News from the Private Detective Industry: Kurtz Investigations Hamburg
The principle of fault in divorce proceedings has not existed since the 1970s. At that time, a marriage could only be dissolved if one of the spouses could be proven to have behaved culpably. Nowadays, the principle of irretrievable breakdown applies: if one spouse considers the marriage to have failed, it may be dissolved.
In practice, however, the question of fault remains important.
Is the Question of Fault Still Relevant in Divorce Proceedings in Practice?
Yes. If a couple does not pursue an amicable divorce, it is often still necessary to determine who bears responsibility for the breakdown of the marriage when assessing financial settlements and maintenance claims. Amicable out-of-court solutions are not always possible. A breach of marital fidelity is one of the most common grounds for divorce, usually meaning infidelity, that is, extramarital sexual relations with a third party. As a rule, however, an affair cannot easily be proven in a manner admissible in court.
If you can no longer bear the uncertainty of whether your partner is being unfaithful, you may instruct our detectives in Hamburg (+49 40 2320 5053). This naturally involves initial costs, but the good news is: if Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg can provide legally admissible proof of the affair, the detective fees may be recoverable.
Determining maintenance and financial settlement payments is, alongside the reasons for the separation itself, one of the most significant points of contention in divorce proceedings.
An Affair Can Be Costly
If our Hamburg private detectives are able to prove that you have been deceived by your partner, you may still have to cope with the emotional consequences of this discovery; however, the detective costs can be claimed by you during the divorce proceedings.
Even outside formal proceedings, the costs may be asserted as a claim for damages. You may recover all reasonable and customary expenses from your former partner, provided that, due to their breach of marital fidelity, they are considered responsible for the costs incurred.
Can the Affair Also Be Held Liable?
In neighbouring Austria, the following applies: claims may exist not only against the spouse but also against the so-called “interfering third party”. According to Austrian case law, a person who knowingly enters into an affair with a married individual may be held liable – including for detective costs. This applies even if the married partner claims to intend to end the marriage or is already separated. However, since the duty of marital fidelity generally applies only between spouses, it is often difficult to prove liability on the part of the third party. If the affair is unaware of the marriage, no liability arises.
In Germany, there is generally no obligation to ascertain a person’s marital status prior to engaging in a romantic relationship. For this reason, unlike in Austria, it is difficult or even impossible for private individuals to establish liability on the part of the third party without the professional assistance of a private detective agency. Moreover, such cost liability does not exist in Germany. In summary, such claims are therefore not possible under German law. Consequently, the focus of investigations by our Hamburg private detectives is solely on the spouse of our client and not on any involved third parties.
In Germany, divorce proceedings concern the married parties; third parties, specifically extramarital partners, generally have nothing to fear from a legal perspective.
Note
Kurtz Detective Agency does not guarantee the accuracy or applicability of information on linked third-party websites.
Editor: Patrick Kurtz
Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg
Colonnaden 5
D-20354 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 40 2320 5053
Mobil: +49 163 8033 967
E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-hamburg.de
09
Mai
In every employment relationship, it is of great importance that employers and employees can trust one another. Naturally, this trust is significantly reduced when it is abused, for example if an employee commits theft or deliberately makes false statements about their working hours. How such fraud can be uncovered by our Hamburg detectives and what consequences may result is explained in this article by Laura Gosemann for Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg.
Summary Dismissal upon Discovery
In the case of so-called working time fraud, case law assumes an intentional breach by the employee, namely the deliberate failure to record working time correctly. This also initially entails an obligation on the employer to inform their employees clearly about how working and stand-by times are handled. Working time fraud usually destroys trust permanently, meaning that any further cooperation is no longer reasonable for the employer. Summary dismissal is justified in such cases – often even without prior warning. Our commercial detectives in Hamburg document the necessary evidence admissible in court.
Types of Working Time Fraud
Court rulings to date have exposed some common methods of working time fraud, which experienced detectives are of course already familiar with. When using time recording systems such as a time clock or similar, clocking in or out is often carried out by a third party, or employees simply fail to clock out, for example during smoking breaks. Carrying out private errands during working hours is also impermissible. The same applies to private telephone calls or other correspondence via email or letter. Surfing the internet instead of carrying out duties within the employment relationship also constitutes working time fraud, of course.
