Blog of Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg

In the current B2B-Nord magazine by Regenta Verlag, business journalist Jan Winter addressed the topic of detectives and portrayed Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg for this purpose:

Comprehensive Range of Services

"The business detectives investigate a wide variety of different cases. These range from suspected plagiarism and violations of competition law to employees calling in sick fraudulently, travel expense fraud, and much more. The qualified, locally knowledgeable, and experienced detectives work for companies and private individuals in Hamburg, northern Germany, and worldwide if required.

 

National as well as international companies are based in Hamburg and ensure steady economic growth. However, more and more criminals are also benefiting from this development, which naturally leads to an increase in economic crime.

"A basic requirement for commissioning a detective agency in Germany is the existence of a so-called legitimate interest."

"We primarily become active when there is a suspected offense that has not yet been supported by sufficient evidence or for which no perpetrator has yet been identified. In this respect, a business detective agency also takes on part of the work of the police," explains Tanja Gilke, Managing Director of Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg.

 

More than 50 percent of all assignments handled by the detective agency involve investigations against a company’s own employees. These mostly concern expense and billing fraud, fraudulent sick leave, or theft. However, hackers and ordinary thieves are also pursued.

Female Detectives from Hamburg

The detective agency is not specialized in specific industries but generally accepts all assignments that involve a legitimate initial suspicion. "A unique feature of our detective agency is that we have a high proportion of female staff in our company. Especially in investigations we conduct against men, this often leads to faster success. Here, the old cliché of women wrapping men around their finger works very well," Tanja Gilke continues.

 

The detectives also cooperate with law firms. Particularly in debtor searches, they have more resources available to obtain information. They have access to various research tools such as information systems, criminal records, and many more."

Aaden Detectives Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Inheritance Investigations in Germany

Many email spam folders are full of them: messages from complete strangers claiming that the recipient is the heir to a “million-euro estate” supposedly left by a distant uncle in Uganda or a wealthy, childless billionaire who has “randomly” selected them as beneficiary. This scheme is designed to extract “processing fees” and supposed inheritance shares amounting to thousands of euros from unsuspecting recipients. In reality, neither the inheritance nor the sender exists. In contrast, Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg conducts genuine inheritance investigations, which generally fall into two basic scenarios:

 

• The rightful heir is unknown and must be identified through genealogical research, with their entitlement verified.
• The rightful heir is known but has moved without trace, so their current whereabouts must be established.

 

If no eligible heir is known to the probate court, the state inherits the estate under fiscal succession laws. As a result, the actual heirs—unaware of their entitlement—receive nothing. This highlights the importance of professional heir tracing in Germany, as without it, thousands of inheritances would go unclaimed each year.

 

If you wish to engage us as estate administrators to locate rightful heirs, you can confidently contact Aaden Corporate Investigations, operating throughout Germany and worldwide. We are also happy to assist if you believe you are entitled to an inheritance and require legally admissible proof: +49 40 4223 6960.

Who Commissions Heir Tracers?

With few exceptions, our Hamburg-based genealogists are engaged by two main types of clients. Firstly, private individuals who wish to locate relatives during their lifetime, share an inheritance with an overlooked sibling, or obtain legally valid proof of their entitlement.

 

Secondly, we work for estate administrators appointed under Section 1960 BGB by probate courts to manage estates until heirs are found or proceedings are closed. Our role is particularly critical when an application for a certificate of inheritance has been filed but the line of succession cannot be clearly proven. In such cases, additional heirs are sought through a public notice procedure under Section 352d FamFG. Our primary task is to locate heirs within the legally prescribed timeframe—at least six weeks—because after this period, a claimant may inherit even without definitive proof of succession. In the worst case, a fraudster could inherit assets to which they are not entitled.

Costs of Heir Tracing | Remuneration

As compensation for successful heir tracing, our Hamburg private detective agency generally does not charge standard hourly rates but instead a customary, court-approved percentage of the inheritance. The exact terms depend on the individual case and are agreed upon in advance. Typically, the heirs bear the costs. The advantage: they only pay once they have actually received the inheritance. For us, however, there is always the risk that no heir can be identified and that our work remains unpaid.

 

The line of succession can be determined through genealogical investigations, while address tracing is one of the standard services provided by Aaden detectives in Hamburg. In some cases, these investigations even lead to family reunifications—for example, when a long-lost relative is located.

Verification of Heirs by Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg

Inheritance investigations essentially consist of two steps:

 

• locating known or previously unknown heirs,
• verifying the entitlement of those heirs.

 

However, the second step can also occur independently—for example, when a person claims inheritance rights that are disputed by other heirs or the estate administrator. In such cases, our heir tracers may be commissioned by either the claimant or the party raising doubts. These situations often arise when heirs have had no contact with the family for many years or are entirely unknown, leading other parties to fear fraud. Some inheritance fraudsters attempt to gain legitimacy through falsified documents or false statements. Our experience enables us to uncover the necessary evidence to confirm legitimacy or expose fraudulent claims. Typical genealogical proof includes birth, death and marriage certificates, as well as archival records such as family trees.

 

As a potentially affected party, you should act quickly to gather sufficient evidence before the estate is distributed. Once assets have been paid out, professional fraudsters will not hesitate to transfer money and valuables to unknown locations, making later legal recovery extremely difficult. Our Hamburg heir detectives act promptly and discreetly.

Germany-wide and International Network of Aaden

Thanks to the strong network of Aaden Corporate Investigations, with offices in eight major German cities across seven federal states—from Munich to Berlin and from Leipzig to Cologne—we are able to carry out short-notice checks at residential addresses, local archives and authorities regardless of location. This flexibility ensures that new leads can be pursued immediately in other regions. While many detective agencies face delays and additional costs due to travel, our Hamburg investigators simply brief colleagues at other locations to continue the search without delay or extra expense.

 

As a professional corporate investigations agency, Aaden also benefits from a well-maintained network of informants both domestically and internationally, contributing to our high success rate. Where required, we also assist located heirs in preparing and certifying applications for a certificate of inheritance, saving considerable time and effort for all parties involved.

Searching for Heirs and Verifying Entitlement

Whether you are a private individual or an estate administrator searching for rightful heirs, you can contact Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg at any time for a free consultation. We will advise you by phone or in person regarding possible approaches, success prospects and fees. Through research in civil registry offices, municipal authorities and other institutions, as well as online and offline investigations in genealogical records and social networks, and through interviews with relatives, acquaintances, neighbours and colleagues, we strive to deliver legally admissible results.

 

You can reach us during business hours (Monday to Friday, 08:00–19:00) at the following number: +49 40 4223 6960.

Aaden Detectives Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Forgery to the Detriment of a Domestic Partner

Shamelessly exploited and deceived by her own partner – this is what happened to the client of Aaden Corporate Investigations, Ms. Winsen from Lüneburg. At the urging of her partner, Mr. Neumann, she was appointed managing director of his company, which was later to be dissolved by official order. Mr. Neumann – the target of our detectives in Lüneburg* – abused Ms. Winsen’s trust by, among other things, concluding a leasing contract for a high-value vehicle in her name and forging her signature. Ms. Winsen only became aware of this document forgery after their separation, when Mr. Neumann caused a total loss in an accident involving the vehicle, leaving Ms. Winsen responsible for the insurance deductible and the leasing payments.

 

At least she succeeded in obtaining a court judgment against the fraudster. However, since neither Mr. Neumann’s residential address nor the location of the vehicle were known, the judgment could not be enforced. To determine both, Ms. Winsen engaged our detective agency in Lüneburg (+49 40 4223 6960).

