Asset freezing under §§ 111b et seq. StPO allows assets to be provisionally secured during criminal proceedings so that they remain available for later confiscation under §§ 73 et seq. StGB. Accounts can be blocked and property secured before it is moved or spent.
It is a provisional measure, not a decision on ownership: whether and how secured assets are ultimately distributed is determined later in the proceedings.
Why it matters to you
For fraud victims this is frequently the only realistic route to a pool of money that can eventually compensate anyone — a private claimant has no comparable power to freeze funds. It is one of the main practical reasons to file a criminal complaint early, as explained in the guide to criminal complaints.
Access to the investigation file
Access under § 406e StPO: how injured parties obtain sight of the investigation file through a lawyer — often decisive for civil claims.
BaFin warning list
Public warnings from the German financial supervisor about providers operating without the licence required by § 32 KWG.
Capital investment fraud
Capital investment fraud (§ 264a StGB): false statements presenting an investment favourably when marketing it to a larger group of investors.