CyberCriminal.com

Yasam Ayavefe

We are investigating Yasam Ayavefe 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.

Yasam Ayavefe

PARTIES INVOLVED: Yasam Ayavefe

ALLEGATIONS: Perjury, Fraud, Impersonation

INCIDENT DATE: 14 Aug 2024

INVESTIGATED BY: Ethan Katz

TOOLS USED: Lumen, FakeDMCA, SecurityTrails

CASE NO: 6739/A/2024

CRIME TYPE: Intellectual Property Scam

PUBLISHED ON: 22 Nov 2024

REPORTED BY: FakeDMCA.com

JURISDICTION: USA

A summary of what happened?

Who is Yasam Ayavefe?

Yasam Ayavefe is a controversial Turkish businessman known for his involvement in various financial and political scandals. Despite being subject to a Red Notice issued by Interpol at the request of Turkish authorities, Ayavefe has managed to secure Greek honorary citizenship and a Liberian diplomatic passport, sparking significant criticism and international attention. His activities span multiple countries, including Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, and Liberia.


Major Concerns and Allegations

1. Fraud and Financial Crimes

  • Interpol Red Notice: Ayavefe is wanted by Turkish authorities for allegations of large-scale financial fraud.
  • Illegal Casino Operations: He reportedly obtained permits for casinos in Cyprus under dubious circumstances, circumventing local laws.
  • Money Laundering: Allegations include involvement in laundering significant sums through a network of businesses across various jurisdictions.

2. Links to Organized Crime

  • Ayavefe has been associated with organized criminal networks and figures, including connections to Halil Falyali, a controversial figure involved in illegal gambling and money laundering.
  • There are unverified claims tying Ayavefe to the assassination of Falyali, though his precise role remains unclear.

3. Citizenship Controversies

  • Greek Honorary Citizenship:
    • Ayavefe was controversially granted Greek honorary citizenship, allegedly due to his financial donations to churches and local institutions.
    • Critics argue that the citizenship process ignored his criminal background, undermining the integrity of Greek laws.
  • Liberian Diplomatic Passport:
    • Reports suggest Ayavefe obtained a diplomatic passport from Liberia, raising concerns about its legitimacy and potential misuse for avoiding legal accountability.

4. Media Suppression and Cyberattacks

  • Targeting Journalists:
    • Media outlets such as BIRN and Balkan Insight have reported cyberattacks and copyright takedown requests aimed at silencing investigative articles exposing Ayavefe’s alleged activities.
    • These actions have been condemned by international free-press advocates as an attack on media freedom.
  • Online Reputation Management:
    • Ayavefe has been accused of engaging in aggressive tactics to sanitize his public image, including the use of legal threats and censorship efforts.

5. Exploitation of Political and Religious Institutions

  • Donations to Churches:
    • Ayavefe made substantial donations to Greek Orthodox churches, which critics argue were part of a strategic campaign to gain favor and citizenship.
  • Political Ties:
    • His ability to secure citizenship and diplomatic privileges highlights alleged exploitation of political systems for personal gain.

6. Misrepresentation of Identity

  • Media reports suggest Ayavefe may have adopted aliases and claimed a new religious identity (Christianity) to facilitate his acceptance in Greek society and evade scrutiny.

Impact and Public Reactions

Condemnation and Backlash

  • International Backlash:
    • Human rights groups and investigative journalists have criticized Ayavefe’s efforts to stifle freedom of speech and avoid accountability.
  • Greek Public Outrage:
    • The decision to grant him honorary citizenship sparked widespread criticism in Greece, with opposition parties and citizens questioning the government’s actions.

Media Coverage

  • Prominent media outlets across Turkey, Greece, and Europe have extensively reported on Ayavefe’s alleged activities, further fueling public skepticism about his claims and privileges.

Yasam Ayavefe has become a symbol of how wealth and influence can be used to evade accountability across multiple jurisdictions. From allegations of fraud and connections to organized crime to controversial citizenship grants and suppression of media scrutiny, his activities have drawn significant attention and condemnation. Ayavefe’s case highlights systemic weaknesses in international law enforcement, political processes, and media protections, raising broader questions about justice and accountability in an interconnected world.

 

Yasam Ayavefe 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 Yasam Ayavefe trying to hide?

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

Investigative Report: Yasam Ayavefe – Allegations, Controversies, and Legal Challenges

Introduction

Yasam Ayavefe, a Turkish businessman with operations spanning Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, and Liberia, has been implicated in numerous allegations of fraud, organized crime connections, and legal manipulations. Despite being under a Red Notice from Interpol for charges related to financial crimes, Ayavefe has secured Greek honorary citizenship and a Liberian diplomatic passport, sparking international controversy. This investigative report delves into the breadth of accusations, the mechanisms enabling his evasion of accountability, and the global implications of his case.


1. Allegations of Fraud and Financial Crimes

1.1. Financial Fraud in Turkey

  • Turkish authorities have accused Ayavefe of involvement in large-scale financial fraud, resulting in an Interpol Red Notice being issued against him.
  • These crimes include:
    • Misappropriation of funds from investors.
    • Manipulation of financial transactions across borders to obscure accountability.
    • Alleged illicit enrichment through dubious business ventures.

1.2. Illegal Gambling Operations

  • Ayavefe reportedly facilitated illegal casino operations in Cyprus, using questionable permits to circumvent regulatory restrictions.
  • Media reports suggest these casinos were linked to money laundering networks, funneling significant sums into offshore accounts.

