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Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc

We are investigating Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc for allegedly attempting to conceal critical reviews and adverse news from Google by improperly submitting copyright takedown notices. This includes potential violations such as impersonation, fraud, and perjury.

Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc

PARTIES INVOLVED: Amit Raizada - Spectrum Business Ventures Inc

ALLEGATIONS: Perjury, Fraud, Impersonation

INCIDENT DATE: 10 Oct 2024

INVESTIGATED BY: Ethan Katz

TOOLS USED: Lumen, FakeDMCA, SecurityTrails

CASE NO: 9070/A/2024

CRIME TYPE: Intellectual Property Scam

PUBLISHED ON: 16 Oct 2024

REPORTED BY: FakeDMCA.com

JURISDICTION: USA

A summary of what happened?

Amit Raizada is the founder and CEO of Spectrum Business Ventures Inc. (SBV), a private equity firm established in 2002. Under his leadership, SBV has diversified its investments across various industries, including technology, entertainment, real estate, financial services, hospitality, retail, eSports, and fashion.

Legal Allegations and Controversies:

  1. Usurious Lending Practices:
    • Case Overview: In 2022, Raizada, along with SBV and other associated entities, was named in a lawsuit alleging involvement in a usurious lending scheme. The plaintiffs accused the defendants of offering loans with exorbitant interest rates, often exceeding an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 900%, which violated state usury laws.
    • Specific Allegations:
      • Engaging in deceptive lending practices through tribal affiliations to circumvent state regulations.
      • Utilizing complex corporate structures to obscure the true nature of the lending operations.
      • Profiting from loans deemed illegal under various state laws due to excessive interest rates.
  2. Legal Claims Related to Nightclub Investment:
    • Case Overview: In 2014, legal claims were filed against SBV and Raizada concerning their investment in Ocean First Group, LP, which aimed to establish an upscale nightclub in Miami Beach. The project experienced significant budget overruns and delays, leading to investor concerns.
    • Resolution: After an independent forensic accounting review, the parties withdrew their claims, and SBV continued its partnership in the venture.

Public Perception and Media Coverage:

Media outlets have scrutinized Raizada’s business practices, particularly focusing on his involvement in high-interest lending schemes and the complexities of his investment strategies. These reports have raised questions about the ethical implications of his business operations and their impact on consumers.

Amit Raizada’s entrepreneurial ventures through Spectrum Business Ventures Inc. have positioned him as a notable figure in various industries. However, his business activities have also attracted legal challenges and public criticism, particularly concerning lending practices and investment management. These controversies underscore the importance of transparency and ethical conduct in business operations.

 

Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc Fake DMCA

 

 

 

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 Amit Raizada - Spectrum Business Ventures Inc trying to hide?

Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc‘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 Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc in legal accountability. Let’s examine the information Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc may be trying to remove from the internet –

Investigative Report: The Controversies Surrounding Amit Raizada and Spectrum Business Ventures Inc.


Introduction

Amit Raizada, the founder and CEO of Spectrum Business Ventures Inc. (SBV), has built a significant presence in the world of private equity and venture capital. Established in 2002, SBV has diversified its portfolio across multiple industries, including real estate, technology, hospitality, retail, and even emerging markets like eSports and fashion. Despite Raizada’s apparent success and high-profile investments, his career has been marked by a series of controversies, lawsuits, and accusations of unethical business practices. This report explores the most notable allegations against Raizada and SBV, detailing the legal, ethical, and reputational challenges that have followed him.


1. Usurious Lending Practices

One of the most significant controversies involving Amit Raizada and Spectrum Business Ventures revolves around allegations of predatory lending.

