CyberCriminal.com

Calvak Energy

We are investigating Calvak Energy 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.

Calvak Energy

PARTIES INVOLVED: Calvak Energy

ALLEGATIONS: Perjury, Fraud, Impersonation

INCIDENT DATE: 03 Feb 2023

INVESTIGATED BY: Ethan Katz

TOOLS USED: Lumen, FakeDMCA, SecurityTrails

CASE NO: 5659/A/2024

CRIME TYPE: Intellectual Property Scam

PUBLISHED ON: 19 Nov 2024

REPORTED BY: FakeDMCA.com

JURISDICTION: USA

A summary of what happened?

Calvak Energy is a company that has attracted significant criticism from customers, as evidenced by numerous negative reviews on Hellopeter. Common complaints include:

  • Non-Delivery of Products: Customers report placing orders and making full payments without receiving the purchased items. For instance, one customer mentioned paying for an inverter in December 2022 but never receiving it.
  • Lack of Communication: After payment, many customers experience a cessation of communication from Calvak Energy. Attempts to contact the company via email or phone often go unanswered.
  • Provision of False Tracking Information: Some customers have been given tracking numbers that do not correspond to their orders, leading to further frustration and suspicion of fraudulent activity.
  • Allegations of Fraudulent Behavior: Multiple reviews label Calvak Energy as a scam, warning others to avoid engaging with the company due to deceptive practices.

These recurring issues suggest a pattern of unethical business practices, prompting customers to advise caution when dealing with Calvak Energy.

 

Calvak Energy 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 Calvak Energy trying to hide?

Calvak Energy‘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 Calvak Energy in legal accountability. Let’s examine the information Calvak Energy may be trying to remove from the internet –

Investigative Report: Calvak Energy – An Examination of Customer Complaints and Allegations


Introduction

Calvak Energy, a company that promotes itself as a provider of energy solutions, has come under heavy criticism due to numerous complaints and allegations of unethical practices. Customers have consistently reported issues with product delivery, communication, and deceptive practices. This report provides a detailed examination of the complaints, outlining the systemic issues that have tarnished the company’s reputation.


The Complaints in Detail

1. Non-Delivery of Products

One of the most frequent complaints involves customers paying for products, such as inverters, batteries, or energy systems, that are never delivered.

  • Examples of Complaints:
    • A customer reported paying for an inverter in December 2022 with a promise of delivery within two days. Despite following up multiple times, the product never arrived, leaving the customer frustrated and financially impacted.
    • Another complaint details a similar experience where a client paid in full for an energy system but received no communication or product after weeks of waiting.
  • Impact on Customers:
    • These incidents result in financial loss for customers, particularly those who invest significant amounts in energy solutions during power crises.
    • The failure to deliver essential products undermines trust and creates a sense of betrayal among buyers who rely on such systems for critical needs.

2. Lack of Communication Post-Payment

A recurring issue with Calvak Energy is the sudden cessation of communication after payments are made.

  • Key Issues:
    • Customers frequently state that they receive prompt responses during the inquiry and purchase stages. However, after transferring funds, communication channels go silent.
    • Phone calls, emails, and WhatsApp messages are reportedly ignored, leaving customers without updates on their purchases or refunds.
  • Customer Testimonies:
    • One customer wrote, “After paying and sending proof of payment, the company completely stopped responding. It’s as if they vanished.”
    • Another review mentioned that despite multiple attempts to reach out via phone and email, there was no acknowledgment of the issue.
  • Effect on Clients:
    • The lack of communication exacerbates the frustration of customers who have already paid for products. It also creates doubt about the legitimacy of the company.

3. Provision of False Tracking Information

Some customers who demand proof of shipment or order status are given invalid or fake tracking numbers, adding another layer of distrust.

  • Deceptive Practices:
    • Customers have reported receiving tracking numbers that lead nowhere, with courier services confirming that the referenced shipments do not exist.
    • This practice gives the illusion of progress but ultimately leaves customers waiting indefinitely for products that were never shipped.
  • Customer Accounts:
    • One reviewer stated, “I was given a tracking number, but when I checked with the courier service, they had no record of any package being sent to me.”
    • Another buyer noted that they were repeatedly assured that their order was in transit, but the tracking number provided turned out to be fabricated.

