Reputation Defender: A Service Businesses Will Find Priceless in today CyberWorld

Source: SF Gate - San Francisco Chronicle

Defending reputations may be good business

Defending innocent victims who have been slimed on the Internet is not only a righteous cause, it might be good business. At least that's what VCs who are pumping money into ReputationDefender appear to believe. The 3-year-old Redwood City company, which assists people in removing libelous, egregiously offensive or privacy-invading material from Web sites, is well on its way to raising $5.3 million from investors. "We've had 10 quarters of growth," said CEO Michael Fertik."We're getting more customers, and they're spending more." The current economic climate may have something to do with it.

One of ReputationDefender's services, enabling customer-written resumes to show up prominently on search engines, has proven to be a particular money spinner. "As people are looking more and more for jobs, they are more concerned with what may be being said about them on the Internet," Fertik said.ReputationDefender's investors so far include Maple Investments in Menlo Park and European Founders Fund from Germany.

Read entire article here: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/08/BUMC16U3BS.DTL

Sue Scheff: Reputation Defender is a Growing Demand as the Internet Expands

As a victim and survivor of the wicked web (at times), I was vindicated at a jury trial for damages when I was awarded over $11M for the defamatory comments posted about me.
I credit my attorney, David Pollack, for successfully proving to the jury how I was damaged (defamed) online. Remember, free speech does not condone defamation.

What happens after the jury goes home and I have my $11.3M judgment? Well, you get a lot of media attention, new stalkers arrive, you become a Limited Public Figure (something I was not prior this major victory), and before you know it - you are the face of Internet Defamation Survivor. However what it doesn’t do is erase the ugliness the perpetrator did to you online.
For that, I sought out the services of Reputation Defender. O-kay, so you can’t literally erase all the unflattering online statements - but you can start filling the web with who you really are - and what you believe in.

I used ReputationDefender MyEdge - which is a priceless service for anyone that owns a business or has a reputation to protect. You can have a 20 year old reputable company literally destroyed within 20 minutes with a few keystrokes!

Here are some articles to help you find out more about how Reputation Defender can help you.
As a parent advocate, I always recommend MyChild - which helps parents monitor where their child’s name is being used! Remember, kids think that applying for colleges and filling out employment applications is far away - in a child’s mind, 2-4 years seems like a lifetime - but in reality - what goes online today - can haunt them tomorrow and years from tomorrow.

My Good Name Protector ReputationDefender Raises $2.6M In 1st Round
VentureBeat on Reputation Defender
ReputationDefender Official Blog
Teacher Fired Over MySpace Photo
Mahalo on Reputation Defender
Reputation Defender Official MySpace
Wired.com - Delete Your Bad Web Rep
Mashable.com on Reputation Defender
Fast Company on Reputation Defender
CyberLaw - Stanford.edu - Reputation Defender Article
Reputation Defender Turnstile
WRAL - Local Tech Wire
TradeVibes - Reputation Defender

There are many more…. I receive many emails from people all over the country and world that are being harmed online - many cannot afford the high costs of litigation. I always recommend Reputation Defender as an alternative or in combination with the legal route.

I am not a spokesperson for Reputation Defender, nor do I receive money or referral fees from them - I simply am a very satisfied client and want others to know there is such a service out there as Internet Gossip can be viewed as FACT. In many cases, that can hurt a persons’ reputation.

Sue Scheff: Cyber Harassment is Growing

It seems Internet Harassment, Online Slander, Cyberbullying and other abuses in the World Wide Web is growing! I am contacted on a daily basis from victims of today's newest lethal & legal weapon to harm others - keystrokes!

You have to wonder what possesses people to feel the need to hurt others so malicously. With all of today's critical issues such as hunger, the war, homeless people etc.... We have a new group of people that simply have too much time on their hands - and take pleasure in hurting others. E-Venge seems like a good name for it.

If you think about it - it is a cowardly act. They hide out behind their computers and just strike their keypads - usually anonymously.

Read through this Blog and you will see that free speech is still in place but it will not condone defamation.

Blogging is fun, the Internet can be educational - but remember, what you post today can come back to haunt you tomorrow. And could be costly to you!

Visit my updated Podcast Website on E-Venge at http://www.suescheffpodcasts.com/

Sue Scheff: ReputationDefender Launches New Service, MyEdge

Since signing up with ReputationDefender after winning my $11.3M jury verdict for damages done to me on the Internet, I have proudly spoken out about this priceless service. Even winning my unprecedented case, it didn't eliminate the horrific, malicious defamatory statements online about me.

