Symantec.cloud revealed how advance fee fraud spammers take advantage of the unrest in Libya

419 or advance fee fraud spammers have demonstrated how they are particularly adept at using the current events to their advantage.

According to Message Labs, as countries around the world scramble to evacuate their citizens from the deterioratng situation in the country, 419 scammers are also rushing to send out messages to capitalise on the unrest and publicity.

The scam message claims to be written by someone connected to Libya's Senussi crown (overthrown by Muammar al-Gaddafi in his 1969 coup d'état). The scam follows a fairly normal form: the scammer claims to want assistance in transferrng his money out of the country, and is prepared to pay for help. The scammer alludes to his involvement n the oil business, possible thinking that this will entice people to reply to get a share of the wealth. Of course, the scammer will demand ever-inventive upfront fees and charges, and never send any money.