In the surveillance operations carried out by our Hamburg private detectives, working time fraudsters are observed idling instead of working, carrying out secondary employment during their actual working hours, visiting cinemas, concerts and sporting events, or enjoying a cheerful rendezvous by the roadside.
Potentially Immense Damage for Affected Companies
On the one hand, the trust damage caused by time-sheet fraud is considerable. On the other hand, economic losses are likely to arise for the company in most cases. Not only is the employee paid even though the work assigned to them is not being carried out, but the unaccounted loss of labour can also lead to significant loss of turnover depending on the employee’s role, pose a security risk and or increase the stress level of colleagues, thereby substantially reducing the internal capacity to work productively.
Possible Consequences of Working Time Fraud for Employees
As a matter of principle, proven time fraud justifies summary dismissal. This not only leads to the obvious loss of the job and thus of income, but also entails a three-month waiting period for unemployment benefit and a negative employment reference. If the civil law review shows that the employee received salary without entitlement, or if private investigators were engaged to prove the fraud, thereby incurring detective costs, repayment claims may also arise. Criminal prosecution is also not impossible, though less common, since fraud is a criminal offence (Section 263 of the German Criminal Code).
Exposing Billing Fraud
Pursuant to Section 32(1) of the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) – “collection, processing and use of personal data for the purposes of an employment relationship” – the collection of employees’ personal data is permitted “if this is necessary for the decision on establishing an employment relationship or, after the employment relationship has been established, for its implementation or termination”. In other words: if an employer is considering dismissing an employee, they may collect personal information about them as a decision-making aid, and therefore may also engage detectives.
That it is not quite so straightforward is demonstrated by case law on a regular basis. However, if there is in fact a concrete suspicion of fraud against an employee, it is entirely legitimate to follow up on that suspicion, if necessary with the help of detectives. In the event of suspected false billing, whether in relation to working time records or submitted expenses, our commercial detective agency in Hamburg can therefore be engaged to check whether the employee is fulfilling their employment contract. Technical solutions are also conceivable, for which well-equipped private and commercial investigators are usually likewise available. For example, the time recording system may be monitored by cameras. However, this method must first be approved by the works council or staff council, and employees must also be informed about the recordings.
Comprehensive and permanent video surveillance of employees, as known from other countries, is only compatible with data protection in Germany in exceptional cases and with significant restrictions.
Observe Proportionality of Means
With regard to all control and surveillance measures against employees, the iron rule is that they must not be disproportionate, so as not to interfere with personality rights more than necessary. For example, on 4 October 2012 the Labour Court in Augsburg ruled that computer monitoring by storing screenshots every second for five to seven minutes infringed the employee’s personality rights – even though it did provide proof of working time fraud. In particular because private email communication was also documented, the monitoring measure was deemed disproportionate.
Author: Laura Gosemann
Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg
Colonnaden 5
D-20354 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 40 2320 5053
Mobil: +49 163 8033 967
E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-hamburg.de
29
Nov
When fictitious damages are to be settled via insurance
To insure a bicycle, no expensive special policy is required. The bicycle is considered household contents and is therefore automatically covered by household contents insurance. This generally also applies to e-bikes or pedelecs, provided they do not require a moped licence plate. Household contents insurance is a replacement value insurance. This means that even old, used items are compensated at the current replacement price. For some, the temptation is therefore great to replace a no longer fully functional bicycle at the expense of the insurance. However, in doing so, the policyholder is committing insurance fraud and thus a criminal offence.
Even though insurance contracts are based on mutual trust and insurers do not treat every claim as potential fraud, they repeatedly deploy investigators such as our insurance detectives in Hamburg, who are well acquainted with the usual tricks used by perpetrators and can prove them in a manner admissible in court. What may seem like a minor offence to supplement household income can quickly turn into unpleasant criminal prosecution. Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg is also pleased to act nationwide for your insurance company: +49 40 2320 5053.
Simple Theft Must Be Insured Separately | Hardly Any Investigative Options for Detective Agencies and Authorities
Fraud most frequently occurs in connection with bicycle theft. In its basic version, household contents insurance only covers burglary, for example the theft of a bicycle from a locked cellar, garage or enclosed garden. Missing or implausible signs of forced entry raise doubts about the description of the damage.
