Alex Shnaider

A summary of what happened?

Alex Shnaider is a Russian-Canadian billionaire businessman known for his diverse ventures in steel, real estate, and sports. Born in 1968 in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), he moved to Israel at age four and later to Canada at thirteen. Shnaider co-founded the Midland Group, an international trading and investment holding company, with operations spanning agriculture, manufacturing, real estate, shipping, and steel industries.

Major Concerns, Complaints, and Accusations Against Alex Shnaider:

1. Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto:
   • Financial Complications: Shnaider partnered with Donald Trump to develop the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto. The project faced financial difficulties, leading to cost overruns. Reports indicate that Shnaider used proceeds from the sale of his Ukrainian steel mill, Zaporizhstal, to cover these overruns. The sale involved financing from the Russian state-owned Vnesheconombank (VEB), raising concerns about potential financial connections between Trump and the Russian government.
   • Investor Lawsuits: Investors in the Toronto tower filed lawsuits alleging deceptive marketing practices. They claimed that financial projections provided during sales were misleading. The Ontario Court of Appeal found that the project’s marketing emphasized potential profits from a reservation program, contrary to assurances given to the Ontario Securities Commission.
2. Legal Disputes Over Unpaid Fees:
   • Shnaider was involved in legal disputes with law firms Boies Schiller Flexner and Kasowitz Benson Torres over unpaid legal fees amounting to nearly $1 million. The firms contested over retaining Shnaider’s legal files as leverage for the unpaid fees.
3. Formula One Team Ownership:
   • In 2005, Shnaider acquired the Jordan Grand Prix Formula One team, rebranding it as Midland F1 Racing. The team struggled competitively and was sold to Spyker Cars in 2006. The venture was viewed as an unsuccessful foray into motorsports.

Analyzing the Fake Copyright Notice(s)

Our team collects and analyses fraudulent copyright takedown requests, legal complaints, and other efforts to remove critical information from the internet. Through our investigative reporting, we examine the prevalence and operation of an organized censorship industry, predominantly funded by criminal entities, oligarchs, and disreputable businesses or individuals. Our findings allow internet users to gain insight into these censorship schemes’ sources, methods, and underlying objectives.

What was Alex Shnaider trying to hide?

Alex Shnaider‘s attempts to hide unfavourable content through the misuse of copyright notices while allegedly engaging in perjury present serious legal concerns. These actions suggest a calculated attempt to manipulate legal systems to suppress free speech, a fundamental violation of copyright law principles and an abuse of legal processes. The use of such tactics not only undermines the integrity of copyright protection but also potentially constitutes perjury, further entangling Alex Shnaider in legal accountability. Let’s examine the information Alex Shnaider may be trying to remove from the internet –

Investigative Report on Alex Shnaider: Controversies, Allegations, and Legal Disputes

Alex Shnaider, a Russian-Canadian billionaire and businessman, has built a career marked by high-profile ventures, many of which have been embroiled in controversy. His name is frequently associated with disputes over financial mismanagement, legal battles, and allegations of misrepresentation in business dealings. This report delves deeply into these issues, exploring the full scope of the allegations and controversies surrounding his career.

1. Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto: A Project Plagued by Troubles

One of Shnaider’s most high-profile ventures was the development of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto. The project, undertaken in partnership with the Trump Organization, became a lightning rod for controversy and financial mismanagement allegations.

The development was marketed as a luxury hotel-condominium tower that promised investors significant returns. However, the reality turned out to be far from what was advertised. Many investors who purchased units claimed they were provided with misleading financial projections that exaggerated potential profits. These individuals alleged they were led to believe their investments would yield stable returns, only to face significant financial losses when the project underperformed.

Adding to the challenges, the project ran into severe financial trouble. By 2015, the development defaulted on a $310 million loan, leaving creditors scrambling for repayment. The situation escalated when the building was placed into receivership in 2016. To salvage the property’s reputation, the new owners paid millions of dollars to remove the Trump branding, highlighting the project’s tarnished image.

The legal fallout from the project was significant. A Canadian court later ruled that the marketing materials used to sell the units contained misrepresentations. These deceptive practices further undermined investor confidence and stained the project’s legacy.

2. Legal Disputes with Law Firms Over Unpaid Fees

Shnaider has faced multiple disputes with high-profile law firms over unpaid legal fees, adding to his contentious reputation. One prominent case involved a major international law firm that represented him in several matters. The firm withdrew its representation, citing irreconcilable differences and unpaid bills totaling nearly $1 million. This dispute escalated when Shnaider challenged the firm’s decision to retain his legal files as leverage for payment, leading to further legal entanglements.

In another instance, a second prominent law firm became embroiled in a conflict over Shnaider’s refusal to settle outstanding invoices. This firm, which had stepped in after the first dispute, found itself at odds with its predecessor over access to Shnaider’s case files. These incidents collectively painted a picture of a businessman embroiled in frequent disputes with his legal advisors.

