Over the years I’ve heard of many cases of online identity fraud. I thought it was mostly celebrities and high profile personalities who were at risk. It seems I was wrong.
Recently I’ve witnessed this type of violation first hand.
Beware of Impersonators
Elio Assuncao, Owner of ‘YODspica‘, is a so called ‘social media expert’ from Cardiff. He claims to be an expert in everything from cloud computing to LinkedIn and seems to have a very strange way of promoting himself.
For a while now he has been using a URL (www.allanbbeaton.co.uk) and a Twitter account using my name (@alanbbeatonsht). I’ve tried a number of times to contact Mr Assunscao to ask him to stop but have heard nothing. It’s now reached a point where I think the public should be made aware of what’s going on.
Should I Be Flattered?
I guess in many ways it’s a great compliment. I can’t see any other reason to pretend to be me unless you wanted to get business off the back of my professional reputation. In many ways I should be happy that I clearly have a professional reputation worth stealing.
Beyond this, these recent events simply serve to reinforce the point I made last week about the number of cowboys running around calling themselves ‘social media experts’.
Would You Want to Work With This Man?
Whilst trying to rationalize Mr Assuncao‘s actions, the overriding question my mind was:
‘How does he have enough time to do all this?’
If you provided cloud computing, social media, Adwords, and mobile app development services, and provided a high level of service, you’d be far too busy to set and maintain all these sites and profiles. Either Mr Assuncao has cloned himself or he is really struggling for work.
A Social Media Expert?
As you might expect, as soon as I found out who was behind these violations of my professional identity the first thing I did was have a look at Mr Assuncao’s presence across the social web.
Well, that was a mistake.
A quick LinkedIn search returned two Elio Assuncaos:
So, he has two LinkedIn profiles. Now, not only is this pointless – and often quite detrimental – it also completely goes against the LinkedIn terms of service. You are one person, so why have two profiles? – Unless you wanted to hide something of course.
So, after LinkedIn it was over to Twitter. This is what I saw…
Where do I start? Automated @ replies to each new follower?
Really? Does that qualify as engagement?
You might as well not bother.
Also, this guy has nearly 20,000 ‘followers’ and has sent 30,000 tweets. If he @ replies to all his new followers that means that at least 70% of his tweets are identical to the ones above!
A quick look at his many (duplicated) Facebook pages was enough for me to draw my conclusion:
This guy has no idea what he is doing!
How can someone like this give other people advice on how to use social media?!
To make matters worse. I had to endure personal stalking on Foursquare from Elio where he attempted to steal the mayorships of all of the places that I frequented. No big deal of course, as Foursquare is as much of a game as anything but, it was his premeditated approach to hassling me that raised the alarm bells. With the help of another Foursquare user in Cardiff, we were able to have all Elio’s 120+ mayorships revoked and even had him banned for a period of time. Guess what? He’s at it again.
When I injured my shoulder in a training accident, Elio had to audacity to post: “What comes around, goes around.” As if breaking your collar bone is something that you would wish on anyone! Even some things are too low for Facebook. Some thoughts are best kept to yourself; otherwise, there are those around that may begin to judge you before reading this post.
I Have Two Requests:
Firstly, I’d really appreciate it if Elio Assuncaos would answer my requests to stop piggybacking on my hard earned professional reputation.
Elio: you are breaking the law and harming the reputation of your own business.
Secondly, and far more importantly, if you don’t know how to use social media, please don’t sell your services as an industry expert. You are harming, not helping, the businesses that are unlucky enough to employ you as well as damaging the reputation of the real industry experts.
Please, leave it to the professionals.
nick tadd April 30, 2012
That terrible Allan, and a clear message that those that defraud will come unstuck.
He has no idea what he’s doing, moreover, just think of the damage he’s doing to any ‘Clients’ if this is what he’s doing to you?!
N
Joel Hughes April 30, 2012
I’m saddened to hear this Allan; this must have caused you a lot of stress.