Details of the Allegations

  • Case Overview:
    • In 2022, lawsuits alleged that Raizada and SBV were involved in a usurious lending scheme that charged borrowers exorbitant interest rates. Reports claimed that some loans carried an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of up to 900%.
    • The lawsuit accused Raizada of using complex corporate structures and partnerships with tribal entities to bypass state usury laws, which cap interest rates to protect consumers.
  • Mechanism of Operation:
    • Loans were reportedly issued under the guise of tribal sovereignty. Tribal entities were nominally involved in the lending operation to exploit legal loopholes that exempt tribal businesses from state regulations.
    • Plaintiffs argued that the loans were predatory in nature, targeting financially vulnerable individuals who had limited access to conventional credit.
  • Legal Implications:
    • Such practices, if proven, violate multiple state laws designed to protect consumers from exploitative lending. Raizada and SBV faced accusations of profiting from these unlawful operations, harming consumers across various jurisdictions.

Public and Legal Fallout

  • Consumer Impact:
    • Borrowers reportedly faced crippling debt due to the unsustainable interest rates, with many unable to repay the principal amounts despite making large payments.
  • Legal Outcomes:
    • The case remains a significant point of contention, with regulatory agencies and consumer advocates calling for stricter oversight of lending practices involving tribal partnerships.

2. Mismanagement and Legal Claims in Nightclub Investment

Another notable legal challenge faced by Raizada and SBV involved their investment in Ocean First Group, LP, a project aimed at developing a high-end nightclub in Miami Beach.

The Case

  • Background:
    • In 2014, Raizada and SBV were accused by co-investors of financial mismanagement in the nightclub project. The allegations included budget overruns, project delays, and concerns about how investor funds were utilized.
  • Legal Claims:
    • Co-investors filed lawsuits against SBV, claiming that the company misrepresented the project’s financial outlook and failed to deliver on its promises.

Resolution

  • An independent forensic accounting review was conducted to investigate the allegations. Following the review, the legal claims were withdrawn, and SBV continued its partnership in the project.
  • While the resolution cleared SBV of legal wrongdoing, the controversy highlighted concerns about transparency in Raizada’s business dealings.

3. Ethical Questions Around Spectrum Business Ventures’ Practices

Complex Investment Structures

Raizada and SBV have been criticized for their use of opaque corporate structures in many of their business ventures. These structures often make it difficult for investors and regulators to trace the flow of funds or assess the true risk of an investment.

  • Investor Concerns:
    • Some investors allege that SBV’s practices lack transparency, particularly in high-stakes ventures that involve multiple layers of partnerships and subsidiaries.

High-Risk Strategies

  • SBV’s approach to venture capital often involves investing in speculative markets such as eSports and emerging technologies. While potentially lucrative, these markets carry significant risk, and critics argue that SBV sometimes misrepresents the stability of its investments.

4. Public Perception and Media Scrutiny

Amit Raizada’s business practices have drawn significant media attention, much of it critical. Reports have highlighted:

  • Predatory Lending Accusations:
    • Media outlets have focused on the alleged exploitation of financially vulnerable individuals through high-interest loans, framing Raizada as a figure profiting from systemic inequality.
  • Reputational Damage:
    • The combination of legal challenges and negative reviews has harmed Raizada’s public image, with critics questioning the ethical foundation of his business empire.

Reputation Among Kansas City’s Wealthy

  • Raizada’s name has become controversial within Kansas City’s affluent circles. Some view him as an opportunistic businessman whose practices prioritize profit over ethics, while others acknowledge his entrepreneurial acumen despite his controversies.

5. Allegations of Investor Mismanagement

Concerns from Stakeholders

  • Investors in SBV’s projects have occasionally raised concerns about how their funds are allocated. Some have alleged that financial projections provided by SBV are overly optimistic, leading to unrealistic expectations about returns.
  • In certain cases, investors have reported difficulties in receiving detailed financial statements or updates on project progress.

Legal Complaints

  • These concerns have occasionally escalated to legal disputes, further adding to the perception that SBV’s operations may lack the transparency expected in the private equity industry.

6. Broader Implications of the Allegations

Impact on Consumers

  • The alleged lending practices, if proven true, have had a devastating effect on borrowers, trapping them in cycles of debt that are nearly impossible to escape.

Regulatory Concerns

  • The controversies surrounding SBV have prompted calls for stricter regulations on both predatory lending and the use of complex corporate structures to bypass consumer protection laws.