3. Controversial Financial Transactions with Russian Entities

Shnaider’s financial dealings have also attracted scrutiny, particularly his connections to Russian state-owned entities. One notable example is his sale of a stake in the Ukrainian steel mill Zaporizhstal. The transaction was financed by a Russian state-owned bank, which raised eyebrows given the geopolitical tensions at the time. Reports suggested that proceeds from this sale were used to cover cost overruns for the Trump Tower Toronto project, linking Shnaider’s financial dealings to both the controversial project and Russian interests.

This association has fueled speculation about the extent of Shnaider’s ties to Russian state entities, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest and ethical concerns.

4. Internal Power Struggles Within Mishorim Development Ltd.

Shnaider’s involvement with Mishorim Development Ltd., an Israeli real estate company, was marked by internal disputes and legal battles over control. At the center of the conflict was a power struggle between Shnaider and the company’s co-founder. The dispute revolved around control agreements that were later invalidated by an Israeli court, ultimately granting Shnaider control over the company.

This internal discord revealed a pattern of contentious relationships within Shnaider’s business dealings, highlighting his willingness to engage in aggressive legal maneuvers to assert control.

5. Allegations of Misrepresentation in Real Estate Investments

Shnaider’s reputation in the real estate sector has been further tarnished by allegations of misrepresentation. Investors in various projects have accused him of providing overly optimistic financial projections that failed to align with market realities. The Trump Tower Toronto project is a prime example of these allegations, where investors claimed they were duped into believing in a far more profitable venture than what materialized.

These allegations have been a recurring theme in Shnaider’s career, casting doubt on the transparency and ethics of his business practices.

Conclusion

Alex Shnaider’s career has been marked by a series of controversies, legal disputes, and allegations of financial mismanagement. From high-profile real estate failures to contentious legal battles and controversial financial dealings, Shnaider’s ventures have often left a trail of dissatisfied investors and unresolved questions. While he remains a prominent figure in the business world, the shadow of these controversies continues to loom large over his legacy. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of opaque business practices and the consequences of prioritizing profit over transparency and accountability.

How do we counteract this malpractice?

Once we ascertain the involvement of Alex Shnaider (or actors working on behalf of Alex Shnaider), we will inform Alex Shnaider of our findings via Electronic Mail.

Our preliminary assessment suggests that Alex Shnaider may have engaged a third-party reputation management agency or expert, which, either independently or under direct authorization from Alex Shnaider, initiated efforts to remove adverse online content, including potentially fraudulent DMCA takedown requests. We will extend an opportunity to Alex Shnaider to provide details regarding their communications with the agency or expert, as well as the identification of the individual(s) responsible for executing these false DMCA notices.

Failure to respond in a timely manner will necessitate a reassessment of our initial assumptions. In such an event, we will be compelled to take appropriate legal action to rectify the unlawful conduct and take the following steps –

Since Alex Shnaider made such efforts to hide something online, it seems fit to ensure that this article and sensitive information targeted online by these events get a lot more exposure and traffic than what it would have received originally

We hope this becomes an excellent case study for the Streisand effect…The key idea behind the Streisand effect is that efforts to restrict information can backfire, often causing the information to gain more attention than it would have otherwise. This effect is widespread in the digital age, where users quickly notice and spread censorship efforts on social media and other platforms. Trying to suppress something can unintentionally lead to it becoming more visible, which Alex Shnaider is finding out the hard way.

Potential Consequences for Alex Shnaider

Under Florida Statute 831.01, the crime of Forgery is committed when a person falsifies, alters, counterfeits, or forges a document that carries “legal efficacy” with the intent to injure or defraud another person or entity.

Forging a document is considered a white-collar crime. It involves altering, changing, or modifying a document to deceive another person. It can also include passing along copies of documents that are known to be false. In many states in the US, falsifying a document is a crime punishable as a felony.

Additionally, under most laws, “fraud on the court” is where “a party has sentiently set in motion some unconscionable scheme calculated to interfere with the judicial system’s ability impartially to adjudicate a matter by improperly influencing the trier of fact or unfairly hampering the presentation of the opposing party’s claim or defense.”  Cox v. Burke, 706 So. 2d 43, 46 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998) (quoting Aoude v. Mobil Oil Corp., 892 F.2d 1115, 1118 (1st Cir. 1989)).

Is Alex Shnaider Committing a Cyber Crime?

Yes, it seems so. Alex Shnaider used multiple approaches to remove unwanted material from review sites and Google’s search results. Thanks to protections allowing freedom of speech in the United States, there are very few legal ways to do this. Alex Shnaider could not eliminate negative reviews or search results that linked to them without a valid claim of defamation, copyright infringement, or some other clear breach of the law.

Faced with these limitations, some companies like Alex Shnaider have gone to extreme lengths to fraudulently claim copyright ownership over a negative review in the hopes of taking it down.

Fake DMCA notices have targeted articles highlighting the criminal activity of prominent people to hide their illegal behavior. These people, which include US, Russian, and Khazakstani politicians as well as members from elite circles including the mafia and those with massive financial power, are all connected – and alleged corruption ranging from child abuse to sexual harassment is exposed when exploring evidence found at these URLs. It appears there’s a disturbing level of influence being exerted here that needs further investigation before justice can be served. Alex Shnaider is certainly keeping interesting company here….