Hopefully this will put an end to it.
Joel
admin April 30, 2012
Well, I am sure that he will try something else and push the limitations of the law to the full extent. I just wanted everyone else to know all about him.
Cheers Joel!
Geoff April 30, 2012
I have come close to writing a similar post several times singling this character out, but ultimately he has done me no harm, so I chose to keep (relatively) quiet.
More than anything, I am disappointed that so many local people who should know better still follow and engage him. He keeps popping up in my feed, retweeted for one thing or another. Sad to say, but even being a completely clueless social media ‘expert’ seems to reap some rewards.
If anyone wants a laugh, they should seek out ‘Yodspica’ on YouTube.
admin April 30, 2012
Thanks Geoff,
You make a great point as well. I am sure I might be the only person that this has happened to, but you never know…
ABBII
Rachael April 30, 2012
This is shocking! Is there anything that can be done?
I’m well aware of Yodspica. He followed me on twitter and tried friending me on facebok several times. I can only assume it’s because I’m also from Cardiff.
Has anyone met this man in real life? What a bizarre individual.
I hope that it works out for you!!
admin May 1, 2012
Hi Rachael,
Thanks for your thoughts. Most of s Cardiff people have had the misfortune of actually meeting Elio. I can assure you that the testimonial is not accurate either. I didn’t speak like that and would surely never say such things…
Mark Sinclair April 30, 2012
Allan, sorry to hear that you’ve been put in this position. While the law is still finding its feet with social media, the ethics of the matter are clear. Anyone who assumes someone else’s identity, particularly to either profit from them or harm them (or both), lacks integrity and imagination.
I hope that people in Wales and further afield who have been sucked in by his activities now see them for what they are.
Cheers. Mark
Dickie Armour April 30, 2012
Allan,
That’s really terrible, I know how much stress this has caused you.
I’m glad you wrote the post – I think it’s important that people know who this guy is and how terribly he’s been behaving.
As I always say, “Treat people how you would like to be treated”.
Amanda Hill April 30, 2012
oh my… as you know this character was the first thing I came across on twitter when I first looked you up before the What’s Next Event… But I had no idea that it was as bad as that… is there nothing you can do about stalking these days?
Julia April 30, 2012
Ah-ha! At least one mystery solved as I knew @allanbbeatonsht wasn’t your account (you could tell simply by the content if nothing else!) but I hadn’t realised it was Elio. Don’t get why someone would put so much energy into such a negative and ridiculous project. Hopefully now local people at least will stop ‘engaging’ with him – if that’s what you can call it!
Esko April 30, 2012
This is nasty stuff. I’m going to go ahead and venture that the endorsement of him made by you which currently appears on his website http://elioassuncao.com/ is no longer valid, if it was ever, in fact, originally made.
I don’t see much evidence of actual work being done by him other than somewhat effective linkbaiting.
There was the potential for collaborating on an upcoming project with Elio, but that is not going to happen now. This kind of stuff loses you real customers real fast…
admin May 1, 2012
Thanks again Esko,
Pretty much the only reason for writing and publishing this particular blog was to inform others of Elio’s actions.
If by reading this post you are now aware of what Elio is all about, then my work here is done.
Cheers
ABBII
Esko April 30, 2012
Also looks like you have legal options re the domain name. http://cybersquatting.com/ and see the UDRP entry here http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2012/article_0002.html
admin May 1, 2012
Thanks…
I do have some legal options. Just depends on whether I can be bothered with the hassle. I hope a simple C&A letter will do. Fingers crossed…
Correct on endorsement as well. Rubbish…
James Emery May 1, 2012
All becomes clear now Allan. What the hell is the point of something like this, in a business community like ours … you’ll always get found out. Solidarity ABB!
admin May 1, 2012
Thank you James. You just get to a point when enough is enough and it’s time to take action. I hope this is the end of it…
ABBII
Carl Nixon May 1, 2012
I have met Elio a few times and I had no idea this was going on. Up until now I thought he was just a bit aimless, spammy but mostly harmless.