Rapid Research Success in Debtor Investigation

At the outset: our investigators solved this case using a multi-track approach, namely through research, site inspections, and interviews. Initial inquiries revealed that the target person no longer resided at the registered address, was already receiving a pension, and was managing director of another company in Lüneburg. Whether this company was actually conducting business and whether the target of our corporate detectives in Lüneburg might be found there was to be determined through an on-site inspection:

 

Although Mr. Neumann was not personally present at the company’s actual premises, a pretext-based interview enabled us to determine his residential address, which was shortly thereafter confirmed, as it was located near the company headquarters. The target person’s single-family home appeared to be of an upscale standard.

Client Not Even in the Same Country on the Day of Contract Signing

To obtain further information about the condition of the vehicle and copies of the leasing contracts, our investigator contacted the financing credit institution. The contracts showed that they had allegedly been signed four times by Ms. Winsen in 2007. The place of signing was listed as Stade; however, our client could prove that she was not even in Germany on that date. It was also determined that the leased vehicle was still registered to the company scheduled for deletion but had not been in operation since 2009.

 

As the contracts also revealed which dealership handled the transaction, one of our private detectives in Lüneburg visited the location to conduct further inquiries. The investigator was able to meet the owner personally and discuss the course of the transaction. Mr. Neumann had been very eloquent, but the managing director could not recall further details. The file was archived, and a review would take several weeks. However, the owner did remember which salesperson had handled the deal; this individual had not worked at the dealership for years. Our detective obtained the salesperson’s contact details, but a subsequent phone inquiry yielded no additional insights, as he also could not recall the case.

Additional Victims of the Target Person

In connection with the legal dispute against the target person, an involved attorney was identified, whom one of our detectives visited after prior telephone consultation. The lawyer stated that he had met the target person several times and described him as a very smooth individual. According to Mr. Neumann, the leased vehicle was located in an unspecified workshop near his son and was not being released due to several unpaid repair invoices. The next investigative step was therefore to identify the son. Research revealed his name and residential address in Lüneburg, but this lead did not produce further results.

 

In the meantime, however, the dealership that had handled the leasing deal contacted our corporate investigations agency in Lüneburg again and reported that the file was now available. It revealed another significant accident damage that had been repaired by the dealership but had likewise not been paid for by Mr. Neumann. Only two years after the lawsuit was filed did he settle the outstanding deductible.

Locating the Missing Vehicle

Further investigations in cooperation with the financing credit institution ultimately produced a promising lead regarding the possible location of the missing vehicle. Until 2009, the car had reportedly been located on the premises of a tuning workshop near Lüneburg. If it had been sold from there, recovery—and thus financial compensation for the credit institution, to which Ms. Winsen had been paying substantial installments—might have been possible. Accordingly, one of our detectives for Lüneburg personally visited the workshop, as making a phone call might have risked the removal of existing evidence.

 

On site, the investigator immediately entered into conversation with the workshop owner, who confirmed that the sought-after vehicle had been on his premises for more than seven years and was being stored there because he also had outstanding claims against Mr. Neumann. As it was a leased vehicle, the owner was not legally permitted to sell it, but he was equally unwilling to release it without settlement of the outstanding debts. The owner only learned that the vehicle was leased when officials appeared at his workshop and decommissioned the car on behalf of the city of Lüneburg—most likely due to unpaid vehicle taxes. Subsequently, the owner also learned that the vehicle had previously been intended for repair at another nearby workshop, but the assignment had been declined after several weeks due to negative experiences with the target person. Mr. Neumann apparently had little concern for the situation, and thus the car, now with a brand-new engine, remained on site, deteriorating.

Investigation Success Against a Notorious Fraudster

Our detective and the cooperative workshop owner agreed that the mechanic would, as a precaution, provide Ms. Winsen with a quote for refurbishing the vehicle. It could then potentially be sold at a significantly higher price, thereby recovering a substantial portion of the outstanding debt owed to the credit institution. However, this step would only have been necessary if enforcement of the judgment had failed – but in the course of our private investigations in Lüneburg, both objectives were ultimately achieved: identifying a serviceable residential address of the target person and locating the vehicle obtained through fraud. In addition, information regarding pension payments, company shareholdings, and real estate ownership of Mr. Neumann was obtained, making successful enforcement highly likely.

 

With every interview conducted with individuals involved in business dealings with Mr. Neumann, the impression of a habitual defaulter and professional fraudster was reinforced – a type of individual that, according to the experience of our detectives, is unfortunately far from rare and appears to be increasingly widespread.

*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.

 

*Note: All assignments of Aaden Commercial Detective Agency Hamburg are processed by our operations management in Hamburg. We have a network of qualified, vetted investigators who can be active on site for you within a short time.

Aaden Detectives Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Germany Is Obsessed with Crime – At Least on Screen

Every week, millions of Germans gather in front of their televisions to watch the traditional crime series Tatort at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday evenings. The series has been on German screens since the early 1970s and still enjoys great popularity. For the 1000th episode, 11.46 million viewers tuned in. The success of the show has inspired many other formats, so that around 100 programs on German television are now dedicated to solving crimes. But how much of this reflects reality? In addition to the “typical” crimes of jealousy and inheritance disputes, investigators are often confronted with very specific cases. Some of these resemble the work handled daily by real detectives such as those at our detective agency in Hamburg (Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960), while others are far removed from reality.

Crime Prevention and Investigation

The routine work of our Hamburg detectives includes classic cases such as infidelity surveillance, civil matters such as custody and alimony investigations, criminal offenses such as competition fraud, employee crime, or corporate espionage, and—since the digital revolution—an increasing number of investigations in the field of cybercrime. In reality, crimes against companies are usually committed by their own employees or by agents of competitors, not by mafia-style killers. While television actors often casually mention terms like hacker, server, Trojan, and dark web, our IT specialists provide real support in crime prevention and investigation.

 

Information security should be a top priority for every company in the 21st century. By securing information-processing systems, confidentiality, integrity, and availability cannot be guaranteed entirely, but they can be raised to a level that minimizes risks. Information security reduces threats posed by disloyal employees, unscrupulous competitors, and profit-driven professional fraudsters. Guidelines for appropriate IT security standards in companies are provided, among others, by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the IT baseline protection standards of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). Our corporate investigations agency in Hamburg is happy to assist you nationwide in implementing these standards within your company: info@aaden-detektive-hamburg.de.

IT Forensics: Computer Forensics and Forensic Data Analysis

In addition to IT security, our work in the digital field includes IT forensics. When computers or mobile devices containing personal or internal company data are seized by authorities under a court order, they must be examined for criminal activity. Our detective agency in Hamburg, however, offers IT forensic investigations as a service provider; therefore, we do not require a court order, but we must ensure that the analysis is conducted in compliance with the law.

 

In IT forensics, we distinguish between two fundamental approaches: in computer forensics, our experts analyze computers and mobile devices for existing data, while in forensic data analysis, application data sets are examined in order to reconstruct performed activities.

 

If a hacker maliciously infiltrates software and modifies it for personal gain, traces are left behind. Our IT experts detect these traces in order to uncover the actions of criminal or abusive offenders and, ideally, identify them in a court-admissible manner.

Data Attacks on Companies and Private Individuals

IT security has also become fundamental for private individuals, as most people today communicate via applications such as Facebook or WhatsApp, send emails, make phone calls via IT-based mobile devices (smartphones), manage their banking online, and much more. Privacy has extended into the internet and must be protected there just as it is within one’s own home. Warning signs are repeatedly seen in leaks of private images and videos of celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence or Scarlett Johansson. Anyone who feels safe because they are not famous is mistaken: hundreds of thousands of photos on dubious dating platforms, adult websites, pop-up ads, and many other sites have been stolen from private devices and illegally reused—often without the victims ever becoming aware of their public exposure.

 

Even major corporations are affected: Sony Pictures Entertainment, a multi-billion-dollar corporation, fell victim to hackers at the end of 2014, who stole unreleased films and large amounts of internal data in order to blackmail the company. The attack likely caused damages and additional costs in the hundreds of millions and prompted Sony Pictures to significantly improve its IT security standards. Many other corporations understood this incident as a wake-up call to integrate secure practices into their operations. For example, the sports betting and online casino provider Betway now works more closely with professional security firms to ensure that user data is protected at the highest level.

