The Aaden Blog | Aaden Detective Agency Berlin

What exactly is middleman fraud and who is affected by it?

Even though the fraud type known as middleman fraud is not necessarily familiar to most German citizens, it is nevertheless quite widespread. Middleman fraud is an organized-gang merchandise fraud in which the perpetrator or perpetrators appear to the victim as a buyer, seller, and/or intermediary for goods. By communicating high profit prospects and often completing an initial small transaction successfully, the victim is drawn in as an intermediate purchaser for the sales process and is thus “spun into” the machinations of the fraud gang (it is presumed that the term middleman fraud actually derives etymologically from the German “einspannen,” meaning to harness or involve). The scheme then usually involves larger sums or goods values, the victim is required to advance money, and the perpetrators disappear after receiving the amount, while the victim is usually left with a substantial loss.

The many years of experience of our economic detectives from Berlin teach us that the victims of middleman fraud do not necessarily have to be gullible, economically inexperienced youngsters; rather, the fraud gangs involved sometimes act with such a mixture of ruthlessness, experience, and sophistication that they can deceive targets from all walks of life and all types of businesses. From the Hartz IV recipient or student hoping to earn a little extra money on the side, to the homemaker seizing a chance at easy income, to the shareholder of a DAX-listed company – they have all already been seduced, drawn in, and ultimately stripped bare by middleman fraudsters.

Not a New Offense – Middleman Fraudsters Have Been the Subject of Media Coverage at Least Since the 1950s

A well-known and quite far-reaching case of middleman fraud originated at the beginning of the 1950s with a gang of art dealers turned fraudsters who brokered supposedly valuable works of art to wealthy European industrialists and merchants, making them believe that they could achieve high profits by reselling those works of art to affluent South Americans. Not only these profits, but also the prospect of possible capital investments far away from the threat of domestic currency devaluation, increased the willingness of various businesspeople to enter into the deal and purchase the artworks. But hardly had the sums been transferred than the supposed art dealers disappeared, sometimes even with the paintings and sculptures, sometimes without them. The buyers of the artworks were thus left either without money and without art, or without money and with inferior artworks that would hardly have enticed any buyer from abroad (or even domestically), especially not at sales prices in the range of the purchase price.

Fraud gangs have remained active to this day with such schemes and many variations on the same basic idea. Their victims should not despair, but instead turn to the experienced Aaden Detective Agency Berlin for help.

“Caution, Trap!”, the classic German TV format against scam fraud, on middleman fraud:

How Does Middleman Fraud Work? A Case Example from Aaden Detective Agency Berlin

Peter F., a client of our Berlin detectives, was approached at an economic congress by the supposed business consultant Hans G. and was told about a secure, fast profit opportunity through participation in a business deal. Acting as an intermediary between the seller Hans G., a supplier, and the buyer, F. was to receive goods and then resell them profitably to the buyer. F. believed the claims and hoped that this “one-time deal” would help him supplement the savings for his upcoming wedding. For this purpose, he only had to purchase goods worth €3,000 (in this case valuable electronics) as an intermediate buyer, which were then to be resold to the buyer at a much higher final price.

Since F. had already successfully completed a smaller transaction involving two laptops, meaning at a profit of €200, he trusted both G. and the buyer. But as soon as the higher amount for the new deal had been paid, the supposed business partners cut off contact, and F. suddenly found himself without money, without goods, and without anyone to contact. When he turned to our private detectives in Berlin, the perpetrators had initially already vanished, but after several weeks they were caught in the act during another attempted deal. The proceedings are still ongoing.

Why Do Many Victims Not Call the Police?

For one thing, victims of middleman fraud often feel uncomfortable and sometimes even embarrassed when they have fallen for such a scheme, especially if they themselves are experienced in business and should have known better; losing face in front of a spouse, family, and business partners also keeps many affected people from pursuing criminal charges against the perpetrators. In precisely such cases, commissioning our Berlin detective agency provides a discreet alternative. For another, the perpetrators sometimes act so plausibly that the disappearance of the buyer’s interest in the goods acquired from the fraud victim does not raise sufficient suspicion. Their withdrawal motives, for example, are explained by a delayed delivery, the existence of a better offer, or other reasons that are quite understandable. In the end, many victims do not even realize that they have not simply miscalculated, but have fallen victim to fraud and that the other parties involved were in fact criminals.

Moreover, the supposed deals are usually arranged in such a way that they would have taken place “under the table,” that is, off the books, thereby exposing the victims to self-incrimination in the event of a criminal complaint. In such constellations, most victims prefer to keep silent about the matter, or they inform private investigative services such as Aaden Economic Detective Agency Berlin instead of the police in order to commission them with address and contact research on the perpetrators, so that, in the best case, the funds obtained under false pretenses can be recovered – usually through the threat of legal action. If this does not succeed, those affected still retain the option of pursuing a case against the perpetrators with the court-admissible evidence we have ideally produced. With skilled legal representation, it may even be possible to conceal one’s own tax-law misconduct intention while at the same time obtaining justice against the fraudsters.

Commissioning Aaden Detective Agency Berlin

If you have become a victim of middleman fraud or if you suspect someone of being involved in such illegal machinations, you may commission our Berlin detectives at any time to investigate the case. We work for you around the clock, investigate from multiple perspectives, and all evidence we provide is admissible in court so that you are legally protected as the client. With detectives ready for deployment throughout Germany and abroad, many years of experience, and a wide range of investigative methods – surveillance, digital and analog research, legend building, IT-forensic trace analysis, and much more – we are well equipped for (almost) any assignment.

Please feel free to receive free and non-binding advice from our economic investigators and private detectives in Berlin, taking into account your room for manoeuvre regarding sensible courses of action. You can reach us via our contact form, by email (info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de), and by phone during business hours (Monday to Friday from 08:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) at the following number: +49 30 2016 9221-0.

Literature

Sieverts, Rudolf (Ed.) et al. Handwörterbuch der Kriminologie. Bd. 1: Aberglaube. Kriminalbiologie. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1979.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

One in three inheritance cases involves disputes – Berlin detectives assist in resolving claims

The most unusual inheritance disputes often make headlines, most recently the high-profile case of Helmut Kohl. As a historical figure of Germany, his estate affected not only his family but also institutions such as the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation and the public. Following the former Chancellor’s death on 16 June, his widow, Maike Kohl-Richter, received, according to his wishes, “exclusive decision-making authority over his historical estate” (Source: Süddeutsche), sparking controversy by excluding Kohl’s sons and grandchildren from any decisions.

Disputes over access to inheritances or estate shares are unfortunately common in Germany: approximately 33% of inheritance cases involve conflict or disagreement between family members, although a Postbank survey shows only 15% of heirs reported experiencing such disputes. In problematic inheritance claims, our Berlin-based corporate detective agency is regularly engaged to either legitimise inheritance claims or locate legitimate heirs, ensuring the estate does not default to the state.

Aaden Private Detective Agency Berlin: Scope of Work

Private clients often hire us either to verify their entitlement to an inheritance or to locate long-lost relatives, such as a sister or cousin, who may be entitled to a share of the estate. Our Berlin genealogists work tirelessly to trace analog and digital evidence, examine family trees, and investigate at relevant offices. Investigators frequently travel across Germany to interview former neighbours, colleagues, or acquaintances to establish a potential heir’s current whereabouts.

Another client group consists of legally appointed estate administrators who, if no heirs are known, rely on our detectives to locate possible heirs or to contact known heirs. If no heir comes forward within a given period, the estate defaults to the state. This highlights the importance of our Berlin investigators: without their work, many heirs would receive nothing and remain unaware of their inheritance.

Fraud Prevention – Aaden Detectives Protect Against False Heirs

Besondere Vorsicht und schnelle Ermittlungen sind gefragt, wenn bereits ein Antrag auf einen Erbschein gestellt worden ist, die Erbfolge jedoch nicht zweifelsfrei nachgewiesen werden kann. Hier sind unsere Ermittler aus Berlin gefragt, damit verhindert werden kann, dass einem Betrüger ein Erbe zufällt, das ihm nicht zusteht. Stattdessen werden wir aktiv, um tatsächliche Erben mit einem legitimen Erbanspruch zu ermitteln. Laut § 352d FamFG "Öffentliche Aufforderung" werden nach einem angemeldeten, jedoch nicht beweisbaren Erbanspruch weitere Erben per Ausschreibung gesucht; wird jedoch innerhalb von sechs Wochen kein legitimer Erbe vorstellig, kann das Erbe auch ohne direkten Erbnachweis angetreten werden. Daher heißt es für alle in den Erbprozess Involvierte: Je schneller agiert und die Aaden Wirtschaftsdetektei in Berlin beauftragt wird, desto höher ist die Chance, Betrügern das Handwerk zu legen und den wahren Erben ihren Anteil zukommen zu lassen.

Aaden Detective Agency in Berlin: Area of Operation Germany, Europe, and the World

Thanks to the particularly dense network of our detective agencies in seven federal states and their largest cities, our investigators are always able to deploy quickly. While location-bound genealogists must endure long travel times and high expenses, our economic detectives from Berlin can quickly coordinate with colleagues in cities such as Cologne or Munich, so that investigations can continue there immediately.

