Major arrests made for Nigerian 419 email scams

While over 99% of users ignored these scams, perhaps 1 in a thousand would believe the email letter and start participating.  Often the victim would be robbed online of hundreds if not thousands of dollars.  Major arrests have been made to shut down most of these operations, which should result in fewer emails.

Nigeria - Major arrests made for 419 scams
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8322316.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_419_scammer

Nigeria's anti-corruption agency says it has shut down some 800 fraudster e-mailers and arrested those behind 18 high-profile "cyber crime syndicates". The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it has been working with the computer giant Microsoft to crack down on the scammers.  The con tricks - known as "419 scams" after the penal code that outlaws them in Nigeria - are often run by well-organised gangs.