Leader: The beginning of the end for 419 scams?

There can't be an internet user out there who hasn't been contacted by Lady Mariam Abacha offering a share of the secret fortune of her late husband, General Sani Abacha, in return for helping to launder the money and an upfront administration fee.

Usually such messages are either caught by our spam filters or we simply delete them but it would seem there are still enough gullible - or greedy - people out there to make these so-called 419 scams profitable for criminals. (Read this story to find out what happened when silicon.com replied to one of those emails.)

Nigeria is the worst offender when it comes to 419 scams - which are named after the law for advanced fee fraud in the country - and various attempts to crack down on the scammers to date have largely proved hit and miss. But the latest crackdown, which is backed by Microsoft, is an indication of a real determination to tackle the problem this time.

Microsoft is often knocked on all matters relating to security but this is surely one area where the software giant can use its resources and expertise for good.

Indeed, the initiative between Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Redmond has already resulted in the closure of three ISPs used by 419 scammers.

The EFCC is also taking a tougher line on cyber cafes and other service providers used by the criminals to perpetrate their scams - and it seems criminals might start taking note, given that the average sentence in Nigeria for those convicted of being involved in 419 scams is seven to 10 years imprisonment.

Microsoft is often knocked on all matters relating to security but this is surely one area where the software giant can use its resources and expertise for good; the move should be applauded.

Closer to home, Scotland Yard has launched a campaign to make people aware of email scams involving money transfers cheque overpayments, foreign lottery draws, phishing websites and premium-rate bogus-prize-draw telephone lines.

Part of the problem with these scams is getting victims to report the crime - not surprisingly the fools who are easily parted from their money are often too embarrassed to go to the police.

But the real problem lies with those carrying out the crimes and the latest Nigeria-Microsoft initiative offers the best hope of catching them by using both technology and the sharing of information and expertise.

Nigeria's reputation and economy have suffered because of these fraudsters, so let's hope this latest crackdown can go some way to rectifying that - as well as clearing our inboxes of colourful tales of deposed African dictators and their hidden fortunes.