Internet Fraud

this is a well known scam. why can't the authorities do anything to stop & prosecute these scam artists ? they operate from UK adresses with names, phone numbers & email ID. i would have thought their tactics amount to basic fraud & would therefore be illegal ! isn't that straight forward fraud ?

*eyes well up with tears...chin quivers* You mean... I AM NOT A WINNER?!?!? *sighs* Oh well. Actually I think they are getting better and better at dealing w/ those people.

They are not really in the UK. They are in Africa (probably) and using fake UK addresses.

Yes, it is simple fraud and they can be prosecuted. . . . IF the address and name are real, and IF the phone number and e-mail ID are real, and IF the e-mail doesn't actually loop back to a site in another country, and IF there is a victim in the UK who has gone to the police to complain, and Well, you get the idea. The internet is a law enforcement nightmare and NOTHING is straight-forward when it happens electronically. And everyone who knows how to investigate internet crimes has their hands full with fighting pornography and other related child-victim crimes.

They are most likely not based in the UK. Just because they have an "address" doesn't mean anything.