Our professional genealogists and heir investigators also have contacts with authorities, institutions, public offices, and colleagues throughout Europe—and the world! With the help of these connections, traces of heirs who have emigrated can be followed more easily and contact can be re-established more quickly than if an investigator from Berlin first had to travel halfway around the world to conduct research on site.

Costs of Heir Tracing | Cost Component of Heir Legitimisation

Unlike the other services offered by our detective agency in Berlin, heir tracing is not billed at fixed, standard industry rates. Instead, the court sets a share of the inheritance sum that will be paid out in the event of success—that is, if the inheritance can be accepted. In other words: we work for you at first without cost and on your behalf, so that the inheritance can be accepted and you can be legitimised as an heir. Success thus rewards both parties: only if we successfully investigate and prove your inheritance claim do we receive a fee. As the client, you bear no risk whatsoever. That is why you should not hesitate to contact our Berlin detective agency if there is an open inheritance; you have nothing to lose.

Commissioning Aaden Detective Agency in Berlin

If, as an estate administrator, potential heir, or relative of a possible heir, you are interested in tracing heirs or having their inheritance claim legitimised, do not hesitate to contact our discreet and highly professional economic detectives from Berlin. We operate wherever we are needed and wherever the traces lead us; through a fee payable only in the event of success, using our Berlin investigators does not involve any risk for you, but instead greatly increases your chances of being able to accept an inheritance. You can contact us at any time during our business hours from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 19:00 by email (info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de) or at the following telephone number: +49 30 2016 9221-0.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Drinks, Flask, Company Party – What Is Allowed, What Is Prohibited?

Small amounts of alcoholic beverages are sometimes even legally consumed at work: a special business deal is celebrated, a colleague brings cake and sparkling wine for a birthday, or a special vintage is to be sampled for a company party. As long as these rather harmless forms of alcohol consumption in the workplace are approved by management, they generally do not pose a problem. However, if supervisors are not informed or if drinking occurs contrary to their instructions, this is no longer merely a gray area but a violation of employee obligations, which, depending on the severity, may even justify immediate termination. Alcohol at work is generally not only counterproductive to job performance, it can also pose a significant safety risk, for example if, after a celebratory drink, one of the participating colleagues has to operate heavy equipment, vehicles, or hazardous substances. At this point, safe work can no longer be guaranteed due to alcohol consumption.

Employers should not rely entirely on the personal responsibility of their workforce to prevent accidents, and, in their own business interests, must ensure that employees perform their duties properly—that is, without the influence of alcohol. If alcohol is consumed secretly by individual employees without the knowledge of colleagues and supervisors, not only the health and well-being of the employee are at risk, but also the quality of work and the safety of colleagues. Our detective agency in Berlin accordingly investigates suspicious employees through internal and/or external surveillance for alcohol consumption immediately before or during working hours—contact us for advice: +49 30 2016 9221-0.

Symptoms and Consequences of Alcohol Abuse

If, for example, employee A is sitting at his desk with a vodka flask, it can be assumed that this is not a management-approved drink, but rather an employee who has lost control of himself and the situation. Whether due to personal or professional stress, dissatisfaction, or addiction, long-term alcohol consumption in the workplace inevitably leads to serious consequences. Alcohol reduces concentration, determination, cognitive ability, motor skills, and overall performance. However, the most serious consequence is usually not the decline in performance, but the increased error rate, often with far-reaching effects on workflows and the company as a whole. Unprofessional behavior such as lack of criticism tolerance or outbursts toward colleagues, supervisors, and even customers is also not uncommon. In addition, alcohol functions both as a symptom and a cause of psychological problems, which in turn can lead to long absences and create organizational challenges for the company.

If there is suspicion in your company of an employee regularly under the influence of alcohol, our Berlin detectives are always available to assist you. By deploying an investigator undercover within your company using an appropriate cover identity, workplace drinking behavior can be documented. For field staff, technicians, and other professions that typically do not operate on company premises, discreet surveillance during working hours is an effective option. If there is also a specific suspicion that alcohol consumption occurs outside working hours, so that the employee arrives at work already under the influence, monitoring during leisure time is also permissible. Obvious alcohol odor, unmistakable slurred speech, photographic evidence of hidden flasks or bottles, or the act of consumption itself serve as evidence in visual (photo and video), written (investigation report), and verbal form (testimony of the deployed detectives) for unlawful alcohol consumption in the workplace.

Alarming Statistics: Billions in Losses Due to Alcohol in the Workplace

The above statements by our Berlin corporate investigation agency are supported by various statistics showing that alcohol in the workplace is a significant cause of damage to companies and workplace injuries:

• 10 to 30 percent of workplace accidents are alcohol-related,

• employees suffering from alcoholism are absent on average 16 times more often than their colleagues and take sick leave 2.5 times more frequently,

• moreover, they are involved in workplace accidents 3.5 times more often.

For employers, these figures are alarming. Swift and targeted intervention is essential to prevent financial and personal damage to the company. According to a study by the University of Hamburg, alcohol consumption in the workplace alone caused economic damage of nearly 30 billion euros in 2007, while alcohol-related accidents during working hours cost around one billion euros (source: Spiegel).

Company owners and HR managers are responsible for complying with occupational safety legislation, specifically Section 2 § 3 Basic Obligations of the Employer: “The employer is obligated to take the necessary occupational safety measures, taking into account the circumstances that affect the safety and health of employees at work.” If the presumably intoxicated employee is unwilling to admit to an alcohol problem or workplace consumption even in a personal discussion, our private investigators in Berlin are available to gather evidence. How you proceed with the collected material is entirely up to you: personal confrontation with the goal of reaching a consensus, attempting to encourage the employee to seek addiction counseling, or—in the case of refusal—termination (without notice) due to inadequate job performance, violations of employee obligations, and potential endangerment of colleagues and company resources.

Clear Rules, Forward-Thinking Consequences

Every works council or business owner must determine whether alcohol is to be banned even from company parties and birthdays, making the company completely alcohol-free, or whether sparkling wine and beer are permitted on certain occasions. Even matters that may seem self-evident should be clearly communicated by management: if machines are to be operated, people treated, or vehicles driven, any consumption of alcohol during working hours or even during lunch breaks is strictly prohibited. Since the employer is obligated to protect employees in accordance with occupational safety law, management must not ignore or tolerate absenteeism, missed appointments, or poor or missing work, but instead confront the employees concerned and, in the case of dishonesty or lack of insight, present solid evidence—if necessary documented by investigators such as our Berlin corporate detectives.

A staff meeting does not necessarily have to lead directly to termination, as if the employee is indeed suffering from alcoholism, all parties have an interest in improving the situation; instead, a solution in the form of therapy should be sought with the employee. However, if the employee persistently refuses to begin therapy, termination without notice is legally justified (see LAG Hamm, ref.: 8 Sa 1412/04).

“Drunk” at the Office – Evidence by Berlin Detective Agency

Do you have the troubling suspicion that one of your employees not only occasionally comes to work with residual alcohol from the previous day, but even drinks from a flask at the workplace or regularly reports for duty under the influence? Then contact our private detective agency in Berlin for consultation or assignment. Should legal proceedings arise, our investigating detectives are happy to testify as witnesses. You can reach us during our business hours (Monday to Friday, 08:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m.) at the following phone number: +49 30 2016 9221-0.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Fraud in online and mail-order commerce – Berlin economic detectives trace the perpetrators

It is well known that the internet and the connectivity of nearly all areas of life can be both a blessing and a curse—and yet this cannot easily be changed. Criminals continually invent new schemes to enrich themselves and harm others. Nationwide police statistics show that in 2015 alone, 730,000 cases of goods and goods credit fraud were recorded, with a notable 76% resolved—including cases investigated by Aaden Detective Agency Berlin: +49 30 2016 9221-0.

Definition of Goods Fraud

Goods fraud refers to the fraudulent sale of non-existent or severely damaged goods that, after payment, are either never shipped to the buyer or only sent inadequately, without any refund of the amount paid. In this case, the perpetrator is the seller, and the victim is the buyer.

Definition of Goods Credit Fraud

The reverse applies to goods credit fraud, in which the perpetrators purchase items without ever paying. This type of fraud is also called shipping or order fraud and harms not only the seller directly but also honest customers indirectly, since such losses are ultimately often offset through price increases. Here, the perpetrator is the buyer, and the direct victim is the seller.

Logistical Loopholes as Opportunities for Fraud

Shipping fraudsters often insist on fast delivery but want to pay by invoice or cash on delivery. The goods are delivered to a fictitious person, a forged signature is entered on the delivery note, and the fraudsters are never found at the given address. The false name makes it impossible for the shipping company to determine who is truly behind it.

Our detectives in Berlin handle fraud cases of all kinds every week. We follow both the digital and physical trails of the perpetrators to identify real names and locations. Even though the above-mentioned 76% clearance rate is exceptionally high compared to other crimes, it still means that one in four cases remains unsolved. Timely engagement of our private detective team in Berlin offers a solution: through observation of the delivery address, digital and physical research, and on-site inquiries, we determine the fraudsters and their true locations.

