Internet Property Scam - Erich Kofmel

Several people have had difficulty in accessing the above Google cache of the CV (including the deliberately misspelled bankrupt company name) that was hosted on the website of the Sussex Centre for the Individual and Society (SCIS) [http://www.scis-calibrate.org/]. Several other copies of the CV with the incorrect spelling still remain on the internet.

If you are not able to access the Google cache there is a copy of it here:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dc5j262m_7c3txdwdv

Please drop me a line if you need the original PDF that has been deleted from the website, or have any other inquiries ( contact me at [email protected] ).

Thank you

In the interests of public protections and providing an up to date and reliable source of information (to replace the previous website) regarding Mr. Erich Kofmel and the associated Sussex Centre for the Individual and Society (SCIS) we have set up a webpage at

http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com

Over the next few weeks we will try and maintain it as an up to date reference source and include relevant source material.

STOP PRESS! ( 9/7/08 )

We have been contacted by another Kofmel victim with a slight variation of Mr. Kofmel's vacation property fraud..... he cancels at short notice due to essential maintenance of the vacation property (no air conditioning or water ect).... promised returned cheques do not materialise (like the hospitization of a neighbour excuse above).

The full text of the excuse is below and as previously, full details at http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/

"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]

IMPORTANT UPDATE (18th July 2008)

I am deeply saddened to pass on two important updates to scamwarners readers and those that are following these frauds.

The first is that we have identified a further email address used by Mr. Erich Kofmel in the frauds [email protected]

The second is a highly significant update, because it shows that Mr. Kofmel has chosen to continue these frauds even after his arrest in the UK in May 2008 - he continues to use the fraudulent "hospitalized" excuse on June 18th 2008 - some 6 weeks AFTER his arrest.

As before the most up to date information will be at [url]erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/[/url]

If you need to get in touch you can via [email protected]

I have posted the email below only redacting the victims information.

From: Shortterm Apartment <shortterms>
Subject: Apartment in New York
Date: Monday, June 16, 2008


Dear x
Unfortunately there has been a problem.
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.
For the past few days, I have tried to find someone else who could give you the keys – but without success.
I have therefore no option but to cancel your booking. I hope you will still be able to find somewhere else to stay.
I will of course send you a cheque for the amount that you already paid to the address you provided me with.
Sorry for the bad news and thanks for your understanding.
Regards,
Eric

In a very significant update, the co-founder and major shareholder of SCIS / SCIS Tech speaks out in public about the Kofmel scams. See http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/?ref=AHSO for the source and full details.

Thank you for the continued updates ekofmelinvestigation,

Updates and continual monitoring are what we need and rely on for this site

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.

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/s ... 403185&c=1

As previously, the most up to date information will remain at our webpage
http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/?ref=THEASW

Dear SW,

Sadly we have identified yet another (the 10th) email address associated with the Kofmel frauds: [email protected]

As before the most up to date information resides at http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/?ref=FBREFSW

Victims from North America are advised to contact the FBI and quote reference FBI/IC3 reference: I0808231147141141 in all correspondence to link the North American victims.

Dear Scam Warners

A further newspaper article on Kofmel's frauds:

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/3631367. ... iday_scam/

For the latest information see information page at:

http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/?ref=ARUSW

Dear SW readers

Erich Kofmel was due to answer bail, in connection with a series of major frauds, at Sussex Police Station on Tuesday 9th September 2008. He failed to attend. [Source: Reprint of the Argus 11/09/08 (5Mb) ]. Failure to answer bail in itself a criminal offence in the UK.

The same source revealed that police had planned to catch the "hunted" "rogue academic" on 11th September 2008 at a lecture he was due to give at Manchester Metropolitan University [Source: Reprint of the Argus 13/09/08 (2Mb)]. Kofmel had previously been arrested in May 2008 ahead of a scheduled lecture at London School of Economics.

We also understand that Mr. Kofmel is wanted by the French police (Préfecture de Police, Paris (17ème arrondissement)) in connection with an effraction (breaking & entering) - in which a police officer was injured, cheque fraud and various other offences.



