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07-19-2008, 10:59 PM
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Erich Kofmel Internet Property Fraud (and others)
For pictures and all sources / evidence see
erichkofmelinfo - Information about theÂ*Erich Kofmel Frauds var sc_project=3901528; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_ Background to Mr. Erich Kofmel Erich Kofmel was born on 21st October 1974 in the small village of Deitingen [source] [source] in Switzerland. Kofmel was first in the bankruptcy court in Switzerland when he was only 21 years old following the collapse of Methosource Treuhand- und Revisions-AG [source] (formerly trading as Gemeindebüro Treuhand AG[source]). Several years later he was again in the bankruptcy court with his company Kaos-anti-Genesis GmbH (which was previously trading as Gemeindebüro Einkaufsgruppe für Gemeinden GmbH). Kofmel has also been through the swiss courts requiring Debt Enforcement Orders to repay his debts [source] [source]. He read theology at the University of Fribourg, and subsequently studied Public and Development Management at the University of the Witwatersrand and theology at St Augustine College of South Africa[source]. He is currently a PhD student at the University of Sussex though he is currently on a placement at Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po, Paris) [source - website taken down by University]. It is understood that Mr. Kofmel is currently suspended from the University of Sussex. Mr. Kofmel is alleged to have been involved in a number of various scams and frauds including: 1. The 2006-2008 Vacation Property Rental Frauds 2. The 2006 Reference Property Checking Scams 3. Concerns about the Sussex Centre for the Individual and Society 4. 2004 - 2008 fake identity theft scam The Vacation Property Rental Frauds [2006 - current] Description of the fraud - Are you a victim? Erich kofmel is alleged to have placed adverts for properties on multiple sites including craiglist,inkiti,evelez,livetray,better-holidays,holidayhomeonline,ferienhausmiete..... There are many more. The advert will be for a rental / let property, typically with payment by the day or week. It will be a nice looking property at or below the market rate. Typically. the only contact detail will be an email address (or a phone number that doesn't work, or a taxi firm ect). The email address will most likely be hotmail based. The properties could be anywhere in the world - we have seen adverts in London, Rome, New York, Lazio, Paris, Mallorca and other cities all around the world. The fraudster has used email addresses including: shortterms@gmail.com,shortterms@hotmail.com,shortt erm@live.com,incontro2005@hotmail.com,hols4you@hot mail.com,your-holidays-2007@hotmail.co.uk,holiday-lettings@hotmail.com,apartment_london@yahoo.com,er ic.kofmel@virtualpost.ch If you are a victim you will have conversed with the fraudster by email. He will promptly reply to your emails. He speaks fluent English, German & French. His grammar is excellent and he is clearly highly educated. He will ask you to confirm your start and end date. He may provide other helpful information and you will probably have a good feeling about the transaction - this is a well spoken, educated and helpful person. If you are local you may ask to visit the property - he will refuse stating that it is a "vacation rental". If the fraudster is travelling away from home, which apparently he does regulary, he may even be kind enough to tell you "Please note that I will have limited Internet connectivity ". Mr. Erich Kofmel used miss-spellings of his own name inluding Eric Kofmel, Eric Kofmehl, Eri H. Kofmehl. The bank accounts he used to receive the funds he had set up mostly locally in Sussex / Brighton. The addresses he used were false - a wedding photographer, a restuarant and a taxi rank. Once Mr. Kofmel has your funds, he will send you an apparent booking confirmation (see image below). Note in the properties of the document or advanced properties (last saved by) the Author or LAST SAVED BY (Zuletztz gespeichert von)is frequently listed as "Erich Kofmel" The booking confirmation will include a fake mailing and a fake telephone phone number. When asked about phoning him he has responded to multiple victims "My phone number is ++44 7931 588 634. Sorry, if I don't pick up (work related). I prefer e-mail. He has also used the telephone number ++44 (0)7931 588 634. Shortly before you are due to arrive at your destination, and long after your funds have cleared, the fraudster may then appear to "cancel" the booking. He has repeatedly given the excuse of an unwell neighbour unable to give the keys (a many different fake postal addresses). That is where the correspondence will end. He will not provide a refund nor answer any correspondence. Shortly thereafter, the email address will no longer exist. TEXT OF REASON USED TO CANCEL BOOKINGS "Die Nachbarin, die Sie treffen sollte, hat seit einiger Zeit über Unwohlsein geklagt und ist gestern ins Krankenhaus eingeliefert worden. Sie wird auf unbestimmte Zeit nicht in der Lage sein, sich um die Wohnung und meine Gäste zu kümmern." [German Version] "The neighbour who was