Microsoft Helping Nigeria End Money Scams

Those nonstop scam emails from Nigeria that attempt to swindle people will face new law enforcement efforts aided by Microsoft. Microsoft, which has helped various law enforcement departments in the US and abroad to fight computer crime, has signed an agreement to extend that help to Nigeria. PCWorld.com reported that this would be the first time Microsoft has signed such an agreement with an African nation. The continual stream of financial scam emails have become something of a running joke. They all follow a similar format: a minor bureaucrat in a foreign country claims to know of your good reputation and needs your help in spiriting a large sum of cash out of his or her nation. (Apparently your good reputation doesn't extend to matters of financial fraud.) To take advantage of this generosity, the sender only requires some personal information from you to facilitate the transfer of the money and get you your cut of the proceeds. Sometimes a small sum of upfront money is requested to grease the wheels of progress. Needless to say, here