If you know of Mr. Kofmel's whereabouts contact Sussex Police and quote Crime Reference CC1/14327/07. To see the press articles above go to the information page at http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/?ref=BAILJUMPSW

Appologies for not keep this page up to date. Extensive updates at the information page:

http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/?ref=THESNPC

Several further press articles in the last week or so. Herr Kofmel is now wanted both in the UK & Germany. His picture has been published in both the UK and his national Swiss press (20minuten is the most read Swiss daily paper).

The loop is closing on this fraudster, and not before time!...... we'll keep you posted

Extensive updates at our information page:
http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/?ref=THESNPC

20minuten, 12th December 2008
http://www.20min.ch/news/kreuz_und_quer ... r-23787066

The Argus, 16th December 2008
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/3980782. ... itzerland/

Appologies we have been unable to keep all those at Scam Warners fully in the frame as to the various SCIS & Kofmel property frauds. He remains officially WANTED, and if you know of his whereabouts you should contact Sussex police. As previously the most up to date information is at our information page http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/?ref=KSW

By way of summary, here are some of the recent press articles covering Mr. Kofmel's various frauds:

The Evening Standard Newspaper, January 31 2006
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/mortgages/article.html?in_article_id=406629&in_page_id=8



The Observer Newspaper, January 22 2006[
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2006/jan/22/property.observercashsection



Times Higher Education, 14th Augus 2008
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=403185&c=1



The Argus Newspaper, 29th August 2008
http://www.theargus.co.uk/search/3631367.Sussex_academic_accused_over_holiday_scam/



The Argus Newspaper, 11 September 2008 (PDF Reprint)
http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/ArgusReprint110908.pdf



The Argus Newspaper; 13th September 2008 (PDF Reprint)
http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/ArgusReprint130908.pdf



The Badger Newspaper, October 6th 2008
http://www.thebadgeronline.co.uk/news/sussex-student-sought-by-police/



20minuten (German - the leading Swiss daily), 12th December 2008 (PDF reprint)
[url]"http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/013_zh_12122008.pdf[/url]



The Argus Newspaper, 16th December 2008
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/3980782.Search_for__fraudster__moves_to_Switzerland/



The Badger Newspaper, 19th January 2009
http://www.thebadgeronline.co.uk/news/search-for-sussex-fraudster-moves-to-switzerland/



The Argus Newspaper, 21st February 2009 (PDF Reprint)
http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/ARGUS210209.pdf



Times Higher Education, 5th March 2009
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=405666&c=2



Please visit our info page for the latest on these frauds or get in touch via the webpage at http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/?ref=KSWW

Dear FW

There have been lots of key developments in the last few weeks.... and finally, yesterday this scamster was finally thrown out of Sussex University. There is an article in today's Argus newspaper which you can read from our website:

http://erichkofmelinfo.googlepages.com/?ref=THESNPCSCWA

The BBC are currently making a documentary on Kofmel to air in September or October. For those unable to watch UK TV - we will have it on our website.

Mr. Kofmel remains officially *WANTED* by the police. If you know of Mr. Kofmel's wherebout contact the UK Sussex Police (quote reference ES1/437/08), German Police (contact Polizei Hamburg and quote reference Aktenzeichen 3201 Js 140/07) or USA Police (Contact the FBI and quote reference IC3I0808231147141141) or Spanish Police (Policía Nacional - Reference (Atestado Nº): 17004 (31/08/07) )

It is disappointing to note that he maintains various blogs/websites to which he is still posting and bitching that he isn't getting appropriate Google rankings.

It does seem rather strange that someone wanted by the police s still able to operate freely on the internet, presumably still up to the games for which is he is sought by police. If I were the OP I'd try getting them shutdown, if necessary involving the police in the various countries involved. He's using them to generate sales and money to keep himself funded on the run, and promote himself. Have you contacted the authorities to see if his accounts can be 'attached' which I believe is the technical term used for getting the money impounded ?

Whether he is a criminal or not is no longer an issue once he's failed to answer bail. Now you just have to make sure that the authorities use all the tools available to flush him out from where he's hiding. Cutting off his source of funds (and his ego from a public forum) should do the trick.

I must say that I'm not very impressed about the UK police allowing him bail.