 

The aim of this article is to raise awareness of this issue—both for companies and private individuals. Our corporate and private detective agency in Hamburg is happy to help you protect your devices and IT structures from unauthorized access: +49 40 4223 6960.

Aaden Detectives Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Pregnancy, Fake Pregnancy, or Feigned Pregnancy?

An employee’s pregnancy brings not only joy for managing directors and business leaders, but often also the problem of finding maternity leave cover, accepting work absences due to the pregnant employee’s health condition, and overcoming further bureaucratic hurdles. Of course, all of this is very worthwhile in relation to the unborn child and therefore justifies the additional work on the part of management. It may be annoying when a newly hired employee becomes pregnant, but from an employment law perspective this is entirely lawful and must not have any negative consequences for the employee from the point of view of worker protection. The situation is quite different, however, when a pregnancy is feigned in order to avoid dismissal – a current scenario from the investigative experience of our detective agency in Hamburg.

False Pregnant Woman in Her Own Company

Because a pregnancy may in some women of very different builds not become visibly apparent on the body until the end of the second trimester and can be concealed by skilful clothing, colleagues, superiors, and business partners often cannot tell whether a pregnancy is actually present or not. If a colleague announces her condition, joy in the company and among colleagues is often great, and nobody questions the happy news, even if no baby bump is visible.

 

Even in the most harmonious workplaces, it can happen that an employee at a dismissal meeting, or in response to a written dismissal notice, falsely claims to be pregnant in order to escape dismissal, at least for the time being. Under employment law, a pregnant woman may only be dismissed after the maternity protection period has expired. Such a feigned pregnancy was then, as happened in a large company for which our Hamburg corporate detectives investigated, officially “ended” shortly before the expected date of birth and after several months without any outward signs of pregnancy. The employees concerned usually claim to have suffered a miscarriage; employers and superiors naturally then hesitate to dismiss the women so soon after such terrible news. However, a feigned pregnancy is not a trivial matter that one can “afford to do”, but rather a misrepresentation of facts and thus fraud under Section 263 of the German Criminal Code. If false evidence such as forged medical certificates, maternity records, and ultrasound images is also used, this further worsens the evidentiary situation against the employee concerned.

Methodology of Pregnancy Fraud

There are no limits to imagination in this type of fraud: in addition to used positive pregnancy tests on eBay or Craigslist, there is even a website for the professional feigning of pregnancies – fakeababy.com – where fake silicone pregnancy bellies for single babies, twins, and triplets in various stages, ultrasound images, and maternity records can be custom-designed and purchased according to one’s wishes. The note that the products offered there are intended merely as joke items cannot conceal the fact that the buyers of these products often have intentions other than a “joke”.

 

Such pregnancy fraud not only brings emotional complications and serious financial consequences for any partner who may be deceived by it (more on that below), but also for the employer, who must accept absences, organise maternity cover, and take care of other organisational matters. Because of these time and revenue losses, and especially in the event of the planned dismissal of, for example, an unreliable employee, it is advisable, when pregnancy is suspected to be feigned, to engage Aaden Corporate Investigations Hamburg and have the employee concerned investigated: +49 40 4223 6960.

Behaviour Endangering Pregnancy as an Indication of Deception

If our detectives in Hamburg are engaged to verify a supposedly pregnant employee, regular surveillance of the “expectant mother” and documentation of her activities will show whether it is a real pregnancy or a feigned one. Does the employee really go to her gynaecologist at the stated times, or does she forge medical certificates? Does she meet friends in the evening for non-alcoholic cocktails or for a few glasses of wine? Does she take part in exercise classes recommended during pregnancy, such as water gymnastics, swimming, or yoga, or does she continue to lift heavy weights at the gym, which gynaecologists strongly advise against? All relevant activities during the surveillance period are documented photographically and in writing by our private investigators and, once the investigation is complete, submitted in a court-admissible report.

We are also in action for doubtful partners.

There is a psychotherapeutically treatable false pregnancy, in which women, for emotional reasons, often also because of a neurosis, unconsciously experience the physical symptoms of pregnancy without actually being pregnant – a special case, therefore, but a medical condition and not a feigning. There are many possible reasons for the latter: a woman’s social standing changes once her surroundings become aware of the pregnancy, which often brings many positive side effects such as increased attention from others, greater consideration towards her, and leniency regarding absences and small mistakes. Deliberately feigned pregnancies, intended to bring greater recognition and esteem from acquaintances, family, and strangers, do not of course fall under the definition of a medical condition. Such fraud offences are often not even aimed at the employment relationship, but rather represent desperate last attempts to bind the partner and save relationships, which has also occasionally led to deployments of our private detectives in Hamburg.

You have a suspicion, we take on the investigation:

Do you suspect in your company that one of your employees is not actually pregnant but is feigning her condition in order either to obtain advantages in the work process or even to escape dismissal? Would you like your initial suspicion about an employee to be professionally confirmed or disproven before confronting the employee personally or initiating legal steps? Then get in touch with our corporate and private detective agency in Hamburg and the surrounding area for a free, non-binding consultation, in which you will be informed about your options and those of our detectives. Our office hours are Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 19:00, and you can reach us at the following telephone number: +49 40 4223 6960.

Aaden Detectives Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Termination for Owner Occupancy After a Death

Mr. Scheeßel had lived in a rental property in Stade for 36 years. His landlord of many decades was of the same age; they had known each other since their school days and maintained a friendly to amicable relationship. However, in 2013 the landlord passed away; the heir to the rental property suddenly claimed owner occupancy and promptly terminated the long-term tenant’s lease. Mr. Scheeßel, later a client of our detective agency in Stade*, did not believe the justification, as he had previously heard rumors that the house was to be sold because the heir did not want to “be tied down” by the property. Mr. Scheeßel, with his extremely favorable lease agreement, stood in the way of a profit-maximizing sale.

 

The client of our detectives in Stade initially attempted to resolve the matter out of court—first personally, then through an attorney—but was unsuccessful. The case went to court, and on the advice of his legal counsel, Mr. Scheeßel commissioned Aaden Corporate Investigations to provide court-admissible proof of the feigned owner occupancy.

Apparently Uninhabited Rental Property

In a preliminary investigation, our well-connected research team determined that the rental property had not passed to a single heir, but rather to a community of heirs consisting of four closely related individuals.

 

During an on-site inspection of the disputed rental property, our private detectives in Stade sought to gain an initial impression of the situation. The findings of the assigned investigator during the observation on site can be summarized as follows:

 

• externally uninhabited appearance of the property (no curtains, closed windows, no window decorations, no visible furniture or lamps)
• all garbage bins placed in the driveway empty, although the last collection had taken place several days earlier
• poorly maintained green areas in front of and behind the house
• empty mailbox

 

The two doorbell nameplates (upper and ground floor) were labeled with the names of two heirs each. When the detective in Stade rang the bells, there was no response. During the entire observation period (from 07:00 a.m. to 02:00 p.m.), no one entered or exited the building. Two postal workers delivering mail in the neighborhood during the observation period stated, in response to a pretext inquiry by the investigator, that they only very rarely delivered mail to the property and had not encountered anyone there in person since our client had moved out.

Information Gathering Through Investigative Interviews

Since the numerous indications obtained on the first day of investigation already provided clear insight into the use—or lack of use—of the house, the focus on the second day, in addition to verifying the previous findings, was on conducting pretext interviews with the main heir living nearby. To cover the possibility that the corporate detective in Stade had arrived at the property only after any potential occupants had already left the day before, he arrived at the location at 04:30 a.m. this time and remained until 10:30 a.m. At no point was there any light in the building, nor did anyone enter or leave. The investigator rang the doorbell again and once more received no response.