DHL Identifies “No-Go Areas” in Berlin – Private Detectives Ensure Resolution

According to Germany’s largest parcel delivery company DHL, certain areas and apartments in Wedding and the Soldiner Kiez are no longer serviced. The reason: many vacant apartments exploited by criminals for shipping fraud. By choosing a fixed delivery window and guaranteeing next-day delivery, packages are repeatedly intercepted by fraudsters who position themselves at doorsteps and pose as recipients. In reality, the recipient’s name is fictitious, and no one is registered at the given address under that name. Particularly clever fraudsters may possess fake IDs and authorizations, rent vacant apartments, attach false nameplates, and may even be present for the courier in the apartment. Anyone intending to commit fraud can unfortunately achieve this relatively easily using a variety of more or less sophisticated tricks.

A Factor facilitating shipping fraud is the practices of some delivery personnel: couriers receive bonuses and commissions for fast deliveries and packages that do not need to be returned to the warehouse. This creates time pressure, which is naturally detrimental to responsible identity verification. Couriers are happy to find the supposed recipient already at the building entrance. In October 2016, for example, valuable goods were ordered in the names of 50 Berlin politicians to addresses completely unknown to them and received without payment. In this “large-scale shipping fraud,” not only were goods stolen, but the reputation of the affected politicians was also partially harmed. However, victims are not powerless against such fraudsters: our Berlin economic detectives identify the perpetrators and collect court-admissible evidence, enabling victims to enforce their claims legally.

Can I Identify Fraudsters and Protect Myself?

Since one in five mail-order purchases is still made on invoice, meaning the retailer has to pay upfront, the risk of falling victim to fraud is relatively high. For private sellers and shipping portals alike, our detective team in Berlin therefore recommends sending goods only once the money has actually arrived in your own account, because even proof of transfer is often forged in order to deceive the seller. And even if you are only accepting a parcel for an alleged neighbor and later handing it over to them, caution is advised, because fraudsters often count on friendly residents who do not expect a fraudulent act. In practical terms: if you do not know the neighbor for whom you are supposed to accept a parcel, it is better not to do so. Of course, in a large apartment building it is more difficult to know all tenants than in a rural neighborhood where everyone knows everyone, but you should still keep an eye out for anything suspicious. For if a shipping fraud occurs with a parcel you accepted, you are the last known—and real—recipient and may under certain circumstances even face legal consequences.

If, however, you yourself have fallen victim to a fraudster and want to claim the money owed, you can contact our Berlin private detectives at any time. If commissioned promptly, our investigators are able, through research (if necessary in an undercover capacity), surveillance, or even infiltration of suspicious delivery businesses, to find out who is behind the unpaid orders and where the perpetrator or perpetrators are located. To ensure optimal handling by Aaden Economic Detective Agency LLC Berlin, it is helpful if all correspondence, via email, on the buying platforms, by SMS/WhatsApp, etc., is saved and retained, and if every clue, however small, about the fraudsters’ identity and place of residence is taken seriously and communicated.

Commissioning of Aaden Detectives in Berlin

For clarification of questions about your case, for non-binding advice regarding possible courses of action, and for the purpose of commissioning our economic detective agency in Berlin, you are welcome to contact us from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 19:00 at +49 30 2016 9221-0 or send us an email at info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Finally, nearly balanced justice for perpetrators and victims

Thanks to the new stalking law, victims no longer have to prove that the harassment severely restricts their lives in order to initiate criminal prosecution against the stalker. Previously, courts typically only intervened when the harassed person had to, for example, move, change jobs, or in the worst case, go into hiding and change their name. Years of harassment and stalking – often directed at ex-partners, close acquaintances, or colleagues – went unpunished; this is finally set to change. Lawmakers hope that faster convictions of stalkers will lead to improved victim protection.

Our private detectives in Berlin welcome this long-overdue legal amendment, as not only many victim support organisations such as the White Ring, but also we ourselves, repeatedly encounter requests for help from people suffering psychological and sometimes even physical consequences of stalking. If you are personally affected, we are happy to assist you in gathering evidence against the perpetrator: +49 30 2016 9221-0.

The Hope: From Perpetrator Protection to Victim Protection

Perpetrators can now be convicted even if no severe impairment of the victim's life is currently evident, as long as it is objectively plausible. "An actual occurrence [of a significant impairment of life management] is no longer necessary for prosecution," states the legal text. Heiko Maas, the German Minister of Justice, aptly said: "It is not the victims who should be forced to change their lives, but the stalkers."

The previous penalty of up to three years in prison is retained under the new law, giving victims hope that after months or years of psychological terror and fear for their safety, they can finally lead a somewhat normal life again. Far too often, as our Berlin detective agency’s experience shows, perpetrators previously went unpunished despite clear evidence or received trivial penalties. Written or digitally documented forms of telephone, SMS, and email harassment, as well as witnessed stalking at the victim’s residence, in the city, and at their workplace, previously were often only sufficient to obtain a restraining order, but not to punish stalkers for their offenses.

Perpetrators could continue their normal social and work life undisturbed, while victims sometimes lost friends and jobs due to psychosis, anxiety, or stress. Dutch researchers Kamphuis and Engelkamp even found that stalking victims are subjected to the same mental and physical stress as survivors of a plane crash (Source: Stalking & Justice).

Majority of Victims Are Women

Statistics and the experience of our private detectives in Berlin show that victims are predominantly (approximately 80 percent) female, perpetrators are usually male, and in 80 percent of cases, there is a direct relationship between the perpetrator and the victim (friends, colleagues, ex-partners, clients, etc.). This high percentage of women among the victims is likely a reason why many cases are never reported, let alone prosecuted. Women are often dismissed as hypersensitive or overly emotional; they are accused of paranoia and attention-seeking when they confide in friends or employers and recount their experiences.

Prejudices and Misinformation Obstruct Prosecution

The justice system often appears powerless or even unwilling: many of our clients report cases where they were discouraged from filing a complaint or their report was refused – illegally, as police officers are obligated to take every report, regardless of personal opinions, as long as the account is not completely nonsensical and does not fail to constitute a criminal offence. Legal assessment lies with the public prosecutor, not the police. Yet many officers dismiss stalking cases, claiming that little can be done and that it is better to settle privately – as if stalking were some kind of personal domestic dispute. The investigative thoroughness of many public servants in this regard leaves much to be desired, and our clients have experienced similar issues with other criminal offenses.

The investigators at our Berlin detective agency expressly distance themselves from such dismissive, insensitive, and misinformed behavior; for us, it is absolutely standard that in every single stalking case, the victim and their well-being have the highest priority, and that investigations into the perpetrators must begin as quickly as possible. Victims are under extreme stress, which can quickly affect and limit all areas of daily life, including social, work, and personal relationships. Investigations and surveillance can gather court-admissible evidence, enabling victims to secure just punishment for the perpetrator in the event of prosecution.

Huge Discrepancy Between Reports and Convictions under § 238 StGB (Harassment)

Looking at stalking statistics and prosecution rates, one might suspect a major numerical error. Example: Of the 26,848 reports filed in 2010, a suspect was known or identified in 80 percent of cases (21,698), yet only 748 cases (3.7 percent) led to charges, and a mere 414 cases (1.9 percent) to convictions. In other criminal areas, conviction rates are up to 15 times higher. These alarmingly low clearance and conviction rates are likely the main reason why police-recorded stalking cases have sharply declined since 2007, as there is no logical reason for an actual decrease in harassment offenses despite increased public awareness. In 2007, 29,273 police-recorded cases existed; by 2015, this number had dropped to just 19,704 – nearly 10,000 or one-third fewer cases. Our Berlin detectives are confident that this decline reflects victims’ frustration with the justice system rather than a real drop in stalking incidents.

Given a conviction rate of less than 2 percent, victims have historically had little reason to turn to police or prosecutors, facing time-consuming and stressful bureaucratic processes along with doubting looks and disbelief. A realistic chance of convicting the perpetrator seemed almost impossible. Clients of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin often regard our detectives and their work as a last resort to prove that their cases are genuine and not the product of paranoid, overly sensitive, or neurotic minds. It is to be hoped that in the future, many more affected individuals – those who previously suffered in silence – will approach the justice system and/or competent private detectives, as the new stalking law promises fairer treatment for victims and harsher penalties for perpetrators.

Are You Being Stalked? Aaden Detective Agency Berlin Can Help.

If you are among the 600,000 to 800,000 people in Germany (estimated dark figures) who are regularly stalked, harassed, or threatened through psychological terror or any form of stalking, by intrusive and potentially violent ex-partners, colleagues, clients, acquaintances, etc., contact our private detectives in Berlin with confidence. By gathering court-admissible evidence, we help you secure restraining and, if necessary, contact prohibitions, as well as lay the groundwork for criminal prosecution of the stalker. For a free, non-binding consultation, you can reach us Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 19:00 at +49 30 2016 9221-0.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Berlin Economic Detectives Investigate Data Theft

Constitutional protection agencies have been warning of data theft in large and medium-sized companies, as increasingly sophisticated product copies—mostly from China and Russia—have been entering the market in recent years, closely resembling German originals. The practice of storing data and plans not only on internal servers but also with various cloud providers makes it easier for industrial spies to hack and distribute them. Often, it is not only external attacks; frequently, employees themselves communicate confidential data and patent secrets externally. The sectors most affected are automotive, chemical, and financial industries.

