Do you find yourself scrolling mindlessly through YouTube Shorts on occasion? It's nothing to be ashamed of; I do too. If you do, though, you've likely stumbled across any number of automatically-recommended livestreams. How many times have you seen one of a thousand interchangeable broccoli-haired zoomers just about to call 911 for no reason or impale their finger or whatever else, just as soon as someone sends them a bit of money? If the answer is 'none', count yourself lucky, because I absolutely cannot say the same.

These loud, energetic livestreams are, of course, purpose-engineered to snatch the attention and money of the many children on YouTube. It's scummy just on its face, but the scam goes way deeper — just for starters, these streams aren't even live.…