 

Afterward, the investigator from our corporate investigations agency in Stade went to the house of the main heir and rang the bell there, having previously prepared a credible pretext to obtain information through questioning. In conversation, the main heir confirmed to the investigator that the house was for sale and that no one lived in it. He also handed the detective a business card with the contact details of his sister, who was responsible for managing and selling the property. After forwarding this information to the operations management of our private detective agency for Stade, one of our female detectives contacted the sister of the main heir and arranged a property viewing appointment for the day after next.

Clear Evidence During the Property Viewing

You may wonder why the assigned detective did not arrange the appointment with the property manager himself. The reason is strategic: the female detective intended to accompany the initial case handler to the viewing, allowing both to pose as a couple searching for a home. The positive side effect of this credible pretext: in the event of court proceedings, our detective agency for Stade could present two witnesses.

 

At the agreed appointment, the property manager and co-heir arrived on time to let our detectives into the house and thereby unintentionally demonstrate that the property was unoccupied. As became clear during the conversation, no one had lived there since Mr. Scheeßel had moved out. The termination for owner occupancy was clearly based on a fabricated justification. Since the heir also provided the supposed interested couple with informational materials and even handed over a draft preliminary contract, Aaden Corporate Investigations for Stade concluded this investigation with written evidence obtained first-hand.

*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.

 

*Note: All assignments of Aaden Commercial Detective Agency Hamburg are processed by our operations management in Hamburg. We have a network of qualified, vetted investigators who can be active on site for you within a short time.

Aaden Detectives Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Across Europe, goods losses amount to 8 billion euros per year, but only 285 reports in Germany

Trucks are indispensable on Germany’s highways; every day they transport essential goods, luxury products, or moving boxes throughout Germany and the rest of Europe. However, the timely delivery of goods is not only threatened by traffic jams, adverse weather conditions, accidents, and fatigued drivers, but increasingly, as both highway police and detective agencies report, by brazen, sometimes highly professional theft gangs that steal cargo from drivers in the middle of the transport chain, causing billions in damage overall. Not only Aaden Corporate Investigations Hamburg is recording rising case numbers related to freight theft, but the Dutch “Transported Asset Protection Association” (TAPA) is also examining this still relatively under-researched field of crime by compiling statistics on cargo theft in European countries and recording many hundreds of cases each year. In this way, freight forwarders and drivers are to be informed about the risks and possible preventive measures.

 

In 2014, the number of cargo thefts in Germany rose to 285 cases, an increase of 43% compared to the previous year, although the number of unreported cases is likely many times higher. Considering the estimated damage of over 8 billion euros across Europe due to theft from freight trucks, 285 criminal complaints appear very low – and they are. Nevertheless, Germany ranks at the top of the European statistics. The high number of unreported cases remains a mystery to policymakers and the media. Freight forwarders who have already suffered losses do not benefit retroactively from the protective measures and guidance offered by the police and TAPA and are therefore largely left to their own devices. When internal preventive measures and driver training are no longer effective against professional theft gangs, Aaden Detectives Hamburg step in to identify the perpetrators and, in the best case, recover the stolen goods: +49 40 4223 6960.

Is the Police Powerless? Hamburg Corporate Detectives Take Action

When a transporter takes a well-earned rest after a long journey at a highway service area, cargo thieves strike mercilessly: containers are broken into, and in some cases the driver is even incapacitated by gases introduced into the ventilation system. In extreme cases, thieves detach the trailer and remove it from the reach of the owner and authorities, requiring our detective agency from Hamburg to conduct intensive investigations to locate it. In addition to such attacks, thefts have even been reported during transit: a truck is followed by another vehicle that approaches within centimeters, allowing thieves to climb onto the truck at speeds of up to 120 km/h and open its loading ramps. What sounds like a crime thriller plot has now become part of everyday logistics operations and forces drivers, freight companies, and law enforcement alike to act.

 

While the gangs organizing such thefts operate efficiently in terms of timing, success, secrecy, and rapid escape, judicial authorities and police are often powerless due to lack of evidence and traces. Large freight companies are therefore increasingly relying throughout Germany on corporate detective agencies such as Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg, which operates nationwide from eight locations, to track down both the thieves and the stolen goods. Particularly in Germany’s largest Hanseatic city, the security of transported goods is of utmost importance; the German and European markets depend on a secure transport system. Where this system has been compromised by cargo theft, our corporate detectives from Hamburg are ready to assist: info@aaden-detektive-hamburg.de.

Low Clearance Rate by the Police

As early as 2007, the year of the most recent study on damage caused by freight theft, losses in Germany already amounted to 1.5 billion euros. The increase in this figure to date can only be roughly estimated based on rising case numbers, as transport crime in Germany is not even centrally recorded, according to TAPA Chairman Thorsten Neumann. The use of detectives and technical surveillance measures is becoming increasingly necessary: as a preventive measure, the corporate detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg support concerned freight companies by developing security concepts together with drivers and management, which may be supplemented, depending on the case, by human surveillance of the transporting trucks. In cases of already stolen goods, our detectives, for example, observe previous crime scenes at the relevant times in order to identify patterns and either catch the perpetrators in the act or follow them to their destination and subsequently involve the authorities.

 

The importance of securing deliveries does not only affect the profit margins of large companies and freight forwarders, but also any business or factory that relies on timely deliveries and may be forced to halt production due to stolen components, raw materials, or essential electronics. In principle, all industries that depend on extensive supply chains are affected, whether the automotive industry, the textile sector, food manufacturers, electronics producers, supermarket chains, and others. The deployment of our specialized corporate and private detectives from Hamburg is the most effective way to combat organized crime within the transport chain. Police clearance rates speak for themselves: according to an article in Handelsblatt from April 2015, only 8 out of 330 cargo thefts were solved by the police, clearly demonstrating the necessity of engaging detectives.

International Investigations by Our Detective Agency

Thanks to their flexible operational capabilities, detectives can act far more dynamically and spontaneously than the police, whose actions are significantly constrained by bureaucratic procedures. The crisis in the German transport sector is intensifying, as more professional cargo thieves are shifting their activities to Germany after security improvements in the previously heavily affected Benelux countries, especially the Netherlands. Criminal ingenuity further exacerbates the problem: companies seeking freight forwarders via online platforms can easily fall victim to fraudsters offering unbeatable delivery terms, only to have their goods never delivered but instead misappropriated and resold through dubious channels. These “freight companies” naturally assume no liability, as they disappear once the goods vanish, leaving clients with the total loss of their shipment.

 

The corporate detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg are able to quickly initiate the pursuit of stolen goods and bring perpetrators to justice thanks to their flexibility. While the recovery of goods cannot be guaranteed, it becomes more likely the earlier affected parties contact our corporate investigations agency and the more information is available regarding the theft. If your goods have been stolen or you have fallen victim to a fraudulent freight company, contact the investigators of Aaden Corporate Investigations Hamburg to promptly initiate surveillance of your trucks or the pursuit and recovery of the stolen goods. If you are a freight forwarder or active in the logistics sector and concerned about your deliveries, get in touch with Aaden Detectives Hamburg to assess procedures and tailor preventive measures to your specific needs: +49 40 4223 6960.

Aaden Detectives Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Almost every employer knows it, yet many do not know how to prove it: business-harming misconduct by employees that is hardly noticeable in small amounts, but can cause major damage to a company when it happens repeatedly. Employees who do not work to the extent expected of them, but instead take a longer break after every hour of work; secretaries whose thefts at first are limited to company pens and adhesive tape, but can quickly extend to far more valuable company property; employees who clock their hours incorrectly; or, in what is certainly the worst case, employees who pass on internal company data and innovations to competing businesses. Corporate detectives such as those at Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg step in to help: +49 40 4223 6960.