Detection usually occurs only after the fact—the data is already in the hands of competitors and has been applied to “new” products. According to FAZ, companies on average only notice Trojan attacks and other forms of virtual data espionage after 243 days, which illustrates how much can happen with the data in that time. A specialist investigative service in cyber and economic crime, such as Aaden Economic Detective Agency Berlin, has multiple ways to prevent industrial espionage and data leaks or detect them early, identifying the perpetrators before major damage occurs. Our IT specialists also act retroactively—e.g., if a crime is discovered months later—to trace and recover perpetrator activity: +49 30 2016 9221-0.

Medium-sized companies are most frequently affected

While most large German firms have now established robust protection mechanisms for their data and patents, smaller and medium-sized companies often struggle to implement adequate security measures due to high costs. Managers frequently rely on internal confidentiality and simple encryption techniques, which, if competitors are truly interested in the innovations, can easily be circumvented. Companies regularly hosting delegations from Russia or China are particularly vulnerable. Estimated annual losses from industrial espionage exceed €50 billion, highlighting the critical importance of deploying IT specialists and competent detectives in Berlin, one of Germany’s most important economic hubs.

The three largest sources of business losses, according to Bitkom (Federal Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications, and New Media e.V.), are:

• Revenue losses from counterfeits
• Revenue losses from patent infringements
• Revenue losses due to lost competitive advantage

Additionally, theft of IT devices and costs arising from IT system failures or operational disruptions significantly impact companies. Losses are not only caused by deliberate actions of competitor spies but also by employee negligence. Around 50% of companies affected by industrial espionage cite inadequate security as a reason, suggesting that the real figure is likely higher.

Only a fully integrated system of security measures ensures success, beginning with a sensitised personnel management approach that starts at hiring. Our Berlin economic detectives recommend regularly updated and monitored cyber defenses for sensitive data and innovations, employee training, and computer monitoring and observation of suspicious staff (both new and long-term). Aaden’s IT experts and private investigators help nationwide and internationally to discover and close security gaps before they result in damage: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de.

Companies underestimate risks – Berlin private detectives uncover losses

Companies that have already been victims of economic crime generally invest heavily in protecting their data, raising awareness of risks internally. However, many firms that have not yet been affected underestimate the likelihood of becoming a target: only 8% of surveyed managers of previously unaffected companies acknowledged a heightened risk within their own business (Statista GmbH survey). When our Berlin IT specialists are engaged proactively and without expectations to detect leaks or espionage, management is often surprised and shocked to find that data theft and the unauthorized distribution of construction or design plans has already occurred.

In 2013 and 2014, more than half (51%) of all German companies were victims of at least one form of data theft or industrial espionage. This shows that these are not isolated cases limited to the ten or twenty largest international companies. The SME sector, with over 61% affected companies, attracts particular attention from attackers. “The SME sector must improve security,” emphasizes Bitkom President Prof. Dieter Kempf. Perpetrators are unrestricted in their tactics: IT devices may be stolen on-site, IT systems or business processes sabotaged, sensitive data stolen, electronic communication monitored, or even meetings and calls tapped. Accordingly, our Berlin economic and private detective agency employs eavesdropping specialists who inspect office and operational areas, telecommunications, and more for bugs and surveillance devices.

Are you affected by industrial espionage or concerned about attacks on your company?

Contact our Berlin detective agency if you suspect your company has been a victim of industrial espionage, patent theft, or data spying, or if you wish to proactively identify potential leaks and vulnerabilities. Our experienced investigators provide confidential advice and create a tailored security and action plan for your business. Reach out to our Berlin private detectives at +49 30 2016 9221-0.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Court-Admissible Evidence for Property Damage

Even though property damage accounts for only a relatively small share of total crime in Germany (9.1% in 2015), it repeatedly causes substantial financial losses for private individuals, companies, and public institutions. In most cases, perpetrators escape undetected and leave behind damage that is rarely covered by insurance, thus affecting victims twice: not only must they cope with the shock of, for example, a destroyed vehicle or a graffiti-covered building façade, but they must also bear the responsibility and costs for replacing the vehicle or cleaning the building themselves.

Since 1987, the nationwide police clearance rate for property damage has fluctuated between 22.1% (1992) and 27.5% (2001). In other words, in approximately three quarters of all cases, perpetrators are not held accountable. As a result, more and more companies, public institutions, and private individuals are turning to our detective agency in Berlin (+49 30 2016 9221-0) to track down offenders and, with the help of our court-admissible evidence, obtain compensation in court.

Defacing Election Posters | Property Damage to Political Advertising

In the weeks leading up to state, federal, or other elections, they can be seen everywhere across cities and rural areas: more or less flattering election posters of various parties and candidates, secretly “decorated” (usually at night) by youths or political opponents with graffiti, insults, or other markings. These may include political slogans, insults directed at candidates and their parties, or even drawings such as Hitler mustaches, buck teeth, monobrows, and genitalia applied with markers or spray paint. While some members of the public may find this amusing, especially when the affected parties are unpopular, such acts are not trivial offenses but constitute classic property damage, as our private detectives in Berlin consistently emphasize. According to Section 303 of the German Criminal Code (StGB), property damage occurs when an object belonging to another person—that is, not owned by the perpetrator and not ownerless—is destroyed or damaged, or when its appearance is altered in a way that is not merely temporary and not insignificant. The law provides for a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine, and even the attempt of such an act is punishable.

Regarding politically motivated crimes before federal and state elections, the German Bundestag published figures for 2013 showing that well over half of these offenses involve property damage: of 2,824 crimes related to federal elections, 1,683 were property damage; for state elections, 311 out of 581 cases fell into this category. The costs for damaged or destroyed posters, displays, and similar materials amount to several thousand euros for each party and are only rarely recovered in court as compensation, since very few perpetrators are identified. The reputational damage suffered by affected parties due to defaced posters is often irreparable.

This makes the work of the Aaden Detective Agency Berlin particularly relevant once again, as elections for the Berlin House of Representatives and the district councils take place on September 18. Our business and private investigators may also be deployed during the state elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on September 4 to both prevent deliberate destruction of campaign materials and identify those responsible after incidents of property damage.

Defacing Right-Wing Campaign Posters Is Also a Criminal Offense

Even though many people consciously avoid being influenced by election advertising before major elections, there are always posters that attract attention through provocation or poorly chosen and therefore ridiculous slogans, generating more media coverage than others. For example, the Administrative Court of Kassel ruled that the deliberately provocative NPD slogan “Money for Grandma instead of for Sinti and Roma” was not unconstitutional, as it did not call for arbitrary measures against Sinti or Roma (case no.: 4 L 1117/13.KS). However, the Higher Administrative Court of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the Federal Administrative Court ruled differently in the case of an NPD poster with the slogan “Stop Polish invasion!” depicting three crows pecking at banknotes. These courts classified the advertisement as an attack on the human dignity of Polish citizens (case no.: 2 BvR 2179/09), requiring the posters to be removed. Similarly, the black-and-yellow election posters of the party “Die Rechte” with the slogan “From the South Stand to the City Council” had to be taken down because personal rights of individuals and companies must not be violated, as was the case for the football club Borussia Dortmund, which did not wish to be associated with this advertising or party (case no.: 6 W 56/13).

Such provocations often lead to posters of right-wing parties being defaced by supporters of Antifa and other left-wing groups; however, even xenophobic or racist campaign slogans do not legally justify such acts of vandalism, as political parties and their advertising in a democracy like Germany may only be banned by court order, not removed or damaged through vigilantism. Particularly severe penalties apply to property damage from right-wing extremist circles when unconstitutional symbols such as swastikas are drawn on posters or other campaign materials promoting asylum or immigrant-friendly messages. Reports filed against unknown persons rarely lead to results, even according to the police, which is why such cases are seldom pursued. Instead, parties turn to our detectives in Berlin, who take on the task of identifying the perpetrators: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de.

Property Damage of Any Kind – The Aaden Detective Agency Berlin Investigates

If you or your company have become victims of property damage, you can confidently contact our business investigators in Berlin. We will inform you about our approach to pursuing offenders as well as our options for preventive surveillance of the objects and buildings to be protected. Using state-of-the-art technology and highly trained investigators, we provide you with the best possible service to help safeguard your property and identify those responsible for property damage, while also obtaining court-admissible evidence against them: +49 30 2016 9221-0.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Detectives in Berlin Solve Passenger Vehicle Thefts

Increasingly brazen methods in motor vehicle theft are causing major losses in Germany, with Berliners being the hardest hit according to a GDV study. In 2014, 3.5 vehicles were stolen per 1,000 registered passenger cars. Average value of these vehicles: €14,650! Private individuals engage business investigators such as those of the Aaden Detective Agency Berlin to apprehend the thieves, determine the location of the stolen vehicle, and ideally recover the car. Our detectives’ investigations, surveillance, and tracking operations often lead to Eastern Europe; Poland, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic in particular serve as hubs for stolen vehicles. Vehicle identification numbers are ground down and altered, cars are repainted, and provided with falsified vehicle histories. Thus, a black metallic SUV purchased in Berlin-Mitte suddenly becomes a forest-green vehicle allegedly originating from France with chrome rims. Among all car thefts in 2014, as in previous years, owners of expensive SUVs were most affected: out of 1,000 insured Range Rovers, for example, 57.4 were stolen.