Damage to the Private Equity Industry

  • Cases like Raizada’s contribute to a broader mistrust of private equity firms, particularly those that operate in speculative or high-risk industries. Such controversies highlight the need for greater accountability and transparency in the sector.

Conclusion

Amit Raizada and Spectrum Business Ventures Inc. have built a multifaceted business empire, but their reputation is increasingly overshadowed by allegations of unethical practices, legal disputes, and public criticism. From accusations of predatory lending to questions about transparency and accountability, the controversies surrounding Raizada serve as a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of profit-driven strategies that prioritize financial gain over ethical considerations.

While Raizada’s entrepreneurial success cannot be denied, his career underscores the importance of regulatory oversight, investor diligence, and ethical business practices in maintaining trust within the financial industry. As lawsuits and allegations continue to surface, the future of SBV and its leadership remains uncertain, with stakeholders and the public closely watching for accountability and reform.

 

 

 

How do we counteract this malpractice?

Once we ascertain the involvement of Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc (or actors working on behalf of Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc), we will inform Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc of our findings via Electronic Mail.

Our preliminary assessment suggests that Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc may have engaged a third-party reputation management agency or expert, which, either independently or under direct authorization from Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc, initiated efforts to remove adverse online content, including potentially fraudulent DMCA takedown requests. We will extend an opportunity to Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc 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 Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc 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 Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc is finding out the hard way.

Potential Consequences for Amit Raizada - Spectrum Business Ventures Inc

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 Amit Raizada - Spectrum Business Ventures Inc. Committing a Cyber Crime?

Faced with these limitations, some companies like Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc 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. Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc is certainly keeping interesting company here….

CompanyNames Fake DMCA

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 Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc 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, Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc either premeditated actions or were unaware of the consequences. Despite hiring an agency to make Google disregard any negative information about Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc, 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. Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc is in great company ….

What else is Amit Raizada - Spectrum Business Ventures Inc hiding?

We encourage you to ‘Dork‘ Google by searching for keyword combinations such as [Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc] + {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 Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc 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.

Authorities we may contact and share this report with for further actions

GOOGLE LEGAL HEAD

Halimah DeLaine Prado

NEWS DESK

Washington Post & NY Times

The above decision-makers and authorities will be provided a comprehensive dossier of our findings, including anonymously submitted evidence and tips. We invite journalists to contact us to receive a copy of our complete investigation here

Credits and Acknowledgement

16/10/2024

Many thanks to FakeDMCA.com and Lumen for providing access to their database.

Photos and Illustrations provided by DALL-E 3 – “a representation of Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc censoring the internet and committing cyber crimes.”

  • We’ve reached out to Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc for a comment or rebuttal regarding this investigation. It will strongly suggest they were behind the takedown attempt if they remain silent.

    • Our investigative report on Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc‘s efforts to suppress online speech is significant, as it raises serious concerns about its integrity. The findings suggest that Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc has engaged in questionable practices, including potential perjury, impersonation, and fraud, in a misguided attempt to manage or salvage its reputation.

    • We intend to file a counternotice to reinstate the removed article(s). While this particular instance is relatively straightforward, it is important to note that, in other cases, the overwhelming volume of automated DMCA takedown notices can significantly hinder the ability of affected parties to respond—especially for those not large media organizations.

    • You need an account with fakeDMCA.com and Lumen to access the research data. However, accounts are not widely available since these non-profit organisations manage large databases that could be susceptible to misuse. Nevertheless, they do offer access to non-profits and researchers.

    • It’s unclear why U.S. authorities have yet to act against these rogue reputation agencies, whose business model seems rooted in fraudulent practices.

  • We’ve reached out to Amit Raizada – Spectrum Business Ventures Inc for a comment or rebuttal regarding this investigation. It will strongly suggest they were behind the takedown attempt if they remain silent.

About the Author

16/10/2024

The author is affiliated with Harvard University and serves as a researcher at both Lumen and FakeDMCA.com. In his personal capacity, he and his team have been actively investigating and reporting on organized crime related to fraudulent copyright takedown schemes. Additionally, his team provides advisory services to major law firms and is frequently consulted on matters pertaining to intellectual property law. He can be reached at [email protected] directly.

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