Gurhan Kiziloz – Lanistar
We are investigating Gurhan Kiziloz – Lanistar 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.
PARTIES INVOLVED : Gurhan Kiziloz - Lanistar
ALLEGATIONS : Perjury, Fraud, Impersonation
INCIDENT DATE : 06 Oct 2024
INVESTIGATED BY : Ethan Katz
TOOLS USED : Lumen, FakeDMCA, SecurityTrails
CASE NO : 0650/A/2024
CRIME TYPE : Intellectual Property Scam
PUBLISHED ON : 26 Nov 2024
Due Diligence
Is This About You?
What We Are Investigating?
Our firm is launching a comprehensive investigation into Gurhan Kiziloz – Lanistar over allegations that it has been suppressing critical reviews and unfavorable Google search results by fraudulently misusing DMCA takedown notices. These actions, if proven, could constitute serious legal violations—including impersonation, fraud, and perjury.
We conducted comprehensive analyses of fraudulent copyright takedown requests, meritless legal complaints, and other unlawful efforts to suppress public access to critical information. Our reporting sheds light on the prevalence and modus operandi of a structured censorship network, often funded and used by criminal enterprises, oligarchs and criminal entities seeking to manipulate public perception and bypass AML checks conducted by financial organisations.
The fake DMCA notices in this investigation appears to have been strategically deployed to remove negative content from Google search results illegally. Based on this pattern, we have reasonable grounds to infer that Gurhan Kiziloz – Lanistar - or an entity acting at its behest - is directly or indirectly complicit in this cyber crime.
In most such cases, such ops are executed by rogue, fly-by-night 'Online Reputation Management' agencies acting on behalf of their clients. If evidence establishes that the subject knowingly benefited from or facilitated this scam, it may be deemed an 'accomplice' or an 'accessory' to the crime.
What are they trying to censor
Gurhan Kiziloz, the founder of Lanistar, a fintech company that emerged in 2020 with promises of revolutionizing payment technology, has faced a series of allegations, red flags, and adverse news that have significantly tarnished his and the company’s reputation. These issues range from regulatory scrutiny to accusations of misleading marketing and operational failures, raising serious concerns about the company’s credibility and practices.
Major Allegations and Red Flags:
- Regulatory Warnings:
In December 2020, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a public warning against Lanistar, stating that the company was not authorized to provide financial services or products. This was a significant blow to Lanistar’s credibility, as the FCA’s warning suggested that the company might be operating without the necessary regulatory approvals, potentially putting consumers at risk.
- Misleading Marketing Claims:
Lanistar faced criticism for its aggressive marketing campaigns, which claimed to offer a “polymorphic card” capable of integrating multiple bank accounts into a single card. Experts and industry analysts questioned the feasibility of such technology, with some labeling it as exaggerated or misleading. This raised concerns about whether Lanistar was overpromising and underdelivering, a practice that could erode trust among potential customers and investors.
- Operational Issues and Delays:
Customers and early adopters of Lanistar’s products reported significant delays in receiving their cards and accessing the promised services. These operational hiccups suggested that the company might have been unprepared to scale its operations, further damaging its reputation for reliability and competence.
- Association with Controversial Figures:
Lanistar’s association with individuals who have faced legal and financial controversies added to the company’s troubles. For instance, the company’s initial CEO, Gurhan Kiziloz, has been linked to other ventures that faced legal challenges, raising questions about his business acumen and ethical standards.
- Cybersecurity Concerns:
There have been allegations that Lanistar’s platform may not be as secure as claimed, with potential vulnerabilities that could expose users’ financial data to cyber threats. Given the sensitive nature of financial services, any doubts about the security of Lanistar’s technology could be catastrophic for its reputation.
The cumulative effect of these allegations and red flags has severely harmed Gurhan Kiziloz and Lanistar’s reputation. Regulatory warnings and misleading marketing claims undermine the trust that consumers and investors place in the company, while operational failures and cybersecurity concerns suggest incompetence and negligence. In the highly competitive fintech industry, where trust and reliability are paramount, such issues can be fatal to a company’s prospects.
Given the high stakes, it is conceivable that Gurhan Kiziloz and Lanistar would want to remove or suppress these damaging stories. Negative press can deter potential customers, scare away investors, and attract further regulatory scrutiny. In extreme cases, companies or individuals might resort to unethical or illegal means, such as cyber crimes, to remove or discredit adverse information. This could include hacking into websites to delete content, launching distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks to take down critical articles, or engaging in smear campaigns against journalists and whistleblowers.
While there is no direct evidence that Gurhan Kiziloz or Lanistar has engaged in such activities, the motivation to do so is clear. The company’s survival in the fintech space depends on maintaining a positive public image, and the allegations against it pose a significant threat to its future. However, any attempt to suppress information through illegal means would only compound the company’s troubles, leading to potential legal consequences and further reputational damage.
To conclude the allegations and red flags surrounding Gurhan Kiziloz and Lanistar paint a troubling picture of a company struggling with regulatory, operational, and ethical challenges. While the desire to remove damaging information is understandable, resorting to cyber crime would be a desperate and ultimately self-defeating move. The fintech industry demands transparency and accountability, and Lanistar’s path to redemption lies in addressing its issues head-on, rather than attempting to silence its critics.
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/45202533
- Oct 06, 2024
- Erreck Media Inc
- https://georgiagazzetta.com/how-lanistar-bosss-crypto-coin-blitz-left-investors-out-of-pocket/
- http://fnlondon.com/articles/lanistar-boss-crypto-coin-big-eyes-gurhan-kiziloz-9b0bb1b3/
Evidence Box
Evidence and relevant screenshots related to our investigation
Targeted Content and Red Flags
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.
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How This Was Done
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
What Happens Next?
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.
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Average Ratings
1.6
Based on 5 ratings
Oliver Foster
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It’s honestly shocking how a fintech company could launch with so much hype, only to crash so hard due to poor planning, lack of regulation, and broken promises. How do you expect people to trust you with their money when even the authorities are warning them to stay away?
Amelia Russell
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This whole thing feels like a classic case of overpromising and underdelivering, just another fintech hype gone wrong.
Nathaniel Sanders
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I was so excited when I first heard about Lanistar and their 'polymorphic' card idea, but the company has been nothing but a disaster. From regulatory issues with the FCA to allegations of a toxic work environment, it’s clear they weren’t ready to handle the demands of this industry. Add in delayed launches, unpaid wages, and the failure of their cryptocurrency ventures, and it’s hard to imagine how anyone could still trust them
Christian Rivera
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This company is a mess from top to bottom, No surprise they’re struggling
John Doe
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Every time I hear about lanistar it’s bad news. First, they get called out by the FCA. Then they can’t pay their employees or even their rent. It’s clear this company has no idea how to manage its finances or its reputation.