A Case Example from Lower Saxony

Company Review with a Surprisingly Negative Result

Peter Wedel (name changed) was the head of a medium-sized company and placed great value on punctuality, proper completion of assigned work, and company-oriented thinking in his employees. In fact, he was quite satisfied with his staff, but upon conducting a detailed review of his company’s workflows, he had to determine that production had slowed and profits had declined in the previous quarter. There had been fewer successes, even though Peter Wedel had invested a lot of money in smooth operations and had hired highly qualified people.

Caught in the Act While “Taking a Break”

A few days after the company review, Mr. Wedel returned to the office earlier than usual from his lunch break and heard music coming from one of the individual offices. He went to the door behind which he believed he heard music and found Mr. Buchholz there, one of the relatively recently hired shift workers. At that time, Mr. Buchholz should have been at work. He quickly turned off the music and stated that he had “just been taking a short breather,” but would return to work immediately. Peter Wedel left the office thoughtfully and hoped that his suspicion that Mr. Buchholz might be one of the disruptive factors in the company’s workflows was mistaken, because this employee handled many internal business processes that were supposed to be coordinated and forwarded by him.

 

Peter Wedel had already heard from friendly managers and executives of other companies that lazy employees could be confronted by using detectives employed by investigative services such as Aaden Corporate Investigations Hamburg, and that their misconduct could be proven in a court-admissible manner. However, Peter Wedel wanted to take such measures only once he was absolutely certain of his suspicion. For the time being, he hoped for the best. His suspicion was soon confirmed, however: work continued to progress sluggishly, Mr. Buchholz was seen again taking noticeably long cigarette breaks on the balcony and having lengthy private conversations in the company kitchen, and for Peter Wedel the last straw was the trash bin in the open-plan office filled with beer bottles, which the cleaning staff cautiously pointed out to him.

Initial Suspicion – What Now?

Peter Wedel consulted with the company’s legal representatives and determined that a summary dismissal required clear evidence of misconduct and that the use of surveillance cameras would require not only the approval of the works council but also particularly serious circumstances such as regular theft of company property. He therefore decided, as recommended by friendly business owners, to use Aaden Corporate Investigations Hamburg and to have a detective placed undercover, who was hired and trained as a new IT specialist in a small office five doors away from Mr. Buchholz’s office.

 

Mr. Buchholz must have felt very secure when, only a few days after the detective was placed undercover, all employees on his floor went to lunch, seemingly including the disguised corporate investigator, who, however, secretly returned to the open-plan office. The investigator from Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg was able to observe Mr. Buchholz through the open office door during the following two hours of lunch break until his colleagues returned. The suspicious employee turned up loud music, drank two bottles of beer – which he carelessly disposed of in the open-plan office trash bin – and watched videos and series online instead of doing his work (he was on break duty that day and therefore had no permission to handle private matters). Equipped with the corresponding photo and video material from our Hamburg detective, Peter Wedel was able just a few days later to dismiss Mr. Buchholz without notice and additionally sue him for damages. The proceedings are still ongoing.

Internal Threat: Employees

As in Peter Wedel’s case, and also in many other internal problem cases at small, medium-sized, and large companies, the use of Aaden Detectives Hamburg is not only advisable but even urgently necessary. As in the case described, we operate by monitoring the relevant employees and documenting the misconduct, but we also investigate, for example, with our IT specialists, work computers where there is justified suspicion, in order to prove possible leaks of internal company data or excessive private use of the computer. In this context, it is of course crucial whether employees were permitted to use the PC for private matters or not. If private use is allowed, the employer may only have browsing histories and individual desktop data reviewed in the most serious cases of suspicion.

 

This happened, for example, at a medium-sized company based in Hamburg, where an employee brought the entire internal company internet and intranet to a standstill by uploading several gigabytes of private photos to a social network, thereby blocking the entire production for that day. Such damage makes it clear that even when private use is permitted, there can be no free rein, and that the employee must be held responsible for such an unreasonable workload. If private use is generally prohibited in the company, an inspection by the security experts of Aaden Corporate Investigations Hamburg can take place quickly and, if desired, on a regular basis.

Many Other Areas of Work for Detectives

Our detectives from Hamburg are also active in numerous other case scenarios. For example, in the past we have proven that employees had their alleged overtime clocked in by colleagues or falsified it through other manipulations. Proving fake sick leave, which causes damages in the millions for medium-sized companies each year and thereby significantly slows down the overall potential of the German economy, is also part of our work. The investigators of Aaden Corporate Investigations Hamburg naturally tailor their operations precisely to the needs and individual employee problems of their clients, with whom they jointly develop an operational concept.

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 Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

In Part 1 of this case study, the target’s environment was examined. In the following, our Hamburg detectives directly observed the target, Benjamin Stade:

Target Skips School

During the observation of Benjamin, it quickly became apparent that he did not go to school at the scheduled time. Only around 1:30 p.m., about half an hour before Mrs. Stade would return home from work, did he leave the residence with a backpack. He wandered seemingly aimlessly while checking his smartphone repeatedly. Eventually, he headed toward the "Chaoten-WG" and entered the shared apartment. For our private detectives in Hamburg, this began a long period of waiting, as Benjamin would not leave the house again that day. Around 10:00 p.m., he informed his mother that he would spend the night at friends’ houses and go directly to school the next day.

Detectives Observe Drug Use by the Target

The next morning, our detectives observed no relevant movements. Around midday, a group including Benjamin set off and roamed the area. The previously observed hierarchical behavior was again apparent, although Benjamin clearly held no leadership role. At a playground, the group met another gathering of people dressed in scene-typical clothing. Acts of property damage occurred, including graffiti, marijuana was consumed again (including by Benjamin), and unknown individuals repeatedly appeared, seemingly buying small amounts of illegal substances before leaving immediately. Importantly, Benjamin was never directly involved in these transactions.

 

Later, under the cover of darkness, our investigators had to use night-vision devices to observe Benjamin and others consuming substances nasally using straws. These could have been cocaine, amphetamines such as speed, or even ecstasy. The group appeared hyperactive, pushing each other, spraying graffiti, wandering aimlessly by bike or skateboard. Nearby, two vehicles with suspicious license plates were parked: one from Annaberg/Buchholz, a popular area for drug distribution near the Czech border, and another with the letters “LSD” (not the Dahme-Spreewald district).

Cessation of Investigations by the Aaden Detective Agency

After Benjamin returned home around midnight, appearing “completely exhausted” according to his parents, Mrs. Stade met with our Hamburg private detectives to review the findings, while Mr. Stade kept an eye on his son at home. Given the clear observations regarding Benjamin’s drug use and his undoubtedly harmful environment, Mrs. Stade decided that the Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg could end its investigation. She had learned everything she needed to know and considered whether any drug dealing might have occurred to be secondary. The next day, the parents planned a serious discussion with Benjamin and intended to involve drug counselling or, if necessary, therapy.

Suicide Risk – Re-engagement of Our Detectives

Despite the agreed end of investigations, Mrs. Stade contacted the Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg again the next day. Benjamin was completely uncooperative and in a terrible state. She had to call an ambulance but feared he might leave the apartment before paramedics arrived. She could not physically restrain him, as he was stronger than her, and Mr. Stade was at work. Our Hamburg detectives explained that we had no authority to physically hold Benjamin; however, since he was reportedly at risk of suicide, we could observe him again to ensure he did not harm himself. Mrs. Stade agreed.

 

Our private detectives arrived just in time to track Benjamin leaving the house. He walked slowly, while a detective followed at close distance to intervene immediately if any suicidal intentions appeared. Benjamin returned to the familiar park where the group had previously gathered and sat alone on a ping-pong table, swinging his legs and seemingly lost in thought with his head down. Eventually, he wandered back to the "Chaoten-WG." Mrs. Stade, informed by phone by our Hamburg detectives, suggested reporting the group to the police. Our investigators advised against it, as this would involve Benjamin in legal proceedings and potentially expose him to juvenile criminal consequences. To protect the Stade family’s interests, the Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg therefore refrained from notifying authorities.