The information portal fahrradexperten.com demonstrates the possibility of extending household contents insurance to include simple theft, that is the removal of the bicycle, for example from a bicycle rack outside a supermarket. As there are usually no traces and no video recordings in such cases, reliable proof is hardly possible. Accordingly, our private detectives in Hamburg also have only limited means of providing counter-evidence. At the very least, insurers require a police report in order to raise the threshold for staging a theft. In addition, proof of purchase must be provided. Anyone unable to produce this must expect a flat-rate reduction in compensation.
Actual Theft Is Artificially Inflated
Fraud in bicycle theft cases does not only occur through reporting a theft when the bicycle has in fact been disposed of illegally. If the bicycle has genuinely been stolen, the damage is artificially inflated by subsequently manipulating handwritten receipts from the retailer. By means of forensic analysis, research and software solutions, our detectives in Hamburg identify alterations to scanned invoices, check for inconsistencies between the specified bicycle model and the inflated invoice amount and, where necessary, trace the original seller in order to compare the documents. We are happy to advise you as an insurer if you suspect a case of insurance abuse or fraud: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-hamburg.de.
The deliberate destruction of insured items also constitutes insurance fraud; setting fire to buildings is probably the most extreme and unscrupulous form. The offences described above occur far more frequently.
Author: Tobias Neumann (Guest Author)
Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg
Colonnaden 5
D-20354 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 40 2320 5053
Mobil: +49 163 8033 967
E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-hamburg.de
19
Sep
A Masterful Doctor Investigates In The Style Of A Detective
If in our previously published articles about the Sherlockians and their endless game concerning the immortality of the Sherlock Holmes myth we have spoken, then we are referring not only to the numerous film adaptations, series, computer and console games, fan fiction and book continuations surrounding the master detective, but also to references that may not be apparent at first glance. One of the best-known and, despite or because of his eccentricities, most popular television characters, who displays clear similarities to the great London predecessor of our detectives in Hamburg, is Gregory House, portrayed by the British actor, comedian, musician and novelist Hugh Laurie and known from the FOX series House, M. D. (2004–2012). Below, we would like to present the similarities between the two characters and their respective environments.
House, M. D., a Master Detective in Hospital
Consciously modelled on Sherlock Holmes by David Shore, the creative mind behind the series House, M. D., even the name of the brilliant super-doctor points to the master detective: Holmes, pronounced with a silent “l” like “Homes”, corresponds to the meaning of the word “House”, that is, both signify “house, home”.
Like his role model, House is a difficult character who, due to his peculiarities, does not make it easy for people to like him; he is often alone by choice, tolerates only his closest confidant in his vicinity – sometimes not even him – and shows those around him all too openly that he is more than aware of his own brilliance. In his approach and in the search for even the smallest, seemingly insignificant detail in his patients’ medical histories, he certainly reminds not only our private and corporate investigators in Hamburg of Sherlock Holmes, who, like his television successor, is capable of solving almost any case, no matter how obscure and deceptive it may be. Cases at which many others have failed are ultimately resolved satisfactorily and masterfully by Holmes and House – this is the fundamental narrative principle of both figures, which serves as a framework for the elaboration of their characters.
Role Models, Eccentricities And Cross-References
A further indication of the diagnostician’s closeness to Sherlock Holmes can be seen in the fact that Conan Doyle based his detective on Dr Joseph Bell (1837–1911), a Scottish physician who occasionally acted as an informant and analyst for Scotland Yard in various murder cases, that is, a medical professional, which lends the profession of Gregory House a superior significance in the comparison of the characters. Like Holmes, House pays attention to every small detail; he observes the behaviour of patients and relatives and undertakes risky experiments in order to draw them out and thus wrest their secrets from them, which usually lead directly to the resolution of the cases. With his instinct for secrets and the unusual, he proceeds much like the investigators of our Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg; he is not misled by false leads or the opinions of others, but remains steadfast in his occasionally stubborn investigative approach, which – like Holmes – not infrequently brings him into difficult situations.
The passions of the two sleuths are also similar: when Holmes is stressed or immersed in intense thought, he devotes himself to playing the violin; House, on the other hand, sits down at his grand piano or picks up one of his guitars in order to play predominantly jazz and blues. Both are drawn to chemical substances: Holmes to cocaine and opium, to which he turns in times of boredom, House to the opioid Vicodin, which he primarily requires because of pain in his leg, but which he also often uses to suppress worries and troubles. Morphine appeals to both of them equally.
