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- Blacklands Finance Limited
PARTIES INVOLVED: Blacklands Finance Limited
ALLEGATIONS: Perjury, Fraud, Impersonation
INCIDENT DATE: 24 November 2022
INVESTIGATED BY: Ethan Katz
TOOLS USED: Lumen, FakeDMCA, SecurityTrails
CASE NO: 1212/A/2024
CRIME TYPE: Intellectual Property Scam
PUBLISHED ON: 19 Nov 2024
REPORTED BY: FakeDMCA.com
JURISDICTION: USA
A summary of what happened?
The Allegations Against Blacklands Finance Limited
- Fraudulent Financial Practices
Many clients have reported significant difficulties in withdrawing funds after investing with Blacklands Finance Limited. Allegedly, the company demands additional payments under the guise of compliance or processing fees, but even after these fees are paid, funds are not released. These incidents have led to accusations that the company is engaging in fraudulent activities designed to misappropriate investor assets. - Lack of Regulatory Authorization
Investigations into Blacklands Finance Limited’s operations reveal that the company does not possess the required licenses to provide financial services in several jurisdictions. This lack of proper authorization raises concerns about its credibility and the safety of client investments. Operating without appropriate regulatory oversight has amplified suspicions of misconduct. - Attempts to Suppress Negative Information
Blacklands Finance Limited has been accused of attempting to silence criticism and negative reviews online. Allegations include submitting fraudulent takedown notices to remove unfavorable content and suppressing information that could harm its public image. These actions suggest a deliberate strategy to manipulate public perception and obscure its questionable practices. - Consistent Customer Complaints
Numerous clients have shared accounts of poor experiences with Blacklands Finance Limited. Common grievances include:- Unresponsive customer service
- Unjustified account freezes
- Refusal or failure to process withdrawal requests
Such complaints are widespread, tarnishing the company’s reputation and raising red flags about its operational integrity.
Impact on Clients and Investors
Clients who have dealt with Blacklands Finance Limited report financial losses, stress, and frustration due to the company’s practices. Many describe feeling deceived by the initial promises of returns, only to face stonewalling when attempting to access their funds. The alleged fraudulent practices not only harm individuals financially but also undermine trust in the broader financial services industry.
The Bigger Picture
Blacklands Finance Limited represents a cautionary tale for investors navigating the financial services landscape. Its actions underscore the importance of thorough due diligence when selecting investment platforms. Red flags, such as a lack of transparency, unregulated operations, and censorship efforts, should serve as warnings to potential clients.
Blacklands Finance Limited has come under fire for allegations of fraud, regulatory non-compliance, and suppression of critical information. While the company maintains its registration as a legitimate entity, the widespread complaints and concerning practices paint a troubling picture. Investors are strongly advised to exercise caution and seek professional guidance before engaging with the company. Transparency and accountability remain crucial in ensuring trust and security in financial dealings.
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.
Number of Fake DMCA Notice(s) |
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Lumen Database Notice(s) | |
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Fake Link(s) Used by Scammers | |
Original Link(s) Targeted |
What was Blacklands Finance Limited trying to hide?
Blacklands Finance Limited‘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 Blacklands Finance Limited in legal accountability. Let’s examine the information Blacklands Finance Limited may be trying to remove from the internet –
Investigative Report: Blacklands Finance Limited – A Deep Dive Into Allegations and Controversies
Introduction
Blacklands Finance Limited, a financial services company registered in the United Kingdom, has increasingly found itself under the spotlight, not for its financial prowess, but for allegations of fraudulent activities and misconduct. Despite being officially registered, the company’s operational integrity has been questioned through a series of complaints, allegations, and regulatory concerns. This investigative report aims to unravel the web of controversies surrounding Blacklands Finance Limited and provide an in-depth analysis of its alleged practices.
The Background
Blacklands Finance Limited markets itself as a provider of diverse financial services, appealing to individuals and businesses seeking investment opportunities. With a listed address in London, the company’s branding and professional website portray it as a reputable financial institution. However, a deeper look into its operations reveals a troubling pattern of customer complaints, questionable practices, and accusations of misconduct.