I retained ReputationDefender and was amazed at how they were able to have my Online image match up with my in person reputation. In a matter of months, my Online Profile was back to normal and I felt like a new person.

Now they have launched their latest service ReputationDefender MyEdge which is a personal PR for the web for you! Now everyone is able to maintain their reputations and most importantly promote themselves and regain their reputation online.

Lastly, I continue to encourage parents to review/sign up for ReputationDefender/MyChild to help maintain their child's privacy online especially in the growing social networks.

I am not a spokesperson for ReputationDefender and I am not in anyway reciprocated for my endorsement of them - I am simply a person that has used this service and believe they are priceless and truly believe everyone needs to protect themselves online today.

Sue Scheff on The Rachael Ray Show - Hot Topic - CyberSlander

Sue Scheff continues to be a voice against CyberSlander. As both a victim and survivor of Internet Defamation, she has become a leader in promoting Cyber Safety.

On April 17th Sue Scheff appeared on the Rachael Ray Show talking about Cyber Slander and promoting her upcoming new book - Wit’s End!

Free Speech will never condone defamation. In an unprecedented jury verdict for damages, Scheff was awarded over $11Mfor the malicious and defamatory online comments from a woman that wanted E-Venge.

For more articles on E-Venge - check out http://www.suescheffpodcasts.com/. Sue Scheff retained the priceless services of Reputation Defender.

If you are a victim of Internet Abuse, take a moment to review the services Reputation Defender has to offer.

If you are a parent, it is important to consider Reputation Defender MyChild to help protect your child online.

Sue Scheff on CBC Television Sunday Morning News Magazine

CBC News Television - Sunday News Magazine: Segment about Online Profiling.

How can you fight back when your personal information - whether true or false - ends up on the Internet for everyone to see, like a potential employer, for example? We give you tips on protecting your reputation online.

Sue Scheff Personal Website and Sue Scheff Podcasts

Sue Scheff: Reputation Defender and MyEdge A Priceless Service

In today's crazy world of Cyberspace - it can be a free-for-all to literally destroy longstanding reputable people and organizations with a stroke of a keypad. With this, priceless services like Reputation Defender have become in demand.As a client of Reputation Defender, I can personally attest to their remarkable services as well as their compassion to help people that are being harmed via the Internet.

I was a victim of Internet Defamation and now a survivor of it - not only because I won an unprecedented $11.3 Million jury verdict for damages, but because I fought back!I am not a spokesperson for Reputation Defender, but I am certainly a very satisfied client and completely amazed at their dedication to keep the Internet a safe place for everyone.

For those that believe that it is about hiding the ugly, think again - Reputation Defender is selective and does their due diligent. I am proud to be their client. When I went public about retaining this service, it was a difficult decision - but in the end, I realized my voice has helped so many others as well as received the attention of Congress to hopefully make some leglislative changes to promote Internet Safety.

As a Parent Advocate, I am impressed with their latest service - MyChild which can help protect your kids identity and more. With today's tragedies online - as parents we need to take any and all pre-cautions to keep our children safe.

Read more about Reputation Defender. Click Here.

Sue Scheff: Rising Above Internet Defamation

Fighting against Internet Defamation can be an uphill battle - but there is finally light coming through. I meet with a Florida Senator for our second meeting today and a very prominent lawyer joined us.

Free Speech will always be in place, but it will not allow defamation or reckless regard for the truth.

I will continue to be a voice in this arena and hopefully you will see some major changes and new legal avenues and ACTION soon.

Sue Scheff Continuing to be a Voice for People being Abused on the Internet

It is time to rise above Internet Defamation and fight back!

I have recently meet with a Florida Senator as well as a prominent attorney regarding Internet Defamation and the fact there are limits to free speech when slander is involved. It is not about removing your first amendment right, it is about not being liable. Defaming a person can lead to legal consequences.

Speaking out has caused my critics to further slander me, but it will never silence me. With more and more lawsuits being filed and more and more laws firms accepting these cases on contingency, more people that believe they can defame others will be held accountable.

Sue Scheff - Introducing the New Website of Reputation Defender

As a client of Reputation Defender and a Parent Advocate I can speak from first hand experiences of the value of this service, not only for me (as jealous people try to ruin my online reputation) but for parents that have children that surf the net.