Medical and Psychological Treatment

That evening, Benjamin returned to his parents’ apartment. Shortly afterward, our detectives observed an ambulance and an emergency doctor arriving. Mrs. Stade informed us that her son had returned in a concerning mental and physical state. He was admitted for medical care, and after discharge, the Stades planned to work with a psychologist to help Benjamin disengage from drugs and his harmful social circle.

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 Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

The Stade family moved in academic circles; both husband and wife held doctorates in their respective fields and pursued recognised careers. Yet even the seemingly best environment is no guarantee that one’s children will always stay on the right path, as the following case example from Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg demonstrates:

Numerous Signs of Drug Abuse

The Stades’ only child, Benjamin, caused his parents great concern: declining school performance, a questionable circle of friends, mood swings, prolonged absences in unknown locations, red eyes, and so on. Over the past weeks, Benjamin’s interactions with several suspicious contacts had intensified. Among these individuals were multiple people who, according to information provided to our clients at Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg, Mr. and Mrs. Stade, were involved in illegal drugs. It was therefore plausible to suspect that these alleged drug dealers could negatively influence Benjamin. There were also indications that he was being pressured. Through surveillance, our private detectives in Hamburg sought to determine the extent of these contacts’ involvement in the drug scene and, of course, whether Benjamin Stade himself was using and/or distributing illegal substances.

Reinforcements in the Detective Team: Insider from the Scene | Checking a Suspected Dealer

All surveillance in this case was carried out with at least two Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg private detectives, partly for their own protection. Additionally, we enlisted the help of an “insider” familiar with Hamburg’s drug scene, who provided us with up-to-date information. It soon became clear that one of Benjamin Stade’s suspicious contacts was indeed a known dealer who, according to the insider, had a storage facility outside Hamburg and several temporary stashes within the city.

 

Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg investigated this person’s residential and temporary addresses to see whether there were signs of customer traffic indicative of drug sales. The property outside Hamburg, however, was a fenced detached house, perfectly shielded from outside view. Our Hamburg detectives observed no activity or other investigative leads there, so this line of inquiry was quickly abandoned.

Detective Surveillance of the “Chaos Flatshare”

For another suspicious contact, the Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg insider had no information. Since this contact was still a school-aged teenager, their “career” in the scene was naturally limited. When examining their residence, our Hamburg detectives noticed that, despite being a minor, the individual did not live with their parents but shared a flat with other adolescents and young adults. A scan of nearby Wi-Fi networks revealed one named “Chaotenwg” (Chaos Flatshare). During observation, several young males entering and leaving the property caught the eye, representing diverse ethnic backgrounds, some of whom were known to the insider from the scene. Gradually, group structures with apparently clear hierarchies became discernible.

Group of Consumers and “Dealers”

Our deployed private detectives from Hamburg split the team: one observer continued to monitor the target location, while the second investigator and our insider followed the groups of people to determine what activities they would engage in. Again and again, the group stopped in the street, met with unknown persons, and greeted each other with handshakes – this could have been a previously agreed exchange of money for drugs – and many paths also led into supermarkets, although neither the investigator nor the insider could determine the purpose of these actions.

 

By evening, almost all of the previously observed individuals were gathered in a park where, judging by the smell, marijuana was being smoked and alcohol consumed. Whether harder drugs were also involved could not be determined in the dark. The actual target of Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg, Benjamin Stade, was not among the group. Based on previous experience in investigations involving drug crime, our Hamburg detective team now considered it confirmed that the contacts identified here were consumers and dealers of illegal narcotics. Our insider confirmed this straightforward conclusion. As a result, Aaden Detectives Hamburg discontinued investigations around this group in order to focus entirely on Benjamin Stade from that point on.

Part 2 – Suicidal Target Person

In the second part, we describe the events surrounding the target person Benjamin Stade, findings regarding drug use, and the subsequent medical and psychological measures taken by the parents. Please click here.

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 Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

In Part 1 of this article, you received background information on the investigations carried out by Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg as well as a description of the initial steps of our inquiry. The following section explains how the matter ultimately unfolded.

Our Hamburg Private Detectives Begin Surveillance of the Child’s Father

The Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg thus initiated surveillance of the child’s father. For several days, nothing of relevance occurred; his interactions with his daughter appeared entirely normal, and no suspicious activity regarding possible money transfers took place. For many clients, several days of surveillance without results represent too great a financial burden, often forcing them to terminate the investigation prematurely. Fortunately, this was not the case for Ms. Berger, who had inherited a substantial sum some time ago and could afford to invest significantly in the future of her mother-daughter relationship by persistently commissioning new surveillance assignments.

 

On the sixth day of observation, the Hamburg private detectives finally observed the child’s father allowing a female individual into his residence. He then approached his target vehicle and drove in a direction that had never been recorded during prior observations by our Hamburg detectives. As he turned into the street where the caregiver lived, our observers experienced a “Bingo!” moment. There was no legitimate reason for these two to be meeting privately, and even if no monetary exchange could be documented, a secret meeting alone was sufficiently suspicious to support arguments for appointing a new caregiver.

The Caregiver’s Motive Comes to Light

The child’s father parked in front of the caregiver’s residence but did not exit; instead, he appeared to make a phone call. A few minutes later, the caregiver exited the house dressed for the evening and entered the father’s vehicle. The two exchanged a long kiss! This gave the situation a new dimension: although the initial assumption that the caregiver had been influenced in preparing her reports was correct, her motive clearly was not financial but rather a personal relationship with the child’s father.

 

Later that evening, the pair attended a theatre performance, had a drink at a bar, and eventually returned to the caregiver’s residence, where the father stayed overnight. During this time, our Hamburg private detectives successfully documented hugs, kisses, and further affectionate interactions between the two parties in a legally admissible manner.

Gaining a New Perspective: The Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg Observes Their Own Client

When the operations team of the Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg informed Ms. Berger of these findings, she reacted with near euphoria after an initial shock: “They wanted to destroy my life, but now they’ll get it back! Incredible! He has always been a womanizer!” Our client wanted to rush straight to court with the investigation report, but our detectives held her back, offering an alternative perspective to strengthen her case: Although the caregiver’s bias had now been proven, courtroom proceedings can sometimes be unpredictable. The guiding principle in professional evidence collection should always be: double-check everything.

 

The Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg proposed that Ms. Berger herself be observed while exercising her visitation rights. This would provide an independent perspective on her interactions with her daughter, which could then be compared with the caregiver’s report, who also accompanied the visits being monitored by our Hamburg detectives. Since Ms. Berger had been permitted to see her daughter only in the caregiver’s presence for several months, any significant discrepancies between the caregiver’s report and our detective’s observations—or outright factual inaccuracies—would conclusively demonstrate misuse of the caregiver’s authority. Ms. Berger agreed to this plan immediately.

Ensuring Objectivity and Independence of the Detective Report

At the next scheduled visit, a detective from the Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg followed the trio of mother, daughter, and caregiver. The detective was initially unaware of the purpose of the surveillance and was instructed solely to observe, occasionally document the interaction through photos and video, and later record his findings in a written report. This ensured complete independence of the documentation and assessment, as he did not know who the client was or for whose benefit the surveillance was conducted. In such a setup, it is even more likely that the observed individual is the client rather than the target of surveillance.

 

According to our Hamburg detective, the mother interacted lovingly with her child. Both appeared familiar and comfortable together, playing at a playground and walking hand in hand to an ice cream parlor. There was no indication of any shortcomings in the mother’s behavior. In contrast, the caregiver displayed detachment and consistently wore a “sour expression,” as the detective reported to the operations team by phone. “She keeps pouting constantly!” and did not engage at all with the mother and child’s conversations.

