Press releases

• Hermann Kipnowski of Aachen receives the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in the White Hall of City Hall.
• The honoree fought for safety and order with an extraordinary degree of moral courage.
• Thanks to his personal efforts, the number of coffee trips has decreased significantly.
  
  

Mayor Dr. Michael Ziemons presented Hermann Kipnowski of Aachen with the Cross of Merit on Ribbon of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on Tuesday, July 14, in the White Hall of City Hall. Ziemons highlighted the honoree’s dedication: “We are honoring a person who, through his outstanding personal commitment—including the use of his own funds—has played a decisive role in ensuring that the ‘coffee trip’ scam no longer works.”

Upon the recommendation of the state’s Minister-President, Hendrik Wüst, the Federal President awarded Hermann Kipnowski, a father of two, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his many years of dedication to consumer protection.

The Fight Against “Coffee Trips”: Originally
a member of the Federal Border Guard and later a senior detective, Hermann Kipnowski continued to ensure safety and order even after his retirement. In so-called “coffee trips,” mostly elderly people are lured to remote venues under the pretext of a social gathering, where they are often pressured psychologically and subjected to manipulative sales tactics to buy overpriced products or worthless services. Since 1995, Mr. Kipnowski has been working intensively to identify these “coffee trips,” their venues, and the individuals involved.

Perseverance Despite Threats
: Thanks to his time-consuming fight against the scam, he became a sought-after expert when it came to identifying the perpetrators; he knew nearly everyone involved. However, this also had its drawbacks, because the scammers now knew who he was as well. Personal and physical

Threats, attacks, and even death threats—Mr. Kipnowski faced it all, but he refused to be intimidated. He continued to fight and adapted his approach so that he would follow the buses in his personal car—even into neighboring countries. Through the cooperation of those involved, he was able to gather enough information to obtain sufficient evidence for the police and the public order office.

Important Prevention Work
: After such a long day of surveillance and investigations, he often spent several more hours at the computer, as the data had to be processed and criminal charges filed. However, his actual undercover operations were not the only way he contributed to the fight against crime. In addition to these investigations, he also carried out valuable prevention work. Through lectures, media appearances, and publications, he was able to inform the public about the dangers and raise awareness about how to protect themselves against fraud.

His deeply time-consuming commitment is marked by tireless energy and impressive determination. He has made it his life’s work to combat these structures with an extraordinary degree of moral courage and personal dedication. His efforts are a shining example of how one individual can make a difference through courage, determination, and dedication. Overall, he is credited with playing a significant role in the sharp decline in the number of “coffee trips.” His actions and the resulting successes have also strengthened confidence in the rule of law.