Spammers always keeping current

One theme that we keep seeing is that journalists love to point out how the spammers keep current with world events and then use that to leverage more sales through their spamming techniques. It seems that this is fairly obvious that they would do such a thing, but yet it keeps coming up - perhaps it makes for good copy.
If so, then here is another case of spammers staying current - this time a 419 scam in Scotland.

If you don't know what a Nigerian 419 scam is you probably don’t have access to the internet but, just in case, the name reflects such the cons’ traditional country of origin and the section of its penal code that they violate. The details differ but the offer is always the same: earn millions by helping strangers illegally move money, don’t tell anyone and send sensitive financial information followed by thousands of dollars. Of course, The only money that will be moving is yours.

Usually, these purport to come from relatives of African dictators (Maryam Abacha seems particularly popular) or corrupt banking/legal officials.

However, I salute the quick thinking of whoever is behind m.thatcher@pnetmail.co.za, who sent me the following on 7 September, less than a fortnight after Margaret Thatcher's son was arrested in connection with an alleged coup in Equatorial Guinea.

Posted by Eric at September 10, 2004 01:09 PM | TrackBack