Comparison of Caregiver Report and Detective Report

As expected, the comparison of the caregiver’s report with the report of our private detective from Hamburg revealed stark differences. Not only did the caregiver portray the mother’s behaviour in a wildly distorted negative light, but even the locations of the events were partly stated incorrectly. No embellishment is needed here: the caregiver simply lied.

 

After the surveillance of the detective, who had not been briefed beforehand, and after he had written his report, he was informed of the background of the operation. First, the operations management of Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg explained to him that the client was at the same time the target person, whereupon he immediately shot back: “What kind of nonsense is that? If she knows she is being watched, of course she will behave nicely and inconspicuously – what evidential value is that supposed to have??”

Abuse of caregiving duties

After our observer was informed that his deployment was only very indirectly about the mother’s behaviour and primarily about the truthfulness of the caregiver’s report, the detective became indignant toward the operations management of Aaden Corporate Investigations Hamburg and said that such people should not be allowed to decide what a mother-child relationship should look like. “Those are outrageous responsibilities for a child’s development and well-being – you cannot make that dependent on one person alone!” But that is the reality in Germany. Legal caregivers are important and fulfil significant functions in our society. Yet their role is extremely vulnerable to abuse. Abuse that can permanently damage the lives of several innocent adults and, above all, children.

 

A popular example of such abuse of caregiving duties can be found in books and film: the fictional character Lisbeth Salander from Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy is not only treated improperly by her legal guardian and restricted in her decision-making power, but is even sexually abused. Thankfully, it did not come to that in the present case of Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg, but the problem should nevertheless have become clear here as well.

The caregiver has no qualifications whatsoever

Incidentally, the matter did not leave our Hamburg detective, who had observed Ms. Berger’s meeting with her daughter, untouched. He conducted further research into the caregiver and discovered that she had no qualifications whatsoever for this role. Before that, she had worked as an administrative employee with training as a business administrator. The necessary psychological knowledge for performing caregiving duties could not have been acquired either during her education or during the administrative work we knew of from her previous employment.

 

“It is a scandal that something like this is possible in Germany!” our investigator grumbled at the conclusion of the case. How the future custody arrangement between Ms. Berger and her ex-partner will look is not yet known to Aaden Corporate Investigations Hamburg. However, we do know from the client that there has at least already been an immediate change of caregiver.

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 Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Change of Caregiver Leads to Change in Custody

Since Ms. Berger (all names changed) had gotten onto the wrong path as an adolescent and slipped into drug addiction, which caused psychological damage, she had since been under the supervision of various caregivers by court order. When she contacted the Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg some time ago, she was already in her late 20s; however, she simply could not get rid of the supervision after two relapses in her early 20s, even though she had had no contact with drugs for over six years and, according to her own statement, felt "relatively healthy" psychologically.

 

The reason Ms. Berger sought out our private detectives in Hamburg was that for several months, more precisely since she had been assigned a new caregiver, she had been confronted with major difficulties in seeing her daughter. The father of this daughter was a wealthy entrepreneur, from whom Ms. Berger had separated years earlier due to his numerous affairs. Until then, custody had primarily been with Ms. Berger, which had always been a thorn in her ex-partner’s side. He repeatedly made efforts to have the custody arrangement changed in his favor. These attempts had always fallen on deaf ears – until the most recent change of caregiver. From that point on, devastating assessments of Ms. Berger’s handling of her daughter were regularly submitted to the court, and consequently the child’s father was granted full custody, while Ms. Berger was only given very limited visitation rights. Since the mother suspected a kind of conspiracy against her, she turned in confidence to the Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg.

Review of the Client Before Accepting the Assignment

To be honest, we must admit that we have often had negative experiences with prospective clients and clients who demonstrably suffered from psychological problems and expressed suspicions such as "conspiracy," "stalking," or "bugs in my apartment." In two out of three such cases in which our detectives in Hamburg accept the assignment and actually investigate, it becomes clear directly or indirectly that the cause of the psychologically ill client’s fears lies within themselves and is not caused by other persons.

 

For example, there was a situation in which the Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg had fully and continuously video-monitored a room in the home of one such client for a defined period of time. Although no one other than the client himself could be seen on the continuous video footage, he later refused under any circumstances to be convinced that no one but him had entered the room. The result was an absurd dispute between the Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg as the contractor and the client, in which all arguments were on our side, yet in the end we were left with nothing but trouble.

 

Due to this experience, our investigators become very alert when potential clients speak of psychological illnesses. Before accepting such an assignment, we therefore research the background of the interested party and verify the accuracy of the statements made to us. In the case of Ms. Berger, there were no irregularities in the form of contradictions, seemingly fabricated descriptions, or false information, which is why our detectives from Hamburg accepted the assignment.

Suspicion of a Crime: Bribery of the Caregiver

At a second meeting with the client of Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg, Ms. Berger described the situation in more detail and repeatedly stated that she no longer knew what to do and felt unfairly treated. The caregiver’s reports were "completely fabricated." When our private detectives in Hamburg asked for what reason or motive the caregiver would lie, the client replied: "I do not know for certain – that is why I am hiring you." Point for Ms. Berger. "My ex-boyfriend is very wealthy," she added with a bitter wink, "who knows whether there are not some under-the-table arrangements between him and the woman ..." The suspicion of a crime was therefore bribery.

How Are Bribe Payments Transferred?

How were our detectives from Hamburg supposed to prove any "kickback" payments? The perpetrators would hardly be foolish enough to do this in the open. There are many ways to transfer bribes inconspicuously. For example, one could use an intermediary. However, this would have the disadvantage that a third person would have to be involved in these illegal activities (keyword: accomplice), and secondly this person might demand compensation for their actions, thus causing additional costs (courier). Another option would be a safe deposit box in which the child’s father deposits money that is later collected by the caregiver. In this way, there would also be no direct contact between the two, but through surveillance of both persons the direct connection could be proven. However, the detective costs for this threatened to escalate, as the times of depositing and collecting the money could hardly be narrowed down.

 

A third of many other possibilities, which the Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg does not wish and cannot list in full here (after all, there are no limits to the imagination of criminals), would be a meeting between the payer and the recipient in a discreet location where a transfer cannot be observed by third parties. The least discreet option would be the residential address of one of the persons involved. On the other hand, for example, a room in a large hotel could already provide the necessary cover, as it would be nearly impossible for observers to discreetly follow both persons through a hotel corridor to a specific room and document this at the same time. The risk of detection would be far too high for the surveillance operatives.

Operational Planning of Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg

With these considerations in mind, which went much further than we wish to describe here in a reasonably concise manner, our private detectives from Hamburg discussed the procedure in the present case. We agreed with Ms. Berger that the child’s father should initially be placed under surveillance. On the one hand, this would (hopefully) allow observation of any money transfers to the caregiver, and on the other hand, it was conceivable that observing the father’s interaction with the child could yield interesting findings for further negotiations regarding custody arrangements.

Part 2 of this Case Description

In Part 2 you will learn how this case concluded. Please click here.

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 Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Secondary employment permitted – but not during sick leave from the main employer

Junus F. (name changed) worked for an industrial company in Hamburg. Almost two weeks before his employer’s consultation with Aaden Corporate Investigations Hamburg, he had submitted his first sick note and had not returned to work since. As his supervisor, Ms C., was aware, Junus F. also pursued an approved secondary occupation as a DJ (disc jockey). Out of interest, she occasionally followed his musical activities online. When she discovered party photos on a club website—allegedly taken during his sick leave—showing Junus F. at the DJ booth, she became suspicious and arranged a meeting with Aaden Detectives Hamburg.

