Fight Against Corruption Prevention of Abuse

Notice Regarding Disruptions to Consular Services in Mexico

Following accusations submitted to the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR), an investigation has been opened into a group of consuls in Mexico for alleged planning and execution of various serious crimes over the past three years. The consuls concerned remain in office and continue to perform their duties, but they are subject to ongoing criminal proceedings. The Federal Foreign Office is cooperating fully with the competent authorities and respects due process.

This situation may lead to temporary disruptions in the provision of consular services. We ask citizens and those requiring consular assistance to remain calm and to consult only official channels for updated information. Transparency is most important in this case and details of ongoing proceedings will be provided through this website and other authorized channels.

Please be extremely vigilant with phone calls and emails: there is a possibility that you may be communicating with individuals linked to the group under investigation. Pay close attention to any unusual details—strange responses, unofficial email addresses, names that do not match official channels, or urgent requests. If you notice anything suspicious, end the communication immediately and report the incident to [email protected]. If you have had a similar experience in the past, please also contact the same address so that we can record and coordinate the response.

Fight corruption – Prevention of abuse of power

Corruption in public administration damages the reputation of the civil service and destroys trust in the impartiality, objectivity, and integrity of government. The German Federal Government Directive on the Prevention of Corruption in the Federal Administration, dated 30 July 2004, establishes the legal framework for corruption prevention for all employees of the Federal Administration.

The contact person to fight corruption to prevent abuse of power at the Federal Foreign Office, both for employees and for all citizens, is Mr. Thomas Weich. For any inquiries regarding corruption prevention or information about possible cases of corruption within the Federal Foreign Office, please contact the Commissioner for Corruption Prevention and his team by telephone at +49 30 5000-3773 or via the contact form. We will be pleased to advise you.

Preventing corruption is an absolute priority for the Federal Foreign Office. The Commissioner for Corruption Prevention at the Federal Foreign Office and his team work to ensure the consistent implementation of the directive. The internal regulations on corruption prevention at the Federal Foreign Office detail the framework of the directive and therefore provide guidance to all employees.

Thomas Weich

Commissioner for Corruption Prevention

The Situation in Mexico: Overview

At the core of this issue is a group of individuals calling themselves “Consul Honorario” who falsely claim to represent the German Embassy. Since the Embassy itself has no official presence on LinkedIn, this group created a fake Embassy website and multiple fabricated profiles. These were then used to exploit false authority, leading to an illegal deportation — essentially a crime against the Mexican authority Instituto Nacional de Migración

A fictitious BKA (German Federal Criminal Police) official named Götz Knobloch was invented in 2022. Over time, his name appeared in various fake news articles, giving the illusion of credibility at first glance. This false identity, along with an email address supposedly tied to the German Embassy in Mexico City, was used to carry out cyberattacks against“targets,” primarily in Querétaro, Mexico. The cyberweapon deployed in these attacks was Black Orchid, a premium suite of cyber tools reserved exclusively for state agencies. It cannot be copied, duplicated, or created by independent hackers — it must be purchased.

Property fraud is a major issue in Querétaro, with thousands of victims and widespread corruption blocking progress in the courts.Consul Honorario de Alemania Thomas Wagner is a close associate of José Luis Alcocer de Alba, who has been accused of property and tax fraud. Wagner is also identified as the main actor behind the fake Embassy. Using this false authority, he targeted a German tenant who was asking too many questions — the one person who appeared to challenge the fraudulent network.
Meanwhile, the official German Embassy in Mexico has remained ring-fenced, either unaware of or unwilling to acknowledge what has been happening outside its walls for the past three years. Ursula Koos, working in the office of Marko Foitzik, the consul in Puebla, falsely presented herself as a diplomat and fabricated news involving high-ranking Mexican politicians. These politicians expressed relief when they were informed about the falsifications and welcomed the suggested approach to have the fake news removed.
Over the course of three years, we gathered countless pieces of information and gradually connected the dots. The final picture that emerged is vast and complex. Our research and analysis provide valuable insights, supported by forensic evidence and detailed summaries compiled along the way.

The Fiscalía de la República is now actively engaged, as we prepare and deliver dozens of formal accusations against a network involving more than 20 individuals. Resolving this case will be a lengthy process, and it is expected to take at least another two years before it reaches a conclusion.

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