1.3. Money Laundering

  • Authorities and investigative journalists have linked Ayavefe to money laundering schemes involving a network of companies across Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus.
  • The schemes allegedly involve laundering illicit funds through tourism ventures, real estate acquisitions, and charitable donations.

2. Connections to Organized Crime

2.1. Alleged Ties to Halil Falyali

  • Ayavefe has been connected to Halil Falyali, a notorious figure implicated in illegal gambling and money laundering operations.
  • Falyali’s assassination in 2022 has raised speculation about Ayavefe’s potential involvement, though direct evidence remains unsubstantiated.

2.2. Criminal Network Allegations

  • Investigative reports highlight Ayavefe’s alleged association with organized crime networks operating in Europe and the Middle East.
  • Claims suggest Ayavefe used these networks to:
    • Facilitate cross-border financial crimes.
    • Intimidate whistleblowers and investigative journalists.

3. Citizenship Controversies

3.1. Greek Honorary Citizenship

  • In a highly controversial move, Ayavefe was granted honorary Greek citizenship:
    • This decision was reportedly influenced by substantial donations to Greek Orthodox churches and other charitable organizations.
    • Critics argue that the citizenship process ignored his criminal background and ongoing investigations.
  • Political and Public Backlash:
    • Greek opposition parties and public figures have condemned the government for granting citizenship to a fugitive wanted by Turkish authorities.
    • Accusations include undermining international law enforcement and compromising national integrity.

3.2. Liberian Diplomatic Passport

  • Reports suggest Ayavefe secured a diplomatic passport from Liberia, potentially leveraging financial influence to gain diplomatic immunity.
  • The legitimacy of this passport has been questioned, with concerns that it may be used to evade legal scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions.

4. Media Suppression and Censorship

4.1. Targeting Investigative Journalism

  • Media outlets such as Balkan Insight and BIRN have reported cyberattacks and copyright takedown requests targeting their investigative pieces on Ayavefe.
  • BIRN condemned these actions as attempts to suppress freedom of the press and silence public exposure of Ayavefe’s activities.

4.2. Online Reputation Management

  • Ayavefe has been accused of orchestrating an aggressive campaign to sanitize his online presence, including:
    • Filing legal complaints against media outlets.
    • Employing online tools to suppress critical content.
    • Leveraging legal systems to intimidate journalists.

5. Exploitation of Religious and Political Systems

5.1. Donations to Religious Institutions

  • Ayavefe has made substantial donations to Greek Orthodox churches, which critics view as strategic moves to gain favor in local communities and facilitate his citizenship application.
  • These donations have been characterized as efforts to obscure his criminal background and cultivate a positive public image.

5.2. Political Exploitation

  • Ayavefe’s honorary citizenship highlights weaknesses in the vetting processes of political systems, raising questions about how high-profile fugitives can exploit such systems for personal gain.

6. Broader Implications and Systemic Concerns

6.1. Gaps in International Law Enforcement

  • Ayavefe’s ability to secure Greek citizenship and a Liberian diplomatic passport despite a Red Notice underscores systemic weaknesses in international cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

6.2. Breach of Public Trust

  • The controversies surrounding Ayavefe’s activities have eroded trust in political systems, particularly in Greece, where opposition parties and citizens have raised concerns about accountability.

6.3. Media Suppression

  • The attacks on investigative journalism reflect broader challenges in holding powerful individuals accountable, with implications for press freedom globally.

7. Public and Media Reaction

Condemnation by Free Press Advocates

  • Organizations like BIRN and international media watchdogs have criticized Ayavefe’s actions, emphasizing the need to protect journalists exposing corruption and criminal activities.

Greek Public Outcry

  • The decision to grant Ayavefe citizenship has sparked significant backlash in Greece, with citizens questioning the government’s integrity and commitment to upholding the rule of law.

8. Recommendations for Addressing the Case

For Governments and Law Enforcement

  • Strengthen international collaboration to prevent individuals with criminal records from exploiting legal loopholes.
  • Establish more rigorous vetting processes for citizenship and diplomatic privileges.

For Media and Civil Society

  • Continue investigative efforts to expose misconduct while ensuring the protection of journalists.
  • Advocate for transparency in government decisions involving high-profile individuals.

Conclusion

Yasam Ayavefe’s activities represent a complex interplay of alleged financial crimes, organized crime connections, and political manipulation. Despite facing significant allegations, his ability to secure legal and diplomatic privileges highlights systemic weaknesses in accountability mechanisms. His efforts to suppress media scrutiny further underscore the challenges of exposing corruption and misconduct in a globalized world.

The case of Yasam Ayavefe demands closer attention to the intersection of wealth, influence, and international law enforcement. It serves as a critical example of how individuals can exploit gaps in governance to evade justice, with implications that extend far beyond his personal story.

 

 

 

How do we counteract this malpractice?

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

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

Potential Consequences for Yasam Ayavefe

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 Yasam Ayavefe Committing a Cyber Crime?

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

What else is Yasam Ayavefe hiding?

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

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

USER FEEDBACK ON Yasam Ayavefe

2/5

Based on 2 ratings

Trust
30%
Risk
70%
Brand
20%
by: Diana Green
December 11, 2024 at 10:59 am

It’s shocking to see how individuals like Yaşam Ayavefe can allegedly amass fortunes through illegal activities like betting and then be linked to such heinous crimes. This level of corruption and violence is a stain on society and shows the...

by: Charlie Brown
December 11, 2024 at 10:05 am

Such fraudsters highlight the urgent need for stronger action against organized crime.

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