The DMCA takedown process requires that copyright owners submit a takedown notice to an ISP identifying the allegedly infringing content and declaring, under penalty of perjury, that they have a good faith belief that the content is infringing. The ISP must then promptly remove or disable access to the content. The alleged infringer can then submit a counter-notice, and if the copyright owner does not take legal action within 10 to 14 days, the ISP can restore the content.

Since these platforms are predominantly based in the U.S., the complaints are typically made under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which requires online service providers and platforms to react immediately to reports or violations. Big Tech companies rarely have systems in place to assess the merit of each report. Instead, all bad actors need to do is clone a story, backdate it, and then demand the real thing be taken down.

Reputation Agency's Modus Operandi

The fake DMCA notices we found always use the “back-dated article” technique. With this technique, the wrongful notice sender (or copier) creates a copy of a “true original” article and back-dates it, creating a “fake original” article (a copy of the true original) that, at first glance, appears to have been published before the true original.

Then, based on the claim that this backdated article is the “original,” the scammers send a DMCA to the relevant online service providers (e.g. Google), alleging that the ‘true’ original is the copied or “infringing” article and that the copied article is the “original,” requesting the takedown of the ‘true’ original article. After sending the DMCA request, the person who sent the wrong notice takes down the fake original URL, likely to make sure that the article doesn’t stay online in any way. If the takedown notice is successful, the disappearance from the internet of information is most likely to be legitimate speech.

As an integral part of this scheme, the ‘reputation management’ company hired by Alex Shnaider creates a website that purports to be a ‘news’ site. This site is designed to look legitimate at a glance, but any degree of scrutiny reveals it as the charade it is.

The company copies the ‘negative’ content and posts it “on the fake ‘news’ site, attributing it to a separate author,” then gives it “a false publication date on the ‘news’ website that predated the original publication.

The reputation company then sent Google a Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice claiming the original website infringed copyright. After a cursory examination of the fake news site, Google frequently accepts the notice and delists the content.

In committing numerous offences, Alex Shnaider either premeditated actions or were unaware of the consequences. Despite hiring an agency to make Google disregard any negative information about Alex Shnaider, ignorance does not excuse this wrongdoing.

Fake DMCA notices have targeted articles highlighting the criminal activity of prominent people to hide their illegal behavior. These people, which include US, Russian, and Khazakstani politicians as well as members from elite circles including the mafia and those with massive financial power, are all connected – and alleged corruption ranging from child abuse to sexual harassment is exposed when exploring evidence found at these URLs. It appears there’s a disturbing level of influence being exerted here that needs further investigation before justice can be served. FSMSmart is certainly keeping interesting company here.

The Reputation Laundering

Rogue Reputation agencies use spurious copyright claims and fake legal notices to remove and obscure articles linking clients to allegations of tax avoidance, corruption, and drug trafficking. Most of these reputation agencies are based offshore, mainly in Russia, India, and Eastern Europe, and they do not worry about complying with US-based laws.

The content in all of the articles for which the fraudulent DMCA notices have been sent relates to allegations of criminal allegations, including corruption, child abuse, sexual harassment, human trafficking and financial fraud against businesses and individuals with ultra-high net worth.

In addition to the misuse of the DMCA takedown process, there is a notable absence of enforcement concerning perjury violations. The statutory requirement related to perjury is designed to deter copyright holders from submitting fraudulent or knowingly false takedown requests, as they may face legal consequences for making false declarations under penalty of perjury. However, to date, there have been no known instances of any individual being prosecuted for perjury in connection with the submission of false DMCA takedown notices.

This lack of enforcement has emboldened copyright holders to exploit the DMCA takedown process to suppress dissent, criticism, or other unfavorable content, without fear of legal repercussions.

Some of the people and businesses who have employed this tactic to remove legitimate content from Google illegally include a Spanish businessman-turned-cocaine-trafficker, Organised crime, an Israeli-Argentine banker accused of laundering money for Hugo Chávez’s regime, a French “responsible” mining company accused of tax evasion, child molesters and sexual predators. Alex Shnaider is in great company ….

What else is Alex Shnaider hiding?

We encourage you to ‘Dork‘ Google by searching for keyword combinations such as [Alex Shnaider] + {Negative Keyword, such as Scam, Fraud, Complaints, Lawsuit, Sanction, etc} on Google. It’s likely if you scroll down to the bottom of this Google search results, you’ll stumble upon this Legal Takedown notice (pictured below)

To make such an investigation possible, we encourage more online service providers to come forward and share copies of content removal requests with industry experts and researchers. If you have any information on Alex Shnaider that you want to share with experts and journalists, kindly email the author directly at [email protected].

All communications are strictly confidential and safeguarded under a comprehensive Whistleblower Policy, ensuring full protection and anonymity for individuals who provide information.