Although the street in which House’s flat is located is not known, it is striking that his residence, like that of Holmes, bears the number 221b. The Sherlock Holmes Museum, at least nominally located at 221b Baker Street in London, has long been visited by Holmes pilgrims and the curious alike and is regarded as an entertaining landmark for the work of detectives such as those of our Kurtz Investigations Hamburg.
The gruff but brilliant character of House draws many of his traits from the literary master detective Sherlock Holmes. Artist of this painting: Maya Grünschloß
Holmes And Watson = House And Wilson
Not only House is clearly modelled on one of the protagonists from the works of Arthur Conan Doyle, but also his best friend and close confidant James Wilson. Like Holmes’ sidekick John Watson, who is referred to at one point in the Holmes stories by his wife as “James”, James Wilson is also a doctor and the only person in whom House confides. Despite all the closeness and affection that both the literary forefather of our private investigators in Hamburg and the exceptional diagnostician House feel for their constant companions, this is outwardly softened by a rather brusque manner and the constant use of surnames, presumably in order not to appear vulnerable or emotional.
For a short time, House and Wilson, like Holmes and Watson, even share a flat and lead a bachelor’s life that is mainly interrupted by Wilson’s and Watson’s relationships, as Wilson was married three times and Watson at least twice, according to the assumptions of the Sherlockians perhaps even more often. However, the loyalty of Wilson and Watson is unparalleled; both the wife of one and that of the other regularly complain when their respective husband leaves all ongoing activities – and his wife – behind as soon as House or Holmes requires assistance.
Drugs, Hobbies And Women
While Watson claims to have brought Holmes’ cocaine addiction under control, Wilson struggles unsuccessfully against his friend’s Vicodin addiction. He is also unable to do much about House’s enthusiasm for video games, mediocre medical series and pop music, which, according to House actor Hugh Laurie, is intended to reflect Holmes’ love of classical music and endless monographs. Both pursue their hobbies primarily when they are immersed in a case but occasionally seek to relax their thoughts.
Just like the role model of our corporate investigators in Hamburg, Gregory House is also presented with an alluring yet antagonistic counterpart: his Irene Adler is, in part, Lisa Cuddy, who, as his superior and later lover, does not make everyday life easy for him and throws him off balance emotionally on several occasions. A further reminiscence of Irene Adler can be found in the pilot episode of the FOX series, in which a Rebecca Adler appears. This strongly recalls the very first Holmes short story, A Scandal in Bohemia, in which Irene Adler succeeds in outwitting the master detective.
Further Indications Of The Connection Between Holmes And House
Naturally, Professor Moriarty, Holmes’ arch-enemy and greatest intellectual adversary, must not be absent from the series about House and Wilson: in the episode No Reason, House is shot in the fictional Princeton Plainsboro Hospital by a man who, although not named within the episode itself, is referred to in the credits and in an additional commentary as “Moriarty”. As a small extra, House also receives an early edition of Arthur Conan Doyle as a gift in the Christmas episode It’s a Wonderful Lie. Upon closer examination of individual episodes and characters, further conclusions and references to the world of Sherlock Holmes can of course be identified and discovered – a game that is sure to appeal greatly to the Sherlockians.
However, should you require the services of detectives outside the world of literature and television, please feel free to contact our Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg free of charge and let us advise you on your specific case: +49 40 2320 5053.
Author: Maya Grünschloß, PhD
Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg
Colonnaden 5
D-20354 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 40 2320 5053
Mobil: +49 163 8033 967
E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-hamburg.de
31
Jul
Bullying Due To Disability
Bullying (in English actually “bullying”) by one’s own environment can lead to a serious psychological burden for those affected. In the workplace in particular, harassment, insults and the spread of defamatory untruths usually result in the victim increasingly withdrawing from relationships with colleagues and thus in social isolation within the workforce. There are many possible reasons for bullying and bossing (bossing = bullying by superiors) – both on the part of the victims and on the part of the perpetrators. In the present case of Kurtz Investigations Hamburg, the client of our detectives, Ms Koslowski, had been struggling since birth with a speech impediment that caused severe stuttering and insecurity in her demeanour.
