Art Fraud Exposed – A Case Of Kurtz Corporate Detective Agency Essen

Indeed: the buyer, a pensioner blessed with ample free time, visited a gallery several times a week, strikingly often outside opening hours. Above all, however, one thing caught the attention of the private detectives of Kurtz Investigations Essen: time and again the buyer attended clearances, household liquidations and auctions within a short period, and as a rule left with at least one or two acquired paintings. None of this is dishonourable or even unlawful – yet it certainly casts doubt on the claim that the buyer was an ignorant layman with no connection to paintings whatsoever. The clients of our detectives in Essen shared this view, and after consultation with them we decided to continue the surveillance.

This proved to be a sound decision: a few days later, the buyer visited a middle-aged lady in Wuppertal, carrying a large, flat package under his arm. The purpose of the visit initially remained hidden from our investigators in Essen, as the inviolability of the home must be respected at all times unless there is imminent danger – a possibility our detectives must always bear in mind, though nothing suggested such a risk in this case. The surveillance continued for several hours; in a quiet residential area such as this, it was lacking in highlights, yet an indispensable part of patient detective work. Late in the afternoon the buyer left the property again – without the package. At this point, our corporate investigators in Essen decided to take decisive action and rang the bell to politely enquire of the lady in what matter the buyer had visited her – after all, the worst that could happen was being asked to leave. Mrs Lührsen, as the lady kindly introduced herself, had something astonishing to report: she too had recently sold a painting as part of a small inheritance and had likewise been visited by the same buyer – with the same story. Unexpectedly, a second painting had allegedly been found behind the first; it was moderately valuable, but he was prepared to return it to the former owner for a fair sum. Jackpot, thought our detectives in Essen, as these circumstances left no room for coincidence.

If the suspicion were confirmed, the offence of fraud would be fulfilled – and the case would thus fall within the remit of the authorities. Armed with this information and the compelling and court-admissible witness statements, our investigators confronted the buyer at the next meeting with the Hansens, who had insisted that our detectives in Essen attend. It is always risky to confront a target person directly with allegations, but fortunately the investigators’ assessment that the buyer posed no danger proved correct. He quickly confessed and almost seemed relieved to have been caught. He explained that he had had a flair for art for decades and had always been a highly talented painter, even if he had never pursued it professionally. In recent years, since his retirement, he had amused himself by painting his own motifs in the perfectly imitated style of old masters, repeatedly even the greats – Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso – all had suited him. However, he had never dared to place these on the market; that had been a step too far. “The market is so overheated and exaggerated, the margins run into the millions,” said the confessed offender, that one examines things three times over and commissions five experts for a certificate of authenticity. It was the smaller, relatively unknown and considerably more modestly priced artists in whom he had seen his opportunity: authenticity determinations were far more difficult here, if only because of the lack of specialists and the reluctance to incur significant financial expense for comparatively low returns. Thus, over the course of several years, he had managed to sell eight paintings to unsuspecting buyers using his now familiar method, achieving “proceeds” of an average of 10,000 to 20,000 euros – a handsome supplementary income. The entire affair had eventually spiralled out of control, as he admitted. He had never thought he would get away with it, but somehow it had taken on a momentum of its own. The target person of Kurtz Investigations Essen appeared very remorseful; however, the case was too serious to refrain from filing a complaint – fortunately, the offender understood this as well, and in a calm discussion with our private investigators in Essen came to realise that if he cooperated and confessed, a suspended sentence might ultimately appear proportionate and appropriate – though that would be for a court to decide.