Vehicle Embezzlement a Major Problem in Germany

In addition to the high number of motor vehicle thefts (17,895 cases in 2014 alone), the embezzlement of passenger cars (see §§ 246, 247 StGB) represents a significant issue. In 2014, 7,127 cases of embezzlement were recorded, which, although a slight improvement of 2% compared to the previous year, still constitutes a substantial portion of police crime statistics. Employers in particular are often affected by vehicle embezzlement by their employees: employee X is provided with a company car, resigns or is terminated, and retains the vehicle or – as our Berlin detectives frequently observe – sells it without ever having been its owner.

This results in considerable financial damage to companies, and perpetrators often flee abroad or conceal the embezzled vehicle, leading to lengthy and frequently unsuccessful police investigations that can drag on for months or even years and often come to nothing. The affected companies are left bearing the costs if the embezzlement cannot be proven, for example because the employee claims the vehicle was stolen. Our private detectives in Berlin act promptly whenever embezzlement cases are brought to them: +49 30 2016 9221-0. In many cases, perpetrators can be tracked through surveillance and location investigations, and the embezzled vehicle recovered. The collected data, reports, photographic evidence, and witness statements of our business investigators in Berlin are admissible in court and, due to their clarity, can lead to quicker convictions and more efficient legal proceedings.

Stolen Individual Parts Enter the Market

In many cases, offenders are not interested in the vehicle itself but rather in a few valuable individual parts, which are either dumped onto the market in large quantities at scrap prices, depriving manufacturers of revenue and causing noticeable harm to the German economy, or sold at inflated prices on automotive platforms, resulting in unsuspecting buyers being overcharged. Another risk highlighted by our business investigators in Berlin arises from cheap counterfeit versions of certain parts, which, after being stolen, are transported to illegal production facilities and replicated with inferior quality. These copies pose a significant safety risk for unsuspecting buyers if installed in a vehicle and subsequently used.

According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, the “high level of professionalism of the perpetrators” means that operations within these criminal circles are carried out rapidly, making it nearly impossible to determine where, when, and by whom the theft was committed. Before perpetrators can be apprehended, the parts have already been sold and the trail obscured. However, there is a solution: through targeted investigations by our Berlin detectives, cases can be solved that law enforcement is unable to resolve. While police prioritize major cases, particularly capital crimes and offenses affecting public finances (such as tax evasion), individual car thefts are often not thoroughly pursued due to time or personnel constraints. Our flexible detectives, on the other hand, have numerous methods available to resolve the case satisfactorily for the affected owner.

Odometer Manipulation and Consequences of Purchasing Stolen Vehicles | Fraud in the Automotive Market

In addition to the aforementioned consequences of theft and embezzlement, other forms of manipulation in the automotive market harm manufacturers and consumers alike: the police and the inspection organization DEKRA estimate that approximately 30% of used cars sold in Germany—around 1.8 million vehicles annually—have had their mileage reduced or manipulated to achieve a higher sale price and deceive buyers into purchasing worn-out vehicles with limited remaining usability. The resulting damage amounts to an average of about €3,000 per vehicle, totaling an alarming €6 billion. The business and private investigators of the Aaden Detective Agency Berlin help to mitigate these losses: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de.

Odometer fraud is therefore clearly not a minor offense, especially since any resetting of odometers has been prohibited since 2005: at that time, the German Bundestag passed a law defining not only fraudulent manipulation but any alteration of mileage counters in motor vehicles as a criminal offense. Even possession of the computer software required for such manipulation has been punishable since then, leading to easier and faster convictions. Whereas previously a difficult-to-prove fraudulent intent had to be established, today it is sufficient to demonstrate that the mileage has been altered, without needing to prove intent. Our IT specialists in Berlin analyze your digital tachometer and help bring perpetrators to justice and recover the purchase price.

My Car Has Been Stolen, Embezzled, or Manipulated – What Can I Do?

If you are affected by one of the cases described above or a similar situation, contact our business and private investigators without hesitation and receive personal advice on our approach: +49 30 2016 9221-0. We offer surveillance, research, and investigations in Germany and across Europe to assist you in recovering your vehicle and or securing the conviction of the perpetrator or perpetrators. With court-admissible evidence and the testimony of our Berlin detectives, you have the best possible chances of winning your case in court.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Are Not Immune to Employee Crime

Minor and inconspicuous thefts occur almost everywhere, and serious property offenses repeatedly arise even in the most perfectly structured and efficiently run companies. Although in Germany it is naturally the larger companies with more than 200 employees that are affected more frequently and more severely by theft and embezzlement committed by employees, the detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin are also surprisingly often confronted with cases in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): an inconsistent cash register, suddenly missing office supplies, stolen tools, or production goods that have supposedly been lost in transit. Even small businesses that reassure themselves with the constant mantra “that does not happen here” are increasingly confronted with criminal employees who shamelessly exploit their position within the company. These revenue- and business-damaging criminal acts amount to billions: according to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, German companies suffer damages of 6 billion euros annually due to theft and embezzlement by employees.

Even though significantly fewer offenses are uncovered in smaller companies than in large ones, this does not mean that proportionally fewer criminal acts occur there, as our Berlin economic detectives explain: the seemingly lower number of offenses results from a system often based on a high level of trust, which leaves many small loopholes for criminal intent. While publicly traded companies are clearly aware of the risks posed by theft and embezzlement and therefore implement extensive security measures, the common perception in companies with fewer than 100 employees is that such incidents do not occur there because it would be immediately obvious who was responsible. However, our detectives in Berlin can say from experience that this perception is a misconception: particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises, an environment characterized by trust and familiarity with flat hierarchies allows opportunities for theft to be recognized and directly exploited under the cover of mutual trust and cooperation.

Not Every Theft Is Recognized as Such.

Of course, it should not be assumed that all employees take as much as they want from the office; quite the opposite: it is important to train employees carefully and clearly communicate that even what is often perceived as permissible—such as taking printer paper or ballpoint pens home on a weekly basis—falls under the definition of economically motivated theft (German Criminal Code § 242). Through its frequency and regularity, such behavior can create a significant financial loss for the company. Aaden Detective Agency Berlin can also confirm from the experience of many successfully solved cases that a surprisingly large number of employees take company property. In fact, according to a representative study by GfK, one in four employees admits to having taken something from the office at some point, although this is often not labeled as theft out of ignorance or self-justification and is instead dismissed as a trivial matter; moreover, the number of unreported cases is likely significantly higher, as other employees are aware of the wrongdoing and therefore do not admit it.

Unfortunately, it is also repeatedly confirmed that there are employees who exploit their position on a large scale, manipulating production processes as well as taking materials or money that do not belong to them. If an initial suspicion arises and there are demonstrable irregularities—for example, repeated discrepancies in the office or company cash register—our economic detectives in Berlin are engaged (info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de) to identify the perpetrator or perpetrators and secure court-admissible evidence. The use of detectives is particularly recommended when sophisticated criminals are at work who, for example, are not only responsible for bold thefts but also deliberately falsify financial statements to conceal their illegal activities.

Berlin Detectives Reduce Damages.

If it becomes apparent in companies of any size that funds or production goods are disappearing, that large quantities of inventory are missing, that deliveries are being lost, or that disproportionately high costs arise from employee orders for alleged office supplies, caution is advised. As the saying goes: trust is good, control is better—especially when not only production chains and high profit margins are affected, but also jobs are put at risk by the damage caused by criminal acts, and ultimately even consumers suffer from the resulting increase in prices for goods and services.

Even if irregularities are occasionally due to poorly maintained records, human error, or incomplete deliveries, Aaden Detective Agency Berlin recommends always keeping an eye on such anomalies and, if suspicion of embezzlement or theft intensifies, seeking the assistance of our private and economic detectives from Berlin. Often, those responsible for the losses are not external burglars or thieves, but competent and trusted employees or—quite possibly—customers invited into the company.

Security Concepts for the Prevention of Theft

If you would like our Berlin detectives to investigate thefts or embezzlement that have already occurred, or if you wish to implement a security concept to prevent future property offenses, contact Aaden Detective Agency Berlin directly. We will work with you to develop a plan to secure your company or create a surveillance and investigation concept. In close cooperation with security specialists, our investigators are able to obtain court-admissible evidence through surveillance, undercover operations, and other methods.

It is important to note that surveillance measures, and especially the use of hidden cameras, are only permitted when there is justified suspicion; the permanent installation of covert cameras to monitor employees violates their personal rights and can itself lead to criminal consequences for the responsible party. To ensure that you are legally protected in your specific case, contact Aaden Detective Agency Berlin and seek advice from our competent economic detectives: +49 30 2016 9221-0.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

More Than 2,500 Fraud Cases Daily in Germany

Based on continuously compiled crime statistics, it is easy to see that there are no limits to creativity when it comes to new forms of fraud: alongside all the well-known types of fraud, which consistently make up a large portion of annual statistics—most recently in 2014 just under one million cases (968,886) in Germany—new fraud schemes are constantly emerging, often driven by the internet, to unlawfully obtain money or goods from unsuspecting or poorly informed individuals or to withhold such items from them. One such scheme that Aaden Economic Detective Agency Berlin has encountered with alarming regularity in recent months is advance payment fraud, particularly in used car purchases. Buyers are lured with an apparently unbeatable online offer—often justified by alleged personal reasons (death in the family, separation, etc.)—for a low-mileage, well-maintained, and surprisingly inexpensive vehicle, which quickly turns out to be a fraudulent trap.

