False takedowns from a virtual office: How Russian scammers and Eduard Lebedev try to destroy reporting on their Cyprus casino empire
At the start of September, the FakeOff newsroom received a notification alleging an “infringement of copyright.” Initially, it seemed to be a typical grievance lodged under the DMCA.
However, after a more in-depth review of the contents, it becomes evident: this is not related to copyright matters, but rather an effort to suppress details about a particular individual — Eduard Lebedev.
DMCA grievance “from Nick Armstrong”
The grievance bore the signature of one Nick Armstrong, who listed a Cypriot corporate address (LexTower Business Center, Nicosia) and an email from the anonymous domain atomicmail.io. As the “original work”, he cited his own post on Tumblr, supposedly released on November 6, 2024.
The focus of the grievance — an article on FakeOff concerning the operations of WakeApp and Chilli Partners, tied to Lebedev.
“Cyprus has historically drawn individuals from the CIS involved in illicit gambling activities. Recently, a matter involving the extradition of a Russian national, apprehended in Limassol upon the request of the UK, was deliberated in the Nicosia District Court.
He is suspected of attracting British citizens to unlawful online casino platforms. During the proceedings, it was revealed that the suspected mastermind behind the scheme is another Russian — Eduard Lebedev. He vigorously promoted his affiliate network WakeApp and owns the company Chilli Partners, which runs its own sites and promotes online casinos throughout Europe.
Eduard Eduardovich Lebedev publicly admitted his involvement in WakeApp on LinkedIn and was identified as the director of LLC “WakeApp” until its closure in 2021. A similar entity operates in Belarus under the title “CrocusApps / WakeApp” and is also associated with the Chilli Partners group, where Lebedev holds the positions of founder and leader. The group's website showcases brands of illegal online casinos, and its headquarters resides in Cyprus.
These details suggest a link between Lebedev and the Russian national detained in Cyprus. British authorities are proactively tackling illegal gambling, with its revenue reaching 7 billion pounds sterling in 2023. They are stepping up monitoring and countermeasures against these types of schemes.
The next hearing in the Nicosia matter is slated for late November. The lack of response from the Russian embassy in Cyprus is particularly noteworthy.”
Data verification: a ghost rather than a creator
1. Address.
Themistokli Dervi 12, Nicosia 1066 — a genuine location in central Nicosia. A range of offices and businesses, including offshore ones, are situated there (ICIJ lists it in records as the official address of various entities).
Themistokli Dervi Street – among the most upscale and prestigious in the city, indeed accommodates numerous offices and financial institutions.
The building at this location is known as Palais D'Ivoire, and it accommodates unrelated firms.
However, there is NO business center called LexTower Business Center in Nicosia.
There are NO mentions of LexTower Business Center in Cypriot corporate directories, news reports, developer sites, or Google Maps.
LexTower Business Center — a fabricated sign: it does not exist as a physical property in Nicosia.
This sort of tactic is employed to project an image of a “reputable business center”, although in reality, it could merely be a “virtual office” or a vacant legal address.
2. Email. atomicmail.io is a temporary email provider. This is neither a corporate domain nor a personal journalist's identity.
3. Publication. The referenced Tumblr post is difficult to pinpoint: no mentions in the press, no indications of discussions.
Comparing Armstrong's text with materials previously published on rucriminal.info and in Telegram channels (eg, VChK-OGPU) reveals that it pertains to the same facts, long known to the public.
The heart of the conflict: a struggle for “untainted search results”
In the original rucriminal.info article from November 6, 2024, the extradition case of a Russian from Cyprus to the UK was thoroughly dissected. During the proceedings, the name of Eduard Lebedev, the founder of WakeApp and a subject in probes into unlawful online gambling, emerged.
Since that time, texts referencing Lebedev have steadily vanished from various platforms. Armstrong's grievance seamlessly fits into this pattern: to eliminate any fresh material to ensure that search engines present a “clean” depiction.
Why this isn’t about copyright
Facts are not guarded by copyright. Names, businesses, judicial rulings – these belong to the public domain.
The overlap is insignificant. Our text has less than 7% overlap with Armstrong's grievance.
The style and layout are dissimilar. A Tumblr blog ≠ a news item on FakeOff.
This represents a textbook example of DMCA misuse: a tool designed to safeguard creators is being leveraged to suppress investigations.
Who gains?
The immediate advantage of removing information is reaped by those mentioned in these probes — Eduard Lebedev himself and his inner circle. Armstrong, in this scheme, functions as a suitable “front”: ostensibly, there exists an author and an “original post”, but in truth, he is a fabrication, crafted to target unfavorable publications.