Psychological Terror In The Workplace
In conversation with our private detectives in Hamburg, Ms Koslowski describes how she has been systematically harassed for several years by individual “colleagues” in her production company, how they gossip about her behind her back and that there is a woman who regularly warns customers in the car park about the “mad” Ms Koslowski. In the meantime, this constant psychological terror has reached proportions that make it absolutely unbearable for Ms Koslowski to go to work and is now also affecting her private life, she reports to Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg in tears. However, when she goes to her superior and describes the situation, he simply dismisses it, saying that nothing can be done without evidence. This is now the reason why Ms Koslowski turns to our detectives in Hamburg. The investigators quickly agree: what is needed here is an infiltration into the company, in which one of our detectives is employed by Ms Koslowski’s employer, mingles with the workforce and documents the verbal assaults against our client or can later testify to them.
Search For A Suitable Detective | Creation Of A Cover Story
In order to be considered for the relevant department at all, a detective must be found whose curriculum vitae and qualifications correspond to this working environment. As this is a low-paid position under a collective agreement, the problem is that most private detectives at Kurtz Investigations Hamburg are overqualified and an application for this position would therefore raise questions. Ultimately, we are indeed unable to find a suitable detective for this task within our own ranks, which is why we make a change of plan: if no suitable detective is available, a credible cover story must be created under which the application is plausible.
This cover story is based on the fact that our oldest Hamburg private investigator (64) receives a partial pension and that his mother, who is in need of care, lives in the immediate vicinity of the company in question, which is located somewhat outside Hamburg. The daily journey from Hamburg to his mother and back has become too time-consuming for him, which is why he has moved in with his mother, who needs his help especially in the mornings and evenings but is cared for by a nursing service at midday. In order not to waste his time during the day, he is looking for a job in the same town. As there are not many employers there, it is only logical that he applies to the target company. There, our experienced detective from Hamburg is assured that he will initially be taken on as a temporary worker as soon as there is a need. However, he may have to wait several weeks to months.
An Eager Colleague Provides An Introduction To Bullying
After almost two months, the call from the target company finally comes with the information that our detective can start work there as a temporary employee in two days’ time. The assignment is initially limited to six days and thus covers exactly the period that our private detectives in Hamburg had considered tactically appropriate from the outset and which is within Ms Koslowski’s budget. Accordingly, our corporate investigator equips himself with the necessary work clothing and reports for duty punctually at the target company.
At first, he is met with a certain degree of scepticism from his colleagues, but during the lunch break one of the employees “takes him under his wing”, who, according to Ms Koslowski’s description, is said to be among the worst perpetrators of bullying. This man puts our Hamburg detective through his paces, so to speak. As the investigator knows his cover story inside out, the persistent questioning poses no problem for him. During a short tour of the department, the private detective from Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg is also introduced to the colleagues. He greets everyone politely with a handshake; however, when it comes to our client, the guide warns him that she is “the mad Koslowski”. She smells terribly and never washes, which is why he should under no circumstances shake her hand.
Our bullying victim is said to be an unclean person, according to the “nice” colleague who attempts to convince our detective of this.
In the following days, the shocking picture described by Ms Koslowski becomes apparent: constant defamation behind her back, mocking imitation of her stutter, insults directed straight at her face, sometimes also pushing and shoving (of course always “by accident”), as well as pranks such as the nightly storage of perishable production waste in Ms Koslowski’s locker so that she will have an unpleasant surprise the next morning. The entire workforce of the department takes part in this collective bullying; some hold back more than others and some give the impression that they themselves feel sorry and participate due to peer pressure, but ultimately everyone is involved. For tactical reasons, our Hamburg private detective must also join in this bullying to a limited extent in order not to be excluded. After four days, he has gained a comprehensive picture of the situation and has produced more than sufficient documentation of the bullying incidents, which is why the assignment is ended at the end of the shift with regard to Ms Koslowski’s budget.
As a result, Ms Koslowski now has the evidence required by her superior in order to enforce her rights, at least initially within the company. Her negotiating position is therefore strong. She has not yet made a final decision regarding claims for damages under civil law or the filing of criminal charges.
For reasons of discretion as well as the protection of the personal rights of clients and target persons, all names and locations in this case report have been changed beyond recognition.
Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg
Colonnaden 5
D-20354 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 40 2320 5053
Mobil: +49 163 8033 967
E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-hamburg.de
04
Jul
Wolfgang Simmering was quite astonished last December when he found an unusually large number of donation appeals and solicitation letters in his letterbox, even for Christmas, as he tells our investigators at Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg. "Not only by post, but also by columns of activists, you are bombarded at that time," the 58-year-old from Hamburg continues. The year 2014 had simply been that bad, with so many wars, crises and refugee tragedies – no one could remain unaffected, not even him.