Targeted surveillance by our detectives based on specific grounds for suspicion

Our Hamburg corporate detectives discussed the case with Ms. C. and the company’s HR manager. The investigators explained that in cases of feigned illness, surveillance of the target person is normally carried out from early morning with regard to behaviour contrary to recovery and the exercise of secondary employment. Since, however, there were very concrete grounds for suspicion in the case of Junus F., another approach was most likely more efficient: targeted surveillance at possible DJ appearances by the absent employee. Upon signing the investigative contract, it was agreed that our private detectives from Hamburg would first conduct online research on Junus F. and his pseudonym as a DJ in order to identify specific “events” at which he might be present.

Online research determines surveillance times

As part of the online research, our Hamburg detectives were quickly able to identify various profiles of the target person on social media. There they found numerous pictures of Junus F. “spinning records” in various clubs, but none that had been posted during the period of illness. However, the Aaden private detectives Hamburg were to find another very useful piece of information: the next date and “location” for a performance by Junus F. That appointment was on a Thursday – through Friday inclusive, the target person was signed off sick.

Two detective teams for two locations

Accordingly, the detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg scheduled the first operation for Thursday. A total of four observers were planned for this surveillance: two investigators were to take position from early evening to pick up Junus F. at his home address and document his arrival at the club, while two further detectives would take over on site and observe the actual work as a DJ. For this, in the interests of a credible cover story, personnel had to be selected who would not stand out in this milieu, meaning two comparatively young detectives. For this purpose, Aaden Corporate Investigations Hamburg had one male private investigator and one female detective available.

The supposedly sick target person spends the night in the club instead of in bed

Unfortunately, no sighting of the target person was made at the home address by 22:30. The two observers from Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg set up on site, and at the same time the detective team for the club made its way to the second location. After waiting in the queue for a while, the investigators entered the premises at around 23:15. At that time, different DJs were active in different rooms, but the target person could not be identified.

 

It was not until around 00:30 that Junus F. took to the booth and began his work, which he continued into the early morning hours and thus provided ample evidence to confirm the suspicion of misconduct. Since the situation was clear after several hours of the target person working, our detectives from Hamburg left the location before the event ended.

Renewed sick note

The target person’s supervisor, Ms. C., was somewhat enraged by Junus F.’s behaviour when the private detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg informed her of the investigative results the following day. She sounded even more irritated a few hours later on the phone, because Junus F. had submitted another sick note, which would extend his absence from the company by one week. Since another DJ date for the same period had become known during the online research, our Hamburg corporate detectives were to carry out a further operation on the advice of the legal counsel of the injured company.

Surprise during the second detective operation

The detective teams were deployed in exactly the same way as during the previous operation. The only difference: the observers at the home address were to start two hours earlier than last time. But even that did not help: there was no sighting at the residential property. When Junus F. had still not been seen in the club by 01:30, our female detective from Hamburg conducted a covert inquiry with a member of the venue staff. The target person had unfortunately had to cancel at short notice due to a family matter and would therefore not be performing that night.

 

The detectives of Aaden Corporate Investigations Hamburg ended the operation and submitted their report the following day. Since no further sick note from Junus F. had been received by Saturday afternoon, the assignment was closed. According to the legal counsel of the injured company, the evidence gathered in the first operation as well as the findings from the online research would be sufficient.

Aaden Detectives Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824

Surveillance for Infidelity Becomes Unnecessary

Mrs Müller and Mr Schmidt (names changed) had been neighbours for 44 years—since Mrs Müller’s birth. After a childhood friendship, they lost touch for some time, only seeing each other occasionally at holidays in their small village near Hamburg, as Mrs Müller completed her vocational training in Hesse. Mr Schmidt married another neighbour from the same village early on, while Mrs Müller had a few changing relationships.

 

After completing her training, she returned to her parents’ farm and once again lived next door to Mr Schmidt—and suddenly, it became love at the umpteenth sight. The two, she single and he married, began an affair. However, it was not Mr Schmidt’s wife who engaged the private investigators from Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg to observe her husband on suspicion of infidelity. That would hardly have been necessary, as village gossip had made the affair common knowledge within weeks. No, it was Mrs Müller herself who approached the Hamburg detectives a few months ago and asked for help.

Everyone Knows, No One Accepts, Everyone Tolerates

All directly and indirectly involved parties felt powerless in the face of this affair. Mr. Schmidt’s wife naturally disliked the situation enormously, but she also did not want a separation. Ms. Müller, for her part, would have preferred to take the wife’s place and maintain a monogamous relationship. The family of the spouses felt ashamed, tried in vain to influence Mr. Schmidt, and otherwise wished Ms. Müller to the devil. The only real beneficiary of the situation was ultimately Mr. Schmidt himself. While his wife was changing the children’s diapers, he would go over to Ms. Müller, let her cook for him, and enjoy a romantic interlude.

 

One day a few months ago, however, Mr. Schmidt suddenly could no longer be reached by phone for Ms. Müller. Even that struck Ms. Müller as strange, since her partner had been constantly on the phone ever since he bought his first smartphone four years earlier. She did not dare knock on the neighbour’s door. Nor was there a single vehicle parked in the yard – everyone seemed to have gone out. But surely Mr. Schmidt would not simply travel away without informing her. A case for our Hamburg detectives? Not yet – at least not in the village. Because within a few hours, Ms. Müller learned from another neighbour that Mr. Schmidt had collapsed and been taken to hospital. However, he did not know which hospital.

Family Maintains Silence – Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg Enters the Picture

In the following days, Ms. Müller naturally tried to obtain from her partner’s family information about his condition and the hospital in which he was staying. But all family members kept bitterly silent on these important matters and instead hurled insults at Ms. Müller. The non-related villagers either knew nothing or did not want to say anything. As a result, Ms. Müller had no choice but to turn to the private detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg. Our detectives were to investigate which hospital Mr. Schmidt had been admitted to. Ms. Müller had already called many clinics in the area, but he could not be found anywhere. It therefore had to be a specialist clinic, and that could be anywhere.

 

In investigations, our detectives from Hamburg must always check whether there is a legitimate interest. Especially in cases where the “other woman,” who is in a relationship or affair with a married man, wants to commission an investigation, the private detectives of Aaden Detective Agency Hamburg often encounter legal limits. It is hardly considered a legitimate interest, for example, if the lawful wife is to be surveilled in order to find out whether the husband is still sleeping with her. But Ms. Müller’s case was different: the relationship between Ms. Müller and Mr. Schmidt had existed for more than 20 years, meaning that they had spent a large part of their lives closely together, albeit not exclusively. At this point, one can assume a deep mutual emotional bond and thus a justified strong personal right to information about the other person’s state of health.

Surveillance by Our Hamburg Detectives Leads to the Whereabouts

Aaden Corporate Investigations Hamburg therefore began surveillance of the Schmidts’ property with two detectives. If a family member drove away by car, the vehicle was followed in the hope that the journey would lead to the whereabouts of the missing Mr. Schmidt. In fact, that was the case already on the first day of deployment, when Mr. Schmidt’s mother and his wife drove together in the afternoon to a specialist clinic in Hanover. After a brief conversation between our investigators and the lady at reception, it was confirmed that the person being sought was indeed there. The detectives immediately informed Ms. Müller, and she shortly afterwards made her way to Hanover.

No Happy Ending

As Ms. Müller later told us, Mr. Schmidt had suffered a previously undetected cerebral aneurysm rupture, as a result of which intracranial pressure increased and Mr. Schmidt had to be placed in an induced coma. He died a few days after the incident, and neither Ms. Müller nor Mrs. Schmidt had the opportunity to say a proper farewell.

Aaden Detectives Hamburg

Contor Center Hamburg

Katharinenstraße 30a

D-20457 Hamburg 

Tel.: +49 40 4223 6960

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

Web: https://aaden-detektive-hamburg.de/en

 

CEO: Maya Grünschloß, PhD

Register Court: Amtsgericht Köln

Registration Number: HRB 83824