He is currently doing the 4Networking meetings around my area (Pontypridd) and Cardiff.
Any attempt to miss represent through the use of domain names, twitter account names etc is just a straight forward attempt at identity theft. There is no other reasonable reason for doing it.
admin May 3, 2012
Thanks Carl,
Much appreciated…
ABBII
Lloyd Reed May 1, 2012
Way to go Elio, this has to be a “101″ lesson in how to lose friends and business. I’d be very interested to hear any of his clients point of view with regards to these actions.
“De nihilo nihil” – Nothing comes from nothing. (Lucretius)
Bob Shepherd May 2, 2012
Phew , I had no idea. I see him on the networking rounds. I have a client who also happens to be a client(or was) of his and who he has accused of owing him money and taken some heavy actions against them. Some things fall into place now…
Dan Webster July 5, 2012
Wow, amazed and shocked at this person’s audacity to so blatantly try to rip you off and reep the rewards of it. Brutal, to say the least. You’re taking the high road ABB, good on yah! This guy’ll get his in due time.
admin July 5, 2012
Thanks Dan! We go a wee bit now and I think that you have the overall picture of me as a person. What could I have possibly done to warrant such targeted and deliberate harassment from someone in my own field.
Rob Blundell July 5, 2012
Sorry to hear about this Allan quite unacceptable. There always has to be one donut that can’t play by the rules. It becomes serious when bad behaviour affects others like yourself, who work hard to assist people to improve their business and social interactions capability.
I trust this will soon end and wish you every success and happiness. I feel sure everyone that knows the real Allan will agree with me.
Kind regards Rob
admin July 5, 2012
Hi Rob,
Thanks for your kind words. It does puzzle me that whatever I did to this guy 18 months ago has resulted in the continuous harassment on as many social profiles as you care to mention. As a social media professional, I can tell you that the amount of time that he has devoted to “me” is quite staggering.
It goes without saying that the more people that know about Elio and what he is all about, will prevent others from such abnormalities. I’m still taking it as a wee bit of a compliment that the only time “he” comes out of the woodwork is when I am doing well. Surprise?
Thanks Rob!
ABBII
Liz Tobin July 5, 2012
Totally the right thing to do to write the post. He’s a social media spammer at best but this is vivious. Hope you get it sorted
admin July 5, 2012
Thanks Liz,
Just when I think its going to stop and then BAM! Another round of &*^%*&!!! goes on for a few more weeks.
Must be doing something right?!?!
Liam Norman July 5, 2012
I wonder how much better he could have done professionally if he just focused all this bile into improving himself? What a waste of time, effort and money.
Hopefully this is the end of it.
admin July 10, 2012
It would be difficult to determine what his next move will be. I’ve no idea to be honest.
Thanks Liam!
Shaun Norval July 5, 2012
seems like a bit of a nut to me, just looked you up and found a comment by him
“by the way, the silly claims by allan beaton are not true so your comment was inappropriate without asking me first”
so how do i follow the real you?
admin July 10, 2012
Hi Shaun,
The real me is @allanbbeaton. Please be careful to spell my twitter handle correctly. “others” are using various forms of it to try and distract others.
Merv Smith July 10, 2012
Allan, This gent used to come to our Business for Breakfast meetings.
He has indicated that he was a Director and this is false…he has never been a Director at BforB and has not been to one of our meetings for more than 18 months.
admin July 10, 2012
That is interesting Merv. I questioned that one myself. Hope you are well…
ABBII
Jonathan Fry August 3, 2012
Hi Allan, I’ve just received a newsletter style email from Elio. The title being ‘Who, being loved, is poor? ~ Oscar Wilde’. I’ve never heard of him until I Googled him and found your blog post. I could click unsubscribe but am unsure whether it is fraud/scam. Is it illegal to sign someone up to a newsletter/email without consent? What do you suggest I should do?