Message to INFODIO readers: investigative journalism, which is what this site does, takes lots of time. Visiting media looking for a quick run down on Venezuela's gargantuan corruption, have the decency to at least cite the source when plagiarising this site's content without attribution (exhibit Reuters here and here, exhibit Bloomberg here, exhibit OCCRP here). To all readers, do the right thing, the honest thing: support independent investigative journalism, help us expose rampant corruption. Note added 28/06/2021: impostors are using this site's former editor's full name, and a fake email address (alek.boyd.arregui@gmail.com) to send copyright infringement claims / take down requests to web hosting companies (exhibit Hostgator). The attempt is yet another effort paid by corrupt thugs to erase information about their criminal activities. Infodio.com has no issues with other websites / journalists using / posting information published here, so long as the source is properly cited.

Chavista thugs' PR usurp identity for reputation management purposes

Thugs involved in theft of public funds are always trying to whitewash their image. In the case of Venezuela, every last Boligarch 'entrepreneur' portrays himself as the wealthy offspring, or trust fund baby, from some 'rich family'. As if there were any family that has become *that* wealthy *legitimately* since chavismo took power in 1999. A good case study is Derwick Associates. Those thugs have spun some fantastic tales since 2009 about them being scions from ultra high net worth parents. Reality is that every last bit of real estate, every "investment", and every extravagant acquisition they have made, either individually or collectively, has been done after 2009, that is after overcharging -in no bid procurement contracts- about $1 billion dollars. Before 2009, Alejandro Betancourt didn't even have a PO box to his name.

We have seen some pretty wild stuff in chavismo / boliburgeoisie's online reputation management field. Fake copyright infringement / DMCA claims are standard operating procedures for Rafael Nuñez kind of "ethical hackers". These are filed constantly. Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are also in the toolbox. This site has suffered some pretty phenomenal ones over the years. Then there's Right to be Forgotten and GDPR legislation, which in theory should only apply to claims presented by European citizens / residents, but in practice are used by Venezuelans residing in Venezuela to game the system.

Neither Google, nor Twitter or any of the other social media platforms, are in the business of arbitrating on whether an abuse claim is legitimate. When Twitter summarily decided to permanently suspend my verified account, an impostor's account was at the ready to try and sway my 50k followers to follow that new account instead. This was likely done to try and identify my sources, some of whom have been visited and roughed up by chavista intelligence in Caracas in the past.

Ukraine and India seem to be the hot destinations for reputation cleansing nowadays. When that fails, good old hacking can also be tried cheaply there. Alex Saab's PR people have been very active lately. They've acquired my full name's domain through carding and are regularly pumping "information" about my alleged "criminal activities". They have a particular, and rather peculiar, knowledge of Colombian drug lords, cartels, nomenklatura and related criminal activities, with which I am allegedly "associated". This is undoubtedly a trickledown consequence of Saab's partner (Bogota's cartel convicted boss German Rubio Salas) input into the matter.

The new thing is impersonation. Since trying to remove perfectly valid and sourced information from this website is an altogether futile attemtp, an email address with my full name can easily be created to file copyright infringement complaints. Latest exhibit is a communication received from Elio Ohep, editor of Petroleumworld.com, this morning. Elio, whom I have corresponded with for years, forwarded an email from Teddy M. (Security Operations Analyst who very diligently solved the issue) from his website's hosting company (Hostway). Allegedly, I had filed a copyright infringement claim with Hostway requesting immediate removal (see below) of an article about Venezuelan 'bankers' formerly in the employ of JP Morgan:


From: Aleksander Boyd <alek.boyd.arregui@gmail.com>
Sent: Thu 5/20/2021 3:04 AM
To: Security Operations abuse@hostway.com
Subject: DMCA-CASE#116 - Notice of unauthorized use of Aleksander Boyd Arregui content
 
 
[CAUTION] This email came from an external source. Be careful when clicking links or opening attachments. If you suspect fraud, click "Phish alert".
Dear Sir or Madam:
 
I, Aleksander Boyd Arregui, of the physical address below, swear under penalty of perjury that I have detected infringements of my copyright interests as detailed in the report below.
 
I have reasonable good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of in the report below is not authorized by myself, my agents, or the law. The information provided herein is 
accurate to the best of my knowledge. Therefore, this letter is an official notification to effect removal of the detected infringement listed in the report below. The report below 
specifies the exact location of the infringement.
 
I hereby request that you immediately remove or block access to the infringing material, as specified under Section 512(c) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (the "Act"). Please insure 
the user refrains from using or sharing with others the unauthorized materials in the future.
 
Please send a prompt response indicating the actions you have taken to resolve this matter, making sure to reference DMCA-CASE#116 in your response.
 
Nothing in this letter shall serve as a waiver of any rights or remedies of Aleksander Boyd Arregui with respect to the alleged infringement, all of which are expressly reserved. If you need to 
contact me, my contact information is located at the bottom of this letter.
 
Evidentiary Information:
Infringed Work(s): https://infodio.com/200813/jp/morgan/venezuela/eduardo/travieso/guiller…
Infringing URL(s): http://www.petroleumworld.com/lagniappe13082201.htm
Explanation:
 
The site http://www.petroleumworld.com/ has taken content from my blog https://infodio.com/200813/jp/morgan/venezuela/eduardo/travieso/guiller…;
I am requesting the following infringements be removed immediately.
 
I have a good faith belief that use of the copyrighted materials described above as allegedly infringing is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
 
I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate and that I am the copyright owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

Regards,
 
Aleksander Boyd Arregui
Email: alek.boyd.arregui@gmail.com
Phone: 7398 547463
23 Elizabeth Street
Greenhithe
Kent
DA9 9AU
United Kingdom


I have no problem publishing the unredacted message, for neither the email address, nor the telephone number (disconnected), nor the physical address are in any way associated with me. I am not doxxing myself. It is all fake. Though perhaps I should drop by 'Aleksander Boyd Arregui's address' in Kent, to see if it leads somewhere, or if I find a twin I am yet to meet. 

We shall leave this here for the record. An unavoidable aspect of internet is just how easy and cheap it is to game the system and build completely unsubstantiated personal profiles, emails, file fake copyright infringement claims, etc. Just don't bother Google, or Twitter, with legitmate requests to have their Terms of Service enforced and remove totally spurious and defamatory information, for that in our experience is an absolute waste of time.

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