Reputation Defender MyChild is a service that many parents should consider to monitor your child's online privacy.

I am not a spokesperson for Reputation Defender, I am someone that has used their services and can speak from first hand experience. Until you become a victim of Internet Defamation or people invade your private life, it is hard to understand the toll it can take on you personally or your family.

Sue Scheff - Bringing the Truth to the Top!

After having major media outlets interested in my story and the priceless service of Reputation Defender and MyEdge - there will always be people that feel this is a way to freeze their freedom of speech.

It couldn't be further from the truth. Your first amendment doesn't condone defamation and other libelous acts. My $11.3M "jury verdict for damages" - not a default verdict - was rendered after hours of deliberation and not taken lightly. The jurors went through hundreds of defamatory posts.

All the reputable media outlets I interviewed with, including Washington Post, Forbes, San Francisco Chronicle, Wall Street Journal, 20/20 ABC News and others know my whole story - both victorious jury trials - as well as my mistakes.

I have made a lot of mistakes, as many have, but I am willing to share them to help others. It may put me in the hot seat, however the good that comes from it is worth it.

Sue Scheff - Reputation Defender & MyEdge brings the TRUTH to the TOP!

If you have ever been a victim of Internet Defamation you will know how I felt since 2002.

In 2000 when my daughter was abused in a therapeutic boarding program (Carolina Springs Academy - WWASPS) - I posted our true story online and within months were slapped with a Defamation Lawsuit by the very same organization that hurt my little girl!

They sued me in an attempt to silence me - and would have gladly dropped the lawsuit if I would remove my website. I fought back - after 2+ years of litigation - over $1 Million dollars in legal fees (which was covered by my insurance) - I won in a jury trial! Yes, I won!

Of course, WWASPS appealed - and I won again in the Supreme Court of Appeals!Now, when you have exhausted your legal avenues to harass someone - it seems the Internet can be used as a weapon, and trust me, it is a powerful weapon.

Suddenly on certain extremist forums, ugly and slanderous lies were being posted about myself, my organization and my children! Although some of these posters were former institutionalized victims, it didn't excuse their blatant lies and false accusations. It is my belief it stemmed from a WWASPS camp.

It was soon realized that a woman, who originally despised WWASPS for the alleged abuse her boys endured at one of their programs - she had no problem accepting $12,500.00 from them! Why? In hopes of incriminating me!I sued her in an attempt to get her to stop.

I sued for defamation and invasion of privacy - and guess who got her a lawyer in Florida? WWASPS! Yes, the very people she accused of harming her kids as well as accepting the $12,500.00.So now we have come full circle - and I am fighting WWASPS indirectly in my opinion - and for another 2 years of litigation - we go to trial again - and this time, I not only win - I set legal precedence for Internet Defamation! The jury - after hours of deliberation, render a verdict of $11.3M - $5M of it is punitive damages - meant to punish. After the trial, they waited for me in the hall and said they wanted to send a message that ruining lives on the Internet has a price.

Carey Bock Levine, the defendant that defamed me, authored many posts claiming I was a fraud, con, crook and more. This instigated more vicious posts stating I abuse kids, kidnap kids and went as far to say refer to abusive programs! After what my daughter went through, this is nothing short of Internet Defamation with intent to destroy, ruin and hurt others. Thankfully - the truth prevailed!

O-kay - so I won 2 trials - emotionally was exhausted from 5 years of litigation and still had to deal with all the ugly posts on the Internet. They just don't go away - they remain in cached files and are always popping up.

A very good friend of mine told me about Reputation Defender. At first, I was skeptical and didn't think it could work. I emailed them - told them my story.The CEO, Michael Fertik called me personally within a weeks time and told me that they did some research on the damage and was appalled what these people had done to me. I proved my case to Michael Fertik - my organization (PURE) has helped literally thousands of families - and we have proudly been a Member of the Better Business Bureau for years.

Could he help me? He said he could, but it would take time - well, I had time, since I had no choice, I needed my online reputation cleaned up to match my true reputation. I worked long and hard to bring my organization to the level of respect we get from many professionals.

Reputation Defender got to work - and within 4 months, with the help of MyEdge, my online life was finally matching up with reality!I proudly admit I hired Reputation Defender and MyEdge - it was not to hide the ugliness but to let people know the real me and the truth about me!

Thank you Michael Fertik and the entire team of Reputation Defender and MyEdge for bringing the truth to the top!