4. Allegations of Fraudulent Behavior

The culmination of these issues—non-delivery, lack of communication, and false tracking information—has led many customers to label Calvak Energy as fraudulent.

  • Patterns Identified:
    • Customers often describe their experiences as part of a larger scheme to defraud buyers of their money.
    • Multiple reviews on platforms like Hellopeter refer to Calvak Energy as a “scam” and warn others to avoid engaging with the company.
  • Public Sentiment:
    • One reviewer warned, “Calvak Energy is a scam! Do not trust them with your money. They will take your payment and disappear.”
    • Another commented, “They are running a well-organized scam operation, targeting people during load-shedding when energy solutions are desperately needed.”

5. Online Reputation and Negative Reviews

Calvak Energy’s online reputation is dominated by negative reviews, particularly on consumer review platforms like Hellopeter.

  • Recurring Themes:
    • Nearly all reviews cite non-delivery, lack of communication, and deceptive practices as major issues.
    • The language used by reviewers frequently includes words like “fraud,” “scam,” and “dishonest,” reflecting widespread disillusionment with the company.
  • Example Complaints:
    • A Hellopeter user shared: “Calvak Energy has been scamming people for months. I placed an order, paid upfront, and never heard from them again.”
    • Another reviewer wrote, “I was promised a refund after they failed to deliver my order. It’s been six months, and I’m still waiting.”

Impact on Customers

1. Financial Losses

Customers who have paid in full for products but received nothing face significant financial setbacks, especially given the high costs of energy solutions.

2. Emotional Stress

The lack of communication and deceptive practices create anxiety and frustration for buyers, many of whom rely on these products for essential power needs during crises like load-shedding.

3. Wasted Time and Effort

Customers spend weeks or months attempting to resolve their issues, with no resolution from Calvak Energy. This lost time adds to the overall negative experience.


Customer Warnings and Advice

  • From the Public:
    • “Avoid Calvak Energy at all costs. They will take your money and ghost you.”
    • “If you’ve been scammed, report them immediately to consumer protection authorities.”
  • Preventative Steps:
    • Conduct thorough research before engaging with online vendors.
    • Verify reviews across multiple platforms to identify potential red flags.
    • Avoid making full payments upfront unless the company has a proven track record of reliability.

Conclusion

Calvak Energy has developed a reputation as a company plagued by accusations of fraud, unethical business practices, and widespread customer dissatisfaction. Complaints of non-delivery, communication failures, false tracking numbers, and outright dishonesty paint a damning picture of its operations.

For prospective customers, the overwhelming negative feedback serves as a stark warning. Due diligence, including verifying reviews and seeking alternative, reputable providers, is essential to avoid falling victim to similar experiences.

This case underscores the importance of accountability and transparency in business, particularly in industries where trust is paramount. Without significant changes to its practices, Calvak Energy risks further damaging its reputation and facing legal consequences for its alleged misconduct.

 

 

 

How do we counteract this malpractice?

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

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

Potential Consequences for Calvak Energy

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 Calvak Energy Committing a Cyber Crime?

Faced with these limitations, some companies like Calvak Energy 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. Calvak Energy 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 Calvak Energy 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, Calvak Energy either premeditated actions or were unaware of the consequences. Despite hiring an agency to make Google disregard any negative information about Calvak Energy, 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. Calvak Energy is in great company ….

What else is Calvak Energy hiding?

We encourage you to ‘Dork‘ Google by searching for keyword combinations such as [Calvak Energy] + {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 Calvak Energy 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 Calvak Energy censoring the internet and committing cyber crimes.”

  • We’ve reached out to Calvak Energy 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 Calvak Energy‘s efforts to suppress online speech is significant, as it raises serious concerns about its integrity. The findings suggest that Calvak Energy 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 Calvak Energy 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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