The buyer is sometimes, but not always, invited to view the vehicle and take a test drive, after which they are asked to make a deposit—rarely less than €500 and sometimes even five-figure amounts—in cash or by check to reserve the vehicle and provide security for the seller. So far, this appears normal and legal—although a bank transfer would offer more security for the buyer; however, in cases of advance payment fraud, the transaction ends before it is actually completed: after the deposit is made, contact with the seller suddenly ceases, all inquiries go unanswered, and the deposit is irretrievably lost. The private and economic detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin also encounter advance payment fraud cases on a smaller scale involving less valuable goods such as electronic items—the result, namely the loss of the deposit without any consideration, can of course be equally painful for the individual in these transactions.

Seller Disappeared, Money Gone – Economic Detectives Know What to Do

Once the money has been paid, the options available to private individuals are unfortunately quite limited. Criminal complaints often come to nothing when false names and addresses are used by sellers, and the police can do little beyond filing a report against unknown persons, which usually offers little prospect of success. Detective agencies such as Aaden Economic Detective Agency Berlin, on the other hand, can intervene where the police are constrained by the sheer number of cases. From surveillance of the alleged residential or sales addresses, to vehicle license plate checks and owner identification, to research into possible bank accounts (in the case of a transferred deposit), our economic and private detectives from Berlin have numerous methods at their disposal to identify the fraudster and bring them to justice: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de.

Even before a purchase, the detectives of Aaden Economic Detective Agency Berlin are often engaged to support skeptical buyers in dealing with suspicious, unreliable, or untrustworthy listings or sellers: the individuals in question can be observed and investigated, whether regarding their true identity, possible prior convictions, suspiciously high numbers of simultaneously posted listings with unusually attractive offers, or entries in commercial and trade registers.

Advance Payment Fraud Involving Fake Financial Institutions Exposed by Economic Detectives

A (still) relatively uncommon but highly damaging method used by advance payment fraudsters relates to the credit sector, which continues to be affected by the global financial crisis. Highly indebted individuals who are denied loans by reputable banks are particularly susceptible to these fraudulent pseudo-credit institutions: such entities lure victims with low interest rates and a “mere” 30 percent deposit of the loan amount as a form of security and amortization payment, as also described by the Austrian magazine “Mein Bezirk.” Once the hard-earned money—often painstakingly gathered in cases of debt—has been paid, the “customer” waits in vain for the promised loan. The security deposit is likewise irretrievably lost to the fraudsters.

A similar approach is found in widely reported prize notification scams, where individuals receive letters claiming they have won a cruise, a luxury vehicle, large sums of money, or similarly valuable prizes—without ever having entered a competition. To receive the prize, a partial payment is often required as “security,” or a prize tax must be paid in the country of origin (often Turkey, Balkan states, or the Near East). Hopeful individuals are enticed by the prospect of an extraordinary prize and persuaded—sometimes repeatedly—to transfer money abroad, with no chance of recovering the deposit or receiving the “prize.” The Aaden Detectives Berlin intervene where individuals have suffered unjust losses. We investigate the organizers of such schemes and do everything possible to identify them and recover the deposited funds.

I Have Become a Victim of Fraud – What Can I Do Now?

Our economic detectives from Berlin consistently advise clients to approach apparent bargains and unearned “winnings” with healthy skepticism, as it should be clear that hardly anyone gives something away without benefiting from it—especially not in the business world. However, if fraud has already occurred and money has been paid to a car seller, a financial institution, a prize organization, or other fraudsters, Aaden Detective Agency Berlin steps in to help victims recover their money, hold the perpetrators accountable, and bring them to justice. Contact the staff of Aaden Economic Detective Agency Berlin regarding your case to receive advice on further steps and possible investigative measures: +49 30 2016 9221-0.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Anyone who occasionally “zaps” through the early evening programming of private TV channels may have noticed the growing interest in locating relatives not seen for decades, often using small-format shows combined with professional detective work across all continents. Before the era of global connectivity, international person-search assignments were difficult to carry out and, due to uncertain outcomes and low chances of success, were rarely entrusted to detectives like those at Aaden Detective Agency Berlin.

With digitalisation and expanded research tools, not only professional investigative services but also several private TV stations began taking on such cases. Their high-profile successes turned the concept into a popular trend. Public broadcasters followed suit with their prime-time shows, while RTL’s pioneering programme “Vermisst” still achieves impressive ratings of 11.6–15% and 4–5 million regular viewers.

Interest in reconnecting with lost friends and relatives continues to rise. However, not everyone wants to appear on television, often in a potentially awkward light. Therefore, many turn to specialists such as the Aaden Detectives Berlin for national and international person searches: +49 30 2016 9221-0.

When Personal Research Falls Short

The aforementioned television shows are particularly successful because, with ever-advancing globalisation, the hope of actually finding a lost friend or relative has become realistic. With a simple Facebook, telephone directory, or internet search, private individuals can only rarely determine where the uncle they have painfully missed since childhood or the best friend from the past now lives and works. Simple research sometimes does lead to success, for example if the sought person is listed in the telephone directory or is active on social networks, but especially when searching for older people or individuals who explicitly value their privacy, the research becomes more difficult. The detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin are therefore frequently commissioned by people of all ages to find relatives and friends and re-establish contact with them after it was lost through moves, disputes, or other problems.

Numerous Research Possibilities for Berlin Detectives

The fact that only the most spectacular and unbelievable cases are selected and researched for television productions also means that the “smaller” searches end up on the desks of our Berlin detectives. Our investigators have far more options than the public research methods available to everyone (residents’ registration checks, the internet, telephone directories): through so-called insider knowledge, expertise in person search, and above all excellent contacts for information gathering, our private detectives from Berlin succeed in determining the whereabouts of missing persons in the clear majority of cases, both nationally and internationally. For example, private individuals cannot pursue vehicle owner tracing, whereas Aaden Detective Agency Berlin makes use of this and numerous other options to bring a person search to a successful conclusion.

A Case Example from Berlin: Missing Brother

The Aaden Detectives Berlin recently solved a case reaching far back into the past in which the senior citizen Louise Erkner wanted to find her brother Leopold, whom she had painfully missed since the end of the Second World War. He was seven years old at the time, she was four, and the involuntary separation occurred through adoption. Louise Erkner commissioned the person search through her son, as all other avenues had already been tried within the family and had proven unsuccessful.

In addition to the usual online research via social networks, telephone directories, and person registers of listed associations, Aaden Detective Agency Berlin investigated Leopold Erkner in numerous German cities. He was listed in the residents’ registration records as a native of Berlin, but his later places of residence could no longer be reconstructed amidst the turmoil of post-war Germany. The private investigators had a tough nut to crack: through painstaking work, they went through all available school rosters from schools in Berlin’s immediate vicinity based on an existing clue. The breakthrough came after three weeks; Leopold Erkner, now registered under the surname Retzow, had attended a grammar school in Potsdam and completed his Abitur there. Through on-site research—in a fortunately well-organised and complete archive—our private detectives from Berlin found the family’s former address data for the Retzows, although the family had officially moved away to an unknown address.

Person Search Leads to Great Britain

To determine the sought person’s further places of residence and contact details, the investigators of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin then questioned the former neighbours of the Retzow family in a small village not far from the Brandenburg state capital; fortunately, some of them were still living there, as they had never moved out of their parents’ home. An older gentleman provided the next strong lead: the Retzows had emigrated to Great Britain in the mid-1950s because the family father had obtained a job with a large, well-known company there. Thanks to their good business contacts in England, our private detectives were able to report a highly positive interim result to Louise Erkner: Leopold Retzow had been listed there as a resident of a small town in central England since the 1960s. Working together with British detectives on site, it was eventually established that Leopold Retzow still lived there and, despite his age, served as bridge master of the local bridge club.

Louise Erkner was overjoyed and could hardly wait for the first contact. However, the private detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin proceeded cautiously in line with their professional ethos, as they did not want to give the now long-settled Leopold Retzow the shock of a lifetime. After an initial written contact, he was so moved and delighted that a short time later he travelled to Berlin together with his son to see his sister Louise again. The reunion of the two siblings and their respective families is therefore a fine example of the success of investigative person searches and represents the most rewarding outcome of all for our detectives from Berlin.

Are You Looking for a Loved One?

Even if it does not seem that way, it remains difficult—and in some cases impossible—even within Germany and the German-speaking region to find relatives who have been lost from sight, with the amount of time elapsed significantly affecting the level of difficulty. However, the private detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin draw on such a wealth of successful reunions and person searches that they are happy to take on any further search and are always available for follow-up questions in such personal and moving cases: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de.

Notice

Note: For reasons of discretion and data protection, the locations of the operation and certain personal details have been altered without changing the substance of the actual events.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Assessing Custody Concerns

The parents of little Lilli (5 years old, all names changed) had separated. She now lived most of the time with her mother and was allowed to see her father, Mr. Böhme, every second weekend. He commissioned Aaden Detective Agency Berlin to review whether his estranged wife was properly exercising custody.