Key Allegations and Concerns
1. Fraudulent Financial Practices
One of the most consistent accusations against Blacklands Finance Limited is its alleged engagement in fraudulent activities. Clients have reported:
- Difficulties in Withdrawing Funds: After depositing money with the company, clients often find themselves unable to withdraw funds. Withdrawal requests are met with delays, unresponsiveness, or outright refusals.
- Additional Fees and Charges: Many investors have been asked to pay additional fees, often labeled as “compliance charges” or “processing fees.” Despite paying these fees, clients claim they were still unable to access their funds.
- False Promises of Returns: Customers allege that the company provided exaggerated projections of returns, luring them into making significant deposits. Once funds are invested, communication reportedly dwindles, and promised returns never materialize.
2. Regulatory Non-Compliance
While Blacklands Finance Limited is officially registered in the UK, evidence suggests it lacks the necessary regulatory licenses to offer financial services in various jurisdictions. This absence of compliance has raised alarms among investors and regulators alike, as unlicensed operations often escape the scrutiny required to ensure ethical practices and investor protections.
3. Attempts to Censor Criticism
The company has been accused of actively suppressing negative information about its activities. Reports indicate that Blacklands Finance Limited has:
- Submitted questionable takedown requests targeting online reviews and articles that expose its alleged fraudulent practices.
- Leveraged legal threats against individuals and platforms attempting to share negative experiences.
- Created or promoted positive content to drown out critical reviews and complaints, manipulating its online reputation.
4. Opaque Operations
Transparency is a hallmark of trustworthy financial institutions. Blacklands Finance Limited, however, is criticized for:
- Lack of Corporate Transparency: Details about the company’s leadership, governance structure, and actual operational locations are sparse or entirely missing.
- Unclear Investment Strategies: Investors report that the company provides limited information about how funds are managed or where they are allocated, adding to suspicions about its legitimacy.
5. Widespread Customer Complaints
A plethora of negative reviews and complaints from clients paint a grim picture of Blacklands Finance Limited’s operations. Key themes include:
- Unresponsive Customer Service: Customers describe long waits, ignored communications, and unhelpful responses when attempting to resolve issues.
- Account Freezes: Some investors have reported sudden account freezes, preventing them from accessing their funds without explanation or resolution.
- Deceptive Practices: Multiple clients claim the company employs high-pressure tactics to encourage investments but fails to deliver on its promises once funds are deposited.
Case Studies: Victim Accounts
Case Study 1: The Small Business Investor
A small business owner, drawn to Blacklands Finance Limited by promises of high returns, invested a significant portion of their savings. After depositing the funds, the investor was unable to withdraw even the principal amount. Attempts to contact the company were met with silence or vague reassurances. After months of frustration, the investor concluded they had likely fallen victim to a scam.
Case Study 2: The Aspiring Retiree
A retiree, looking to grow their savings, was persuaded by Blacklands Finance Limited’s professional branding and enticing offers. Despite an initial positive experience, withdrawal attempts were repeatedly delayed. When finally contacted, the retiree was asked to pay additional fees for “verification,” which only deepened their financial losses.
Regulatory and Legal Challenges
Although no formal lawsuits have been widely publicized, Blacklands Finance Limited has faced increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies in multiple jurisdictions. Investigations into its operations have highlighted:
- Lack of appropriate licensing to provide financial services.
- Potential violations of consumer protection laws, especially concerning deceptive advertising and misrepresentation.
Some regulators have issued warnings about engaging with the company, advising the public to exercise caution.
Impact on the Financial Industry
The allegations against Blacklands Finance Limited contribute to growing concerns about unregulated financial entities exploiting vulnerable investors. Such cases erode public trust in the financial services sector, emphasizing the need for stronger regulatory frameworks and investor awareness.
Expert Insights
Financial analysts and fraud investigators have weighed in on the case, identifying common red flags associated with companies like Blacklands Finance Limited:
- Unrealistically high returns with minimal risk.
- Pressure to invest quickly, often accompanied by limited transparency.
- Difficulties in retrieving funds or obtaining clear communication post-investment.