supposed to be meeting you has complained for some time that she was not feeling well. Yesterday, she was hospitalized. She will for some time not be able to take care of my guests or the apartment." [English Version] We have recently (9/7/08) become aware of another variant of the fraud where Mr. Kofmel cancels as short notice due to essential maintenance of the vacation property.... promised returned cheques do not materialise. "Leider gibt es ein Problem mit der Wohnung, das ich hier von der Ferne aus versucht habe zu lösen. Ich hatte gehofft, dafür noch einen Ausweg zu finden, aber glaube, dass uns nun die Zeit davonläuft. Die Wohnung, die ich vermiete, ist eine von vier im selben Gebäude und alle gehören verschiedenen Eigentümern. Ich bin letzte Woche von der Management-Gesellschaft informiert worden, dass Arbeiten an den Wasser- und Lüftungs-Anlagen des Gebäudes für den Zeitraum vom x bis x x geplant sind. Dies würde Ihren Aufenthalt stark beeinträchtigen (z. B. Wasserversorgung und Airconditioning werden nicht funktionieren). Ich halte es deshalb nun für das beste, Ihre Buchung zu annulieren und hoffe, es wird Ihnen möglich sein, noch rechtzeitig eine andere Unterkunft zu finden. Ich werde einen Scheck über die erhaltene Vorauszahlung an Ihre Adresse senden." [German Version of variant fraud] We know there are victims in the UK, USA, France, Austria, Spain, Germany, Canada and the USA, and growing at a rapid rate. HOW CAN YOU HELP If you are a victim, we need to hear from you. Please do not alter your emails with Mr. Kofmel in any way, simply follow the following simple advice: * If you have not already done so, report this matter to your local POLICE * Obtain a CRIME REFERENCE NUMBER and ask for a named contact, direct dial telephone number and email. You may need to insist that the matter is recorded as a crime. * It is imperative you retain the original emails (even after saving / forwarding) Please send a separate covering email indicating * your CRIME REFERENCE NUMBER, named contact, direct dial telephone number and email to victimsoferich@gmail.com * We will share all the crime references and any information forwarded with any legitimate crime enforcement authorities. Arrest Erich Kofmel was arrested, on suspicion of Fraud (in relation to the 2006-2008 Vacation Rental Frauds), by the Economic Crime Unit (Fraud) of Sussex Police at approximately 17:00hrs 7th May 2008. Kofmel was due to give a lecture at 17:30 entitled "Comparative Political Theology " at the London School of Economics. Kofmel was arrested on his way to the lecture which was subsequently canceled. Potential victims of these frauds are advised to contact the Economic Crime Unit (Fraud) of Sussex Police via their main switchboard. [Source: Sussex Police Spokesperson]. Continuation of vacation rental fraud AFTER UK police arrest Quite remarkably, we have seen unequivocal evidence that Mr. Erich Kofmel has continued the frauds even after his arrest in the UK on May 7th 2008. Following a string of emails (with money transfers linked to known Kofmel bank accounts - so it had to be him), Kofmel is stupid enough to continue the fraud using the same (verbatim) lies he used in the frauds that led up to his arrest. Here is an example from June 16th 2008 - some 6 weeks following his arrest at London School of Economics. [some information redacted to protect identity of victim] For pictures and all sources / evidence see erichkofmelinfo - Information about theÂ*Erich Kofmel Frauds var sc_project=3901528; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_ Last edited by ekofmelinvestigation : 08-17-2008 at 09:34 PM. 
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07-31-2008, 06:59 AM
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Erich Kofmel - Update 31st July 2008
In a significant update, the co-founder and major shareholder of SCIS / SCIS Tech speaks out in public about the Kofmel scams. See erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/?ref=AHSO for the source and full details.
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08-14-2008, 02:06 AM
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Kofmel & SCIS Newspaper article
I know many of you are following these frauds - you may interested to read a highly informative and well researched article in today's Times Higher Education about Kofmel and SCIS . As you may know, THES is a highly regarded leading publication for UK Higher Education.
[sorry cant post the URL properly but you can get it from the website below] As previously, the most up to date information will remain at our web page erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/?ref=THEASV
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08-17-2008, 09:31 PM
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Sorry the link is below:
erichkofmelinfo - Information about theÂ*Erich Kofmel Frauds var sc_project=3901528; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_ The article in this week's Times Higher Education magazine is at: Times Higher Education - 'Utopian' institution is disowned by academics Last edited by ekofmelinvestigation : 08-18-2008 at 11:34 PM.
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