TED Talk Tuesday #280 – This is what happens when you reply to spam email

TED continues to spread ideas and help us all be better critical thinkers. Watching, listening and talking about TED Talks is a popular pastime for many in the CN&CO community. We visit TED.com regularly to clear our heads, have a laugh, learn or get inspired. TED Talks open our minds, spark new ways of thinking and can lead to some very interesting conversations and business opportunities. Each week we pick a favourite and publish it on a Tuesday, because we like how “TED Talk Tuesday” sounds. It’s also a way that the CN&CO team play their part in spreading ideas and helping to make the world a better place.

By Kurt Solomon

Ever received one of those suspicious emails promising you immense riches or presenting you with bizarre scenarios that seem too outlandish to be true? Of course you have! We’ve all been there – faced with the decision of whether to simply delete or to engage. But what if we chose the latter? That’s exactly the question James Veitch explores in his hilarious TED Talk. Take a few minutes, to have a good laugh.

Veitch takes us on a wild ride through his comedic misadventures as he decides to respond to one such spam email. What starts as a simple reply quickly escalates into a weeks-long exchange with a scammer who promises Veitch a share of a lucrative deal. From unclaimed insurance bonds to diamond-encrusted safe deposit boxes, the scammer’s offers become increasingly absurd – and Veitch’s responses even more hilarious.

As Veitch explains his interactions with the scammer, we’re treated to a masterclass in comedic timing and wit. His quick thinking and clever wordplay keep us laughing as he expertly trolls the scammer, turning the tables on them in the most unexpected ways.

But Veitch’s TED Talk isn’t just about the laughs; it also offers a fascinating glimpse into the psychology of scammers and the world of online fraud. Through his humorous anecdotes, Veitch sheds light on the tactics scammers use to manipulate and deceive their victims, reminding us all to approach suspicious emails with caution.

In the end, Veitch’s TED Talk is not just a comedy routine – it’s a clever and insightful exploration of the absurdity of the online world and the power of humour to expose it.

Enjoy it and if you do, give it a share!