Binder took at least 2,500 Euros from members of AOrg alone. This may have only been the tip of the iceburg, cos he advertised his wares on AmiBench and maybe elsewhere. Goodness knows how many others he screwed, not everyone using AmiBench visits AOrg (though that may change I see).
Anyway, after the final letter from the Albstadt authorities I kept tabs on local news in Germany for a few weeks, but I never saw Binder mentioned. Hopefully, he's now doing time.
The possibility of several 'Bernd Binders' scamming Amigans was raised at the time. However, my investigations (including phone calls to all the 'Bernd Binders' in Albstadt) indicated 'our' Binder was the same guy who ran an Amiga club in the town and regularly sold stuff through its newsletter. People who bought stuff from him seemed to regard him as an OK person. He also sold Amiga ware, mobile phones and car parts through eBay. I tried to contact him via the Albstadt club, but the secretary was very suspicious and uncooperative.
Of course there's a lesson to be learned, but we never do it seems. If something's too good to be true, it almost certainly is!
I think the 'Several PPC cards on AmiBench' thread must be a classic and should be read by everyone joining AOrg. It's a salutory reminder that the Amiga scene still contains pitfalls and criminality goes way beyond copying a few old games.
Cheers,
JaX