The reason: Lilli, once a cheerful, carefree child, now seemed more and more distressed every time he saw her. She ate little, had constant nightmares, and increasingly isolated herself from her friends—and from Mr. Böhme as well. Although there were no physical signs of possible abuse on her, as Mr. Böhme reported to our detectives from Berlin, the changed behaviour of his daughter may have had other causes in her mother’s care.

Surveillance by Detectives: Inconspicuous Target Person

Since the Böhmes’ separation had not exactly ended on good terms, due to repeated infidelity involving changing partners on the part of Mrs. Böhme, contact between the spouses had since been very limited. Consequently, the client of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin knew little about his estranged wife’s current life. Did she have regular employment, or did she live only on maintenance payments? Did she have a new partner? Was she possibly already living with him? What influence did he have on daughter Lilli?

These questions had to be clarified by our private detectives in Berlin through surveillance. For the first investigative day, a normal weekday was chosen. The investigators started early, as the nature of Mrs. Böhme’s possible activity was unknown and it was therefore impossible to say when she would leave for work. But it never came to that, because over the course of the day the activities of the target person of our Berlin detectives remained limited: she took Lilli to nursery school, ran a few private errands, picked Lilli up again, and otherwise was only seen once airing bed linen at the window. All very inconspicuous. No indications of the daughter’s changed behaviour emerged for our private detectives in Berlin during this surveillance.

Family Outing to Brandenburg

For budgetary reasons, the second check by Aaden Detective Agency Berlin was carried out on a weekend day when Lilli could not be taken to nursery school. Perhaps new information would arise from the mother and daughter’s leisure activities. Since it was a warm and sunny day, our investigators expected good chances of observing the target person and her interaction with the child outdoors. In fact, Mrs. Böhme, Lilli, and an older unknown man left the house together early in the morning, got into an unknown vehicle (presumably the unknown man’s car), and drove to Brandenburg to the amusement park “Familiengarten Eberswalde.”

For hours, Lilli occupied herself there with attractions such as a fairy-tale forest, a magic castle, and an adventure town. She did so diligently, without outwardly showing the kind of childlike joy and enchanting smile that delights everyone who knows what it is like to have children. The unknown man occasionally fussed over her, but his behaviour toward her seemed rather defensive to our private detectives from Berlin. Mrs. Böhme mostly walked hand in hand with the man, they kissed repeatedly, and when Lilli played for a longer time in one place, the two sat on a bench and cuddled. Later, the three went to eat something, then back home, and early in the evening they went out for a walk together again.

Shocking Discovery by the Client

The detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin discussed the events of that surveillance day with Mr. Böhme. Based on the facts, there was no reason for complaint: although Lilli did not appear particularly cheerful, objectively her mother had invested a great deal of time in giving her a pleasant day. The older man made a composed and serious impression, his interaction with Lilli seemed normal, and the behaviour of the new couple toward one another appeared affectionate. Everything looked like a good environment for Lilli.

But then came the shock: in a photograph, Mr. Böhme identified the unknown man cuddling with his estranged wife as her father and therefore as Lilli’s grandfather! This news initially unsettled our detectives from Berlin as well, because naturally nobody had expected that. Once the parties had regained some composure, they discussed how to proceed. Report it to the police immediately? Continue surveillance to rule out a misunderstanding? But how could such a misunderstanding have arisen in the first place? In such a matter, this can hardly be dismissed as a mere lapse, and it certainly cannot simply be overlooked.

How Much Does the Daughter Know?

The client of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin decided, under a pretext, to insist on being allowed to take Lilli to his home the next day in order to question her about what she knew of the relationship between her mother and her grandfather and the extent to which she had been influenced by it. After some discussion, Mrs. Böhme agreed. Lilli was very closed off and revealed information only in small fragments. Gradually, however, it became clear that she knew about the kisses and probably also about the sex between her mother and her grandfather, and that this behaviour disturbed her greatly. She felt very uncomfortable around the two of them and did not believe what they were doing was right.

Mr. Böhme then consulted with our Berlin private detectives. We advised him to file a criminal complaint with the police under § 173 (sexual intercourse between relatives, commonly incest) and to notify the youth welfare office accordingly in order to obtain immediate sole custody. The offence carries a penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment. However, the client of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin first wanted to confront his estranged wife and his estranged father-in-law personally: “This is disgusting! I cannot understand it, I have to ask them what is going on in their heads!”

Confrontation, Observed by Our Detective

One of our female detectives from Berlin played babysitter for Lilli, while another colleague accompanied Mr. Böhme to Mrs. Böhme’s address as a precaution. He was to remain in the background and intervene only if it came to blows. Although he knew of no violent tendencies on the part of his estranged wife and her father, after the discoveries of the previous two days he no longer really knew what sort of people these two actually were.

He rang the bell—no response. He rang repeatedly—after two minutes, Mrs. Böhme appeared at the window wearing little clothing and shouted at him whether he had lost his mind. Apparently she felt massively disturbed. The client of our economic detectives in Berlin demanded that his estranged wife come downstairs immediately to the front door, as he needed to confront her. She replied that he should come upstairs if it was so important. Mr. Böhme, however, refused and insisted that he would call the police immediately if she and “that damned Hannes” (the father-in-law’s name) did not come down at once. Mrs. Böhme already knew why.

Grandfather Coming and Going at the Marital Home

A scene unfolds in front of the house that does not escape the neighbours either, as observed by our detective from Berlin. Mr. Böhme’s tone and choice of words are indignant; he expresses his outrage and disgust at the behaviour of his two “interlocutors” with great fervour and demands explanations. Again and again, Mrs. Böhme and “Hannes” try to calm him and lure him into the house, but he insists on receiving an explanation “here and now.”

And eventually Mrs. Böhme gives it to him: she had been sleeping with Hannes ever since she had just finished school. The affair between the two continued constantly—whether one or even both of them had a steady partner at the time or whether they were single. Even during the period when they were getting to know each other, during the engagement, and during her marriage to the client of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin, meetings and sex with Hannes took place regularly. She had therefore loved Mr. Böhme no less, but Hannes and she were simply addicted to each other. So addicted that she once introduced him as her own father when Mr. Böhme caught her in the act: when the Böhmes had just moved in together before their marriage, the client of our Berlin detectives came home early from work one day. At that moment, Mrs. Böhme and Hannes were just enjoying themselves in the apartment’s bedroom. When they heard the door, both had just enough time to get dressed. The present Mrs. Böhme hurried out of the bedroom and told her partner that her father had unexpectedly come to visit and that she had just shown him the bedroom. Mr. Böhme saw no reason to doubt this statement and instead greeted his supposed future father-in-law. The latter then had a ready-made excuse for coming and going in the married couple’s home without arousing the slightest suspicion.

Lack of Consequence Awareness on the Part of the Mother

“You two are really the absolute worst!” Mr. Böhme exclaimed once the story had been told. “And Lilli?! You tell her that your damn lover is her grandfather?! Have you completely lost your minds?! She saw you having sex, you lunatics!” The conversation continued in this manner for some time. On the way back, our private detective from Berlin and the visibly struggling Mr. Böhme discussed the next steps. The mother’s behaviour was unquestionably irresponsible, as she was living in—or misleading her daughter into—a world of distorted moral values in which it was acceptable for a father and his own child to have sex. In addition, Lilli had been introduced to a person who was not related to her as her grandfather. What role would this person be expected to play in her life in the future? How could it be explained if he suddenly were no longer allowed to visit her?

Mrs. Böhme’s behaviour was without any doubt irresponsible and immoral. It shows that she is not capable of subjecting her behaviour to sufficient consideration of the consequences for a child. Aaden Detective Agency Berlin advised Mr. Böhme to hire a good family law attorney and, on the basis of the shocking evidence, obtain sole custody.

Notice

Note: For reasons of discretion and data protection, the locations of the operation and certain personal details have been altered without changing the substance of the actual events.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Money for Love – Fidelity Not Guaranteed

Mr. H. from Hamburg is a wealthy man in a good professional position and of mature age. His wife had already passed away fifteen years ago, and since then Mr. H. has indulged his preference for younger women (approx. 20–30 years old). Initially these were affairs, but with increasing age Mr. H. also wanted to enter into more stable relationships again. His arrangement with his current partner, the target person of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin, was that they maintained a relationship in which he provided her with financial support for her studies and regularly spoiled her with gifts such as jewelry or even a high-priced convertible. In return, she was required to be faithful to him and to be available to him upon request and opportunity. In terms of the relationship, they were therefore a "Sugar Daddy" and a "Sugar Baby".

A few months ago, Ms. S., the aforementioned target person of our detectives from Berlin, began to withdraw somewhat, staying out longer in the evenings and no longer being constantly reachable by phone. Mr. H. suspected infidelity in the relationship and therefore commissioned the Aaden private detectives in Berlin to conduct surveillance of his partner.

Surveillance by Aaden Detective Agency Berlin

At first, Mr. H. was interested in what his partner was actually doing when she left his apartment early, allegedly to sleep at home. Previously, she had always stayed overnight, but recently there had been increasing instances in which she claimed she had to get up early the next morning and therefore preferred to go home, or that she was simply too tired to stay overnight with Mr. H. and longed for her own bed.