Conclusion
Blacklands Finance Limited’s trajectory is a cautionary tale for investors worldwide. While its professional appearance and enticing promises may initially seem credible, the numerous allegations and complaints tell a different story. The lack of transparency, regulatory compliance, and accountability, coupled with attempts to suppress criticism, cast significant doubt on the company’s legitimacy.
Investors are urged to exercise extreme caution when engaging with any financial service provider, especially those with a history of negative reviews and unregulated operations. Thorough due diligence and consultation with trusted financial advisors remain critical in avoiding potential scams. Blacklands Finance Limited serves as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in the ever-expanding landscape of online financial services.
How do we counteract this malpractice?
Once we ascertain the involvement of Blacklands Finance Limited (or actors working on behalf of Blacklands Finance Limited), we will inform Blacklands Finance Limited of our findings via Electronic Mail.
Our preliminary assessment suggests that Blacklands Finance Limited may have engaged a third-party reputation management agency or expert, which, either independently or under direct authorization from Blacklands Finance Limited, initiated efforts to remove adverse online content, including potentially fraudulent DMCA takedown requests. We will extend an opportunity to Blacklands Finance Limited 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 Blacklands Finance Limited 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 Blacklands Finance Limited is finding out the hard way.
Potential Consequences for Blacklands Finance Limited
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 Blacklands Finance Limited Committing a Cyber Crime?
Yes, it seems so. Blacklands Finance Limited 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. Blacklands Finance Limited 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 Blacklands Finance Limited 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. Blacklands Finance Limited 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 Blacklands Finance Limited 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, Blacklands Finance Limited either premeditated actions or were unaware of the consequences. Despite hiring an agency to make Google disregard any negative information about Blacklands Finance Limited, 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. Blacklands Finance Limited is in great company ….
What else is Blacklands Finance Limited hiding?
We encourage you to ‘Dork‘ Google by searching for keyword combinations such as [Blacklands Finance Limited] + {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 Blacklands Finance Limited 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.
Credits and Acknowledgement
Many thanks to FakeDMCA.com and Lumen for providing access to their database.
Photos and Illustrations provided by DALL-E 3 – “a representation of Blacklands Finance Limited censoring the internet and committing cyber crimes.”
- We’ve reached out to Blacklands Finance Limited for a comment or rebuttal regarding this investigation. It will strongly suggest they were behind the takedown attempt if they remain silent.
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- Our investigative report on Blacklands Finance Limited‘s efforts to suppress online speech is significant, as it raises serious concerns about its integrity. The findings suggest that Blacklands Finance Limited has engaged in questionable practices, including potential perjury, impersonation, and fraud, in a misguided attempt to manage or salvage its reputation.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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 Blacklands Finance Limited 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
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.
References used for this investigation
- 1
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/29676394
- 24/11/2022
- Complaint
- 2
- https://www.anwalt.de/rechtstipps/betrug-ueber-blacklands-finance-limited-blacklandsfin-erfahrungen-zur-auszahlung-geld-zurueck-204243.html
- 04/08/2024
- Adverse Media
- 3
- https://www.gripeo.com/blacklands-finance-limited/
- 09/12/2023
- Adverse Media
- 4
- https://medium.com/@stootmammie2/betrug-%C3%BCber-blacklands-finance-limited-blacklandsfin-erfahrungen-zur-auszahlung-geld-zur%C3%BCck-e082eadbe8a1
- 23/01/2023
- Adverse Media
- 5
- https://page-truth.com/blacklands-finance-limited-review/
- 14/09/2023
- Adverse Media
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by: Paolo Rossi
They took my money and gave no payout. Classic scam
by: Emma Green
Blacklandsfin lured me in with promises of high returns on cryptocurrency investments. Initially, they showed me a small payout, but when I tried to withdraw, I was told I had to pay more for ‘money laundering compliance.’ After transferring thousands...
by: Maxim Romanov
I invested in Blacklands Finance and everything seemed fine until they demanded more money for a ‘security payment.’ After paying thousands of euros, I never saw a cent back. Their customer service is non-existent, and now they’re unreachable. I strongly...
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by: Fatima Al-Sabah
Scam Alert – Don’t trust Blacklands Finance !