Simmering therefore donated a considerable sum, but, as he admits in retrospect, he was rather naïve: "You know the major charitable organisations, they are on site and help wherever they can – but I would also like to see something happening right on my doorstep!" One must show solidarity and help people, even in one’s own surroundings, says the client of our Hamburg detectives. Simmering, who has been volunteering for years, wanted to support refugee aid in Hamburg and came across an organisation that was specifically promoting and initiating the financing and construction of a refugee accommodation, especially for refugees from Ukraine and Syria. That impressed him, he tells the detectives of Kurtz Investigations Hamburg, as such causes are often vague and not very concrete, and one never really knows where the money actually goes. Here, however, he had the feeling of being able to make a tangible contribution, and even in his immediate vicinity. Yet the enthusiasm did not last long.
The client of our Hamburg private investigators had kept both the leaflet he received from the activists in the city centre and the direct mail from his letterbox, intending to follow developments further. To this end, the organisation provided a website address and access via social media, both professionally designed and promising. One could follow updates on the alleged negotiations with the city and see how the planned accommodation was taking shape more concretely. The groundbreaking ceremony seemed imminent, but then – nothing happened! The website was no longer updated just a few weeks later and apparently taken offline soon afterwards, and the last entry on Facebook dates back to December. At some point, Simmering has had enough: not only because of the money, but because of the sheer audacity – because if it is indeed a sham organisation, the money has not gone to refugees but into the pockets of brazen fraudsters. The client of our Hamburg detectives does not wish to file a police report blindly, as there is still no concrete evidence of fraud, even though everything points in that direction. Simmering therefore turns to Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg to have our investigators clarify whether he and many others have fallen victim to fraudsters or whether there are merely organisational problems on the part of the association – problems that, however, have persisted suspiciously long.
The detectives at Kurtz Investigations Hamburg immediately begin their inquiries, initially conducting internet research, which, however, yields little of value. Although the organisation’s website is no longer online, its presence on the usual social media platforms remains a first point of reference. Indeed, information about the planned refugee accommodation and the progress of efforts can still be found there, but all entries are at least five weeks old and end on 28 December of the previous year. No address or contact details are provided, but there is one clue that leads the investigation in the decisive direction: according to the post, the planned refugee accommodation is to be built in an industrial area of Hamburg, and the plot of land is also shown in a photograph. Based on the background of the image, our Hamburg investigators are able to clearly identify the site, allowing the detectives of Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg to proceed from there.
An on-site inspection is carried out the same day – ultimately in the hope of confirming the construction project and attributing the website issues to technical complications. And indeed, after a half-hour drive, the detectives of Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg are met with a scene that initially raises hope: the plot suspected as the location matches the image online. It is clearly a construction site where groundwork has recently begun and work is in full progress. However, it does not appear to be a facility intended to house as many refugees as possible in humane conditions – of that, our investigators from Hamburg are certain.
Further research and questioning of the workers on site confirm this impression: what is being built on the site that was publicly presented online as a future refuge for the persecuted and oppressed is a furniture store! The suspicion of fraud thus solidifies considerably and is fully confirmed the following day: a comparison conducted by our investigators at the Hamburg land registry leaves no doubt regarding the lawful ownership of the property and the building plans for the furniture store. Neither the landowner nor the responsible administrative staff have ever heard of any planned refugee accommodation at that location and respond to the inquiries of the detectives at Kurtz Investigations Hamburg with confusion and indignation. The impression grows that the operator of the “donation organisation” had simply selected an arbitrary construction site to lend credibility to his scheme and then absconded with the funds collected thus far.
As a result of the investigations by Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg, sufficient court-admissible evidence is now available to file a report with the Hamburg police against persons unknown. "The pre-Christmas period is the most important donation phase of the year; such offences are unfortunately observed time and again," a colleague from the authorities tells our Hamburg private investigators. In Germany, up to five billion euros are donated annually, and hundreds of thousands of associations and foundations compete for these funds. Most operate with good intentions and transparent structures, but there are always black sheep who pocket the money, which is then lacking elsewhere for essential needs such as gas, water and clothing, the colleague continues. He therefore recommends ensuring that charitable organisations carry a recognised donation seal if one wishes to be certain that the money reaches its intended destination. This seal is a reliable indicator that the organisation operates seriously and must usually be renewed annually following a transparency audit.
