Do UK police investigate fraudulant emails?

Is there a police department that specializes in dealing with people who hack email accounts and then send out requests for money? e.g "Manila Trip (Very Sad)"

The culprit in this case has made use of a mobile network with IP addresses registered in Lagos, and has hacked a BTinternet Yahoo a/c

They have a internet crime division of some sort.

There is this email address:
[email protected]

http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/CityPolice/Departm...

There is also this website:
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

There are so many that the police can't action every report. However, the next best thing is to post them on the scambaiting site www.419eater.com which already features many of these 'please help' scams from BT Yahoo a/cs. The culprit then receives many replies but sadly the payments all go awry, the bank accounts are closed down and generally the scammer is given a hard time

Edited by Malwaremike (Sun 01-Dec-13 13:01:51)

The chances of a specific police investigation into this e-mail are low.

If you stop to think about what offences were committed where and by whom, it's a pretty hopeless task to bring a prosecution. The immediate perpetrator is likely to be in Nigeria, probably using an unregistered pre-pay SIM - but that perpetrator could be an innocent user whose machine has been joined to a botnet.

Nevertheless, the advice in Trisha's reply is well worth following. Action against this sort of e-mail requires an intelligence led approach by the authorities, and anything you can do to help them build up that intelligence is worthwhile.

Thanks, I have logged my crime report and will wait to see if I get a response.

The perpetrator wants money and has provided a return email address. There is always a chance that this could lead to their being identified.

You're welcome

Also, if any such emails are masquerading as banks, card companies or businesses that I deal with, I forward it to that company.

The Police doesn't even investigate REAL world crimes.
I tried to report a theft (~£300) to my local police stn., I was told to dial 101
(which is a premium NO. !).
As I know who the perp is, and he lives in London, I made an online report to Met Police.
The site said I would be contacted within 72 hours. NO, I was NOT.
Then I got a std. letter saying someone will be assigned to deal with it and will be in touch within a week.....,
that was dated 2nd Nov. haven't heard a peep since....
Regards,
Martin

I got a few from "PayPal" and "Skype" and I forwarded both onto the relevant e-mail address'

In reply to a post by martinsq:

I was told to dial 101 (which is a premium NO. !).

101 costs 15p per call flat rate. I believe it should be free, as a disincentive to calling 999/112.

Geographic alternatives to 101 for all the forces are published on police.uk.