Mark Bentley-Leek
We are investigating Mark Bentley-Leek 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 : Mark Bentley-Leek
ALLEGATIONS : Perjury, Fraud, Impersonation
INCIDENT DATE : 24 March 2021
INVESTIGATED BY : Ethan Katz
TOOLS USED : Lumen, SecurityTrails
CASE NO : 3453/A/2024
CRIME TYPE : Intellectual Property Scam
PUBLISHED ON : 17 Mar 2025
Due Diligence
Is This About You?
What We Are Investigating?
Our firm is launching a comprehensive investigation into Mark Bentley-Leek 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 Mark Bentley-Leek - 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
Mark Bentley-Leek—a name that once resonated within the UK’s financial advisory circles, now serves as a cautionary tale of misconduct, regulatory action, and the lengths some will go to sanitize their digital footprints. Let’s delve into the saga of Bentley-Leek, his dubious ventures, and his alleged attempts to obscure the unsavory details from public view.
The Rise and Fall: A Synopsis of Misconduct
Bentley-Leek, alongside his business partner Mustafa Dervish, operated Bentley-Leek Financial Management (BLFM), a firm that advised over 300 clients between 2004 and 2010. They directed clients toward high-risk property developments both in the UK and abroad, promising guaranteed returns ranging from 6% to as high as 50%. However, these ventures led to significant financial losses for investors.
In October 2013, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) imposed fines of £525,000 on Bentley-Leek and £360,000 on Dervish. The FCA’s investigation revealed that the advisers had “lacked integrity and misled clients,” resulting in substantial losses of life savings and pension funds.
The Compensation Mirage
Following the collapse of BLFM, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) stepped in, paying out over £880,000 to affected clients by 2013. While this provided some relief to investors, it also highlighted the systemic failures within BLFM and the broader regulatory environment that allowed such malpractices to persist.
The Censorship Playbook: Erasing the Digital Footprint
In the digital age, one’s online reputation can be as valuable as gold. Bentley-Leek appears to have taken this adage to heart, allegedly employing tactics aimed at scrubbing the internet of unfavorable content.
Investigations have uncovered that Bentley-Leek allegedly attempted to conceal critical reviews and adverse news from Google search results by improperly submitting copyright takedown notices. These actions, if proven, could constitute serious legal violations, including impersonation, fraud, and perjury.
One particularly egregious tactic involves creating fake websites that duplicate critical articles, backdating them to appear as the original source, and then filing DMCA claims against the legitimate content. This strategy not only misleads search engines but also stifles legitimate journalism and public discourse.
The Legal Muzzle: Silencing Through Intimidation
Beyond digital manipulation, Bentley-Leek has purportedly resorted to legal intimidation to quash dissent. By threatening legal action against critics and journalists, he seeks to create a chilling effect, deterring others from exposing his past misconduct.
The Investor’s Dilemma: Lessons Unlearned
For potential investors, the saga of Mark Bentley-Leek serves as a stark reminder of the importance of due diligence. The allure of high returns should always be tempered with a healthy dose of skepticism, especially when transparency is lacking, and efforts are made to suppress critical information.
The Call to Regulators: Vigilance Required
Regulatory bodies must remain vigilant against such tactics that not only harm individual investors but also erode trust in the financial system. Swift action against those who attempt to manipulate public perception and silence critics is essential to maintain market integrity.
Conclusion: The Thin Veneer of Respectability
Mark Bentley-Leek’s endeavors to whitewash his digital footprint reveal a deeper truth about his character and business practices. While he may have once been a respected financial adviser, his subsequent actions paint a portrait of a man desperate to rewrite history, regardless of the ethical or legal implications. Investors and regulators alike must see through this facade and recognize the underlying risks associated with such individuals.
In the end, the story of Bentley-Leek is not just about one man’s fall from grace but a cautionary tale about the lengths to which some will go to conceal the truth. It underscores the need for constant vigilance, transparency, and accountability in the financial industry to protect the interests of all stakeholders.