Mr Simmering, meanwhile, like many other Hamburg citizens, has a good chance of recovering his donated money: with the help of the findings from Kurtz Investigations Hamburg, the police are able to trace the initiator of the website, and it emerges that he has embezzled over 28,000 euros and will also have to answer for social security fraud: he had apparently employed more than 15 donation collectors at times, not including volunteers who acted in good faith, yet their social contributions were not paid.
Author: Gerrit Koehler
To protect the discretion as well as the personal rights of clients and target persons, all names and locations in this case report have been altered beyond recognition.
Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg
Colonnaden 5
D-20354 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 40 2320 5053
Mobil: +49 163 8033 967
E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-hamburg.de
Web: https://kurtz-detektei-hamburg.de/en
Google: https://g.page/kurtz-detektei-hamburg
Image credits
- "bw", Author: Rupert Ganzer: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/
- "Panorama IKEA Baustelle Hamburg-Altona", Author: Frerk Meyer: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
- ""Kein Mensch ist illegal!"", Author: blu-news.org: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
14
Feb
As we receive enquiries and applications relating to security services on a weekly basis, we would like to take this opportunity to explain the difference between detective agencies and security companies.
In the beginning, there was the detective, the private investigator, the consulting detective in his detective office. The word “detective” derives from the Latin “detegere” – to discover, to uncover. A detective is therefore a person who clarifies unresolved matters. At some point, a clever security entrepreneur began referring to his guarding company as a “detective agency”. This blending of the sectors became established over time, and today we have even reached the point where the statutory accident insurance lists both industries within the same category, despite the fact that they obviously involve entirely different risk potentials.
Detectives conduct research and surveillance. They are presented with a problem, the solution to which they pursue using numerous investigative methods. Security companies ensure the orderly conduct of events, the protection of property and the maintenance of general order.
A few examples of enquiries received by Kurtz Investigations Hamburg in everyday business:
We regularly receive applications from successful graduates of the proficiency examination pursuant to Section 34a of the German Trade Regulation Act. The 34a qualification is all well and good, but as we detectives in our field say: everyone has 34a. Section 34a is responsible for the security industry. Detectives, however, only guard in the very rarest of cases. In most instances, our investigations consist of research and surveillance. Research has very little to do with 34a, and surveillance is, at best, only touched upon peripherally in the course. Unfortunately, the profession of detective and the security sector were conceptually merged many years ago. However, the competences imparted by the 34a qualification rarely prove useful in the practical work of a professional detective. Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg does not seek security personnel, but professional detectives with an IHK certificate as a certified detective specialist and/or a prior career in investigative authorities.
Without exaggeration, we have already received enquiries from job-seeking security staff who, upon being informed that Kurtz Investigations Hamburg is purely an investigative service, asked what investigations actually are. A minimum degree of prior information should not be too much to expect before making the effort to submit an application.
The profession of private detective also appears to be only partially understood in the media landscape. We recently received an enquiry as to whether a team of journalists might accompany one of our “museum guards” for a few hours in order to publish an article based on their findings. No, museum guards are not “uncoverers” (keyword: detegere), but purely guards – therefore part of the security industry.
Store detectives are likewise not part of the professional group we employ.
Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg, with Patrick Kurtz as a member of the German Society of Criminology, is committed to the professionalisation of the detective profession and the revival of criminology degree programmes in Germany.
PS: The above article is by no means intended as a devaluation of the security industry, but solely as a clarification of terminology. Both sectors – security and private investigation – have their justification and necessity in German society; however, they must be clearly distinguished from one another.
Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg
Colonnaden 5
D-20354 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 40 2320 5053
Mobil: +49 163 8033 967
E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-hamburg.de
12
Okt
When Ms Kovac (name changed) contacted the detectives at Kurtz Investigations Hamburg, she appeared agitated. She had been engaged in a custody dispute with her ex-partner for over a year. Both parties are seeking sole custody of their shared daughter (4).
"He’s drinking!" Ms Kovac exclaims desperately while speaking with the operations manager of Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg. "He’s drinking and picking up my little one! And then he drives her around half of Hamburg while drunk! And I don’t even know where he’s going – he won’t tell me his address! He drinks and then does who knows what with my daughter!"
The private detectives at Kurtz Investigations Hamburg are familiar with such cases. Much is often exaggerated due to the emotional strain on all involved, yet there is rarely not at least a kernel of truth behind such concerns. Our Hamburg detectives therefore readily agree to support Ms Kovac in her matter. The operations manager attempts to calm her and explains objectively how best to proceed. An observation with two Hamburg investigators is arranged for the next child handover.
