If you know that's an invalid IP address, you're probably less likely to fall for the scam after the scammer has put the setup work in. So if they filter you out before a scammer has to spend any actual effort on you, that means more time they can spend scamming people who might be more likely to fall for it

That's why these things often have egregious spelling errors and other seemingly obvious red flags

[–] SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 hours ago

I never thought of it like that before. I wonder how common this intent actually is...

[–] zo0@programming.dev 45 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

Just because I know what a valid IP is doesn't mean I'm not an idiot 😎

[–] toynbee@piefed.social 7 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Let's see you write a regex for one, then we'll decide.

[–] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 hours ago

Why would anyone want to do that when there are dozens on stackoverflow?

[–] ulterno@programming.dev 2 points 15 hours ago

That's not the probability they are looking for.

[–] DScratch@sh.itjust.works 43 points 18 hours ago

I do believe that is confirmed canon.

[–] schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de 17 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

It's possible in general, but I don't think that's what's going on specifically here; not many people read IP addresses in such detail to notice such things at first glance.

[–] Cypher@aussie.zone 9 points 16 hours ago

It’s exactly what is happening, they’re filtering out people who know what an IP address is and can contain so that they get fewer time wasters.

[–] teddypolice@feddit.org 14 points 17 hours ago

Movies and TV shows actually do it this way to prevent actual machines getting group hugged.

Like in that one X-Files episode, where the Lone Gunmen hack into an invalid IP.

[–] sniggleboots@europe.pub 7 points 18 hours ago

It's also why there's usually bad spelling or grammar in those e-mails as well