At the next opportunity when Mr. H. was informed that she would be leaving his apartment early, he immediately contacted the detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin, who promptly went to the previously analyzed surveillance location and began observing the front door.

Suspicious Meeting with a Man of the Same Age

When the target person appeared, she did not go straight home but first went to a café, where, observed by the Aaden private detectives from Berlin, she met a man of her own age and greeted him with an embrace. There was no kiss, but when leaving the establishment, he put his arms around her shoulders, and together they entered the residential building of the target person of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin. At around 03:00 in the morning, the investigators ended their work—until then, neither the target person nor the unknown male individual had reappeared.

When the detectives informed Mr. H. the following morning, he was affected but not surprised. However, the observation of the previous day was not sufficient proof for him, as Ms. S. could ultimately claim that the man had been a cousin or something similarly harmless. Consequently, our Berlin detectives were instructed to conduct another surveillance operation at the next opportunity.

Working in Frankfurt or Something Else Entirely?

This opportunity arose as early as the following weekend, when the target person claimed she had to spend the entire weekend at a trade fair in Frankfurt for a promotional job. Mr. H. then asked her whether she was lacking anything, since she was still taking on such jobs. He could give her money if she needed anything. However, she insisted on not being entirely dependent on him and instead earning her own income.

On Friday morning, the target person of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin left Mr. H.’s apartment and drove straight to her own residence. When it became clear around 10:30 that she would no longer be able to catch her allegedly planned train to Frankfurt, Mr. H. instructed our Berlin private detectives to continue the surveillance for the rest of the day without fail.

Sugar Daddy #2? Trip with an Unknown Man

In the early afternoon, the target person left her residence wearing heavy makeup and rather revealing clothing and got directly into a waiting vehicle around the corner. Due to a one-way street, the private detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin were only able to follow the vehicle with difficulty. Fortunately, it was traveling at a very moderate speed. The journey led to a kind of marina at one of the lakes around Berlin, where the target person and the driver, a man in his mid-to-late 50s, got out and walked arm in arm to a larger boat. There they were already expected by a two-man crew. One of the men retrieved two small travel bags from the parked vehicle and brought them onto the boat.

The last thing the Aaden detectives in Berlin could see with the naked eye was the target person and the aforementioned unknown man toasting each other with sparkling wine or champagne and kissing on the mouth. At that point, the target person was wearing only a very skimpy bikini (it was a sunny early summer day). Using their telephoto lenses, our detectives from Berlin were able to take a few reasonably meaningful photographs, but then the view was obstructed by the landscape. For a short time, our private investigators considered renting a motorboat to continue the surveillance but ultimately abandoned the idea in the interest of discretion.

Long Wait by Aaden Detectives Berlin: Return of the Target Person Not Until Sunday

What followed was an excessively long wait. On that Friday, the detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin did not see the target person or the boat on which she had departed again. And on Saturday, the observers also waited in vain on the shore. Nevertheless, Mr. H. insisted on the uninterrupted continuation of the surveillance with two investigators. Only on Sunday afternoon did the detectives achieve success again, as they identified the target object in the distance.

After docking, the target person and the unknown man made their way to the target vehicle. Both appeared extremely cheerful and relaxed. As it became apparent that the journey would lead to the target person’s residence, one of the two Berlin detectives increased speed and positioned his operational vehicle at the street corner where Ms. S. had entered the car on Friday. In this way, the observer was able to witness the prolonged farewell kiss between the two before the target person went to her apartment and disappeared into the building.

Unreserved Confession by the Target Person

Mr. H. listened to the results of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin with outward calm, but the investigators quickly noticed that he was seething inside. This was followed by a discussion between Mr. H. and the target person, as the client of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin later kindly informed us. During this conversation, Ms. S. confessed to him that he had never been anything more to her than her sugar daddy, satisfying her material needs. When he refused to buy her a necklace that she absolutely wanted, she sought out a second sugar daddy. Moreover, she had "of course" (direct quote) also maintained affairs with younger men on the side.

Notice

Note: For reasons of discretion and data protection, the locations of the operation and certain personal details have been modified without altering the substance of the actual events.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Competing Activity Despite Non-Compete Clause

Recently, the HR manager of a larger Berlin-based GmbH contacted Aaden Detective Agency Berlin to inquire about the possibilities of proving violations of non-compete or competition clauses through our detectives. The background was a former employee who had access to client and contract data and had been obligated, in exchange for a not insignificant compensation payment, not to engage in any activity with a competitor for a period of two calendar years. However, the HR manager had now heard that the employee in question was working on a freelance basis for several direct competitors and, additionally, had even entered into competition with his former employer himself through his self-employment. The Berlin-based GmbH would be entitled to a substantial contractual penalty if the former employee could be proven in violation, and therefore saw Aaden Detective Agency Berlin as the right partner to provide evidence of the prohibited activity – and she was right.

Detectives Conduct Direct Surveillance of the Target Individual

After evaluating the information provided and conducting a tactical briefing within the team, our Berlin detectives, in consultation with the client, concluded that direct surveillance of the target individual starting early in the morning would be the best approach. The starting point would be the known residential address.

On the first day of the operation, an observation team consisting of three detectives positioned themselves in a quiet residential neighborhood in southwest Berlin. The streets were narrow and the neighbors attentive, which required our detectives to reposition frequently. At 07:30, a teenager left the target individual’s house with a backpack and headed toward a bus stop. At 08:15, the garage door opened and the presumed wife of the target individual drove off the property. However, a look into the open garage caused the deployed Berlin detectives to pause, as apart from the probable wife’s vehicle, there was no other car in the garage. Nor was the known target vehicle visible in the driveway or in the immediate vicinity. Up to that point, our Berlin detectives had assumed that this vehicle was parked inside the garage. The operations management of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin then consulted with the client.

Object Check During Surveillance

As part of the preliminary investigation, including a site inspection and surveillance area assessment prior to the operation, our Berlin detectives had of course verified whether the address known to the client from the former employment contract was still current. According to the residents’ registration records, the target individual had been living at this address for 14 years, and the inspection of the mailbox and doorbell nameplates also confirmed the target’s name. Nothing indicated that the target individual had moved. Perhaps he was on a business trip?

One detective from Aaden Detective Agency Berlin took the risk of being compromised for the remainder of the operation by approaching the house and ringing the doorbell openly. There was no response whatsoever inside the property, which suggested that the target individual was not at home and that the operation should be terminated for that day.

Second Operation One Week Later

Since, from the client’s perspective, there was no immediate urgency in this matter—the non-compete obligation still had 18 months remaining—the corporate investigators of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin resumed the operation one week later on a different weekday, at the same time and location.

Again, the target vehicle was not visible in the surrounding area; this time, however, the wife’s vehicle was parked in the driveway, leading to the assumption that the target vehicle was in the garage. The teenager and the woman left the property at roughly the same times as during the first surveillance. After that, everything remained quiet. It became 10:00, then 11:00, 12:00, and finally 13:00, without any indication that the target individual was present. After consulting with the client, and considering that the teenager might soon return, one of our Berlin detectives once again approached the property and rang the doorbell—again, no response. The operation was terminated for two of the detectives.

Meanwhile, the third investigator discreetly inquired in the neighborhood under a suitable pretext as to when the target individual was usually present. From an older local resident, our detective learned that the target individual had been “kicked out” by his wife two months earlier. Apparently, it had caused quite a scene.

Change of Strategy by Our Detectives

With this information, it became clear to all parties why the target individual could not be found on either surveillance day and that future attempts at this location would also be unsuccessful. Two options now presented themselves: either Aaden Detective Agency Berlin would conduct an address investigation to determine the new residence of the target individual. However, this would likely be complex, as the target had apparently not reported the new address to the residents’ registration office, health insurance provider, pension authority, or postal service. The second idea came from the client: she was aware of a specific business where the target individual was very likely working regularly, although the exact days and times were unknown. Our Berlin detectives would simply have to conduct surveillance until the target appeared. The client was willing to take the financial risk, given the substantial contractual penalty at stake and the desire to send a clear message to the workforce. Accordingly, our Berlin corporate investigators positioned two surveillance operatives at the premises of the known competitor on the next business day.

Patience Pays Off: Detectives Identify the Target Individual

For three additional days, nothing relevant occurred at the surveillance location. Both the detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Berlin and the client began to worry that all previous efforts might have been in vain. However, as is often the case in detective work, patience and trust in the abilities of our Berlin investigators were ultimately rewarded. On the fourth day on site, the suspected former employee finally appeared at the observed business premises and carried out activities over a period of six hours that clearly fell within the scope of the contractually prohibited work. Thanks to the documentation provided by our detectives, the client now has legally admissible evidence that can be used to assert her legal claims against the target individual. This includes, among other things, the detective costs, which were necessary to prove the violation.

Notice

Note: For reasons of discretion and data protection, the locations and certain personal details have been altered without changing the substance of the actual events.

Aaden Detectives Berlin

Stresemannstraße 23

D-10963 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2016 9221-0

Fax: +49 30 2016 9221-9

E-Mail: info@aaden-detektive-berlin.de

Web: https://www.aaden-detektive-berlin.de/en

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824