As soon as the target person leaves the client’s residence with the daughter, the private detectives of Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg immediately follow the target vehicle. Due to the dense Hamburg traffic, large distances cannot be maintained, allowing the investigators to repeatedly observe hand movements of the target person, which they discuss via radio communication:
- "What is he doing all the time? Is he scratching his face?"
- "No, he keeps raising an object to his mouth. Can only be a bottle."
- "Pull up alongside him at the next junction and take a closer look!"
No sooner said than done: during a red light phase, the investigator positions his vehicle directly next to the target vehicle. The Hamburg detective is able to observe and discreetly document via an in-car camera how the target person drinks from a bottle of Jägermeister. As the target person looks around, the investigator from Kurtz Investigations Hamburg is “compromised”:
- "I’m pulling out, he looked me straight in the eyes. You’ll have to stay on him alone."
The fact that our Hamburg investigator must withdraw from the surveillance is not in vain, as his observation constitutes strong evidence supporting the client’s initial suspicion. The only question is whether the judge would admit this evidence. Consequently, the remaining investigator from Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg decides to continue the observation and receives support from operations in the form of an uncompromised colleague.
In advance, the client had indicated that the target person runs a pizzeria and frequently spends time in fellow restaurateurs’ establishments. This proves to be the case, and the detectives of Kurtz Investigations Hamburg are able to document how the target person takes the daughter from restaurant to restaurant, consuming two to three shots each time.
Although the driving behaviour of the target person does not appear impaired, the conduct is nevertheless unlawful and extremely negligent, as documented by the observations of the Hamburg detectives of Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg.
When Ms Kovac learns of the circumstances, she is shocked. Ultimately, however, the evidence gathered by Kurtz Investigations Hamburg leads to her being granted sole custody, and her daughter is now safe and protected.
Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg
Colonnaden 5
D-20354 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 40 2320 5053
Mobil: +49 163 8033 967
E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-hamburg.de
03
Jun
According to investigative findings by the detectives of Kurtz Investigations Hamburg, unknown individuals are illegally issuing offers for various products in the name of Gerhard Paulsen GmbH from Hamburg and sending these offers to companies worldwide. A criminal complaint has been filed.
Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg
Colonnaden 5
D-20354 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 40 2320 5053
Mobil: +49 163 8033 967
E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-hamburg.de
11
Mai
An interesting assignment from Uganda recently reached the detectives of Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg: the Ugandan client had received an offer from Gerhard Paulsen GmbH for the delivery of large quantities of baby food. Sensibly, the client checked the offer by conducting an internet search. Only very few entries relating to this company were found online, most of them containing numerous spelling mistakes. This naturally aroused suspicion among our Ugandan partners, and so they instructed the detectives of Kurtz Investigations Hamburg to clarify the matter.
An initial on-site inspection of the address stated in the “offer” revealed that a company is indeed located there and that vehicles bearing the Paulsen GmbH branding are present. However, further investigations by our Hamburg detectives showed that the company a) no longer exists and b) at no point produced baby food. The employees of the company currently located at the premises were, however, already aware of the misuse of the former Paulsen GmbH name: unknown individuals are illegally sending offers for the delivery of non-existent products all over the world. The client of Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg was therefore duly warned. Further legal steps were initiated.
The detectives of Kurtz Investigations Hamburg thank our client in Uganda for their trust.
Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg
Colonnaden 5
D-20354 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 40 2320 5053
Mobil: +49 163 8033 967
E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-hamburg.de
11
Mai
Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg
Colonnaden 5
20354 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 40 2320 5053
kontakt@kurtz-detektei-hamburg.de
Monday–Friday: 08:00–20:00
Since 2016, Kurtz Investigations has continuously supported the well:fair Neven Subotic Foundation, which provides children in underprivileged regions with access to clean water and education.
*Note: All assignments of Kurtz Detective Agency Hamburg are carried out and billed from Colonnaden 5 in Hamburg. Other deployment locations or regions advertised on this domain are not local branches or business premises of Kurtz Detective Agency, unless explicitly stated otherwise. We conduct investigations nationwide, across Europe and worldwide — either in cooperation with qualified, vetted local experts from our extensive contact network or by dispatching our own specialists. Further information on fees can be found here and on deployment locations here.
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