Big Money is interesting.
Labels: Metrology
¶ 2:01 AM