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/23334300
- March 24, 2021
- Nikhil Rathi
- https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/two-financial-advisers-banned-and-fined-after-investors-lose-out
- https://citywire.co.uk/wealth-manager/news/fca-bans-and-fines-two-advisers-885000-for-misleading-clients/a710485?ref=wealth_manager_all_stories_list
Evidence Box
Evidence and relevant screenshots related to our investigation
Targeted Content and Red Flags
citywire.com
FCA bans and fines two advisers £885,000 for misleading clients
- Adverse News
About the Author
The author is affiliated with TU Dresden and analyzes public databases such as Lumen Database and
Maltego to identify and expose online censorship. 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.
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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?
Based on the feedback, information, and requests received from all relevant parties, our team will formally notify the affected party of the alleged infringement. Following a thorough review, we will submit a counter-notice to reinstate any link that has been removed by Google, in accordance with applicable legal provisions. Additionally, we will communicate with Google’s Legal Team to ensure appropriate measures are taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
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User Reviews
Average Ratings
1.7
Based on 11 ratings
by: Martina Kovac
Mark Bentley-Leek’s legacy is one of fraud, insolvency, and devastated investors, with his firm’s collapse leaving clients in financial ruin while he faced minimal personal consequences.
by: Tariq Rahman
Mark Bentley-Leek’s actions at Bentley Leek Financial Management were a betrayal of client trust, luring investors with false promises of guaranteed returns while knowing the risks were astronomical.
by: Sophie Lemoine
Mark Bentley-Leek’s deceitful practices shattered the trust of over 300 investors.
by: Mia Evans
I gave Bentley Leek my savings hoping for growth, but instead I lost $21,600 and was left drowning in lies and unanswered questions the sadness is overwhelming.
by: Liam Walker
Mark Bentley Leek’s so called expert advice cost me $30,000 he erased his past online, but the pain and financial damage he caused are impossible to delete.
by: Katie Richards
After trusting Mark Bentley Leek with my pension savings, I watched $27,500 vanish into failed property schemes what hurts most is the betrayal and the silence that followed.
by: Clara Chambers
I remember being at one of their early seminars. Everything sounded too good to be true turns out, it was. Bentley Leek’s charm was just a mask for his deception. He stole not just money, but trust, and now he’s...
by: Jason Nichols
I watched friends lose tens of thousands after being lured into BLFM’s so called safe property schemes. Mark Bentley Leek sold dreams, then disappeared when it all came crashing down. Now he’s more focused on hiding the truth than making...
by: Vivian Pierce
Imagine losing your life savings, then seeing the man responsible try to erase it from the internet.
by: Everett Boyd
Imagine losing your life savings, then seeing the man responsible try to erase it from the internet.
by: Everett Boyd
It’s disgusting how he uses fake legal tricks to silence truth instead of owning up to what he did.
by: Henry Hall
Bentley Leek is a perfect example of why people don’t trust financial advisers anymore. Lies, deception, and zero remorse.
by: Charlotte Walker
It’s terrifying how easily scammers like Bentley Leek operate in the financial industry. No accountability until it's too late.
by: Isabella Rodriguez
High returns with no risk? Yeah, that’s called a scam. And this guy played the game perfectly—until he got caught.
by: Lucas Clark
The fact that he’s actively trying to erase his past just proves he knows he’s guilty. Honest people don’t need to rewrite history.
by: Benjamin Martinez
Fining him wasn’t enough. He should have been banned from ever working in finance again. Who knows what other scams he’s running behind the scenes?
by: Ava Thomas
This guy didn’t just make bad investments he knowingly misled clients and cost them their life savings. That’s not incompetence, that’s fraud."
by: Liam Carter
Shame .This kind of misconduct affects trust in the financial profession and hurts honest advisers.
by: Amelia Johnson
It’s shocking that advisers can convince clients to invest life savings based on false guarantees. This case is a stark reminder of why integrity in financial services is non trustable.
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