Despair to due a fake news website!

[sara221]

I am feeling the rage-someone has gone on a fake news/prank website and posted a fake story about my business! I am using a relatively nc for this thread but am a long time lurker.
I just can not believe that people can be so evil, I have literally slogged over the last two years to get my business up and running- now in the place of 48hours my reputation is in tatters.
I am so upset-I guess I just need a good rant!
The sad thing is that people are believing an obvious lie, which could easily be checked on a simple google search. I have been dealing with hundreds of callers, not even customer-calling through to shout and scream at me. I have had a member of the public come in and threaten me-been told 'it is a good job your open' or else ' i would have put a brick through your windows'.
I just am speechless at the sheer levels of hatred and vitriol. I just feel like saying sod it and close!
I just do not understand why people believe everything they read-without checking at least one legitimate news site.
My business has been so badly affected by these lies, I just do not know what to do. I have reported it to the police and it could fall into the Malicious Communication 2003-but this Act is so out of date with modern social media. I just feel despair, that someone-anyone can go on a fake news site and then just screenshot and send on to major social media, to accounts with private settings-that can not be reported.
I have already had to cut my staff hours-there is a human cost to these stupid website and trying close down someone's business is not free speech.
If you have read this far, then I thank you and apologise for the length and if it reads illogically- but I am so upset and angry.

This can fall under defamation and you may be in a position to sue anyone who is sharing the falsehoods and ruining the reputation of you and your business. That said if you're taking action such as linking to article yourself and talking about it to everyone and discussing it in print media you're also publicising the defamation and that isn't looked upon kindly and would reduce any reward you may be entitled to.

A simple statement saying there are reports of links to a fake news site discussing your business without saying who and what but refuting the truth (again without detail) should be enough to cover yourself at this stage while seeking legal redress. Asking people to report instances of the article being shared or repeated that they see builds up a picture of the articles spread and reach.

Tak screenshots when you see it shared and have full screenshot of the original article including URL and any authoring detail - maybe see if you can also access the metadata in the page source in case that gives me detail as to culprit.

In cases such as this it's easy to react in an instant without considering repercussions but if you want to protect yourself and your business stop sharing the details and get to a lawyer.

Sorry, I've just seen that the police have been involved.

That's interesting, MackerelOfFact. Some years ago when I had the "pleasure" of reading a number of far right sites (overlapped with some other research), it wasn't uncommon for them to be propagating stories claiming takeaways owned by had been caught butchering humans and serving human meat.

I haven't clicked on the revolting stories here, but if they're similar, I wouldn't be in the least surprised if this is part of a larger campaign by such charmers.

Best of luck with response to today's news coverage, OP.

This is awful OP I'm so sorry.

I've just googled and there is no mention of anything untoward there on the first or second pages - so I think it's been removed. All I can see is your reviews on Hungry House and Trip Advisor where you're top

There is a screenshot on your Facebook page you may want to remove though.

Sara, I have seen this in my FB feed (and ignored it because it was obviously ridiculous) but searching your restaurant on FB it comes up with the post and a name of who has posted it - a fellow restaurant owner by the looks of things. With a name involved surely the police can investigate? I am sorry you are going through this and I hope it blows over quickly.

How on earth would anyone believe this was true?

Thank you all for all your messages-just logged on after a shift and it took far too long to get home.
OhBlissJoy-could you please take a screenshot for me?
I have put a message on the main Facebook page, Teabagtits-I will revise my official message to reflect your advice.
I am in touch with the police and everything is a process.
Movingtoparadise-pop in and introduce yourself, If nothing you will be entertained by me!

I'd just like to say that I've given your restaurant a Google and it looks amazing. I don't live anywhere near but will be putting it on my places to visit when I'm down that way, DP and I love the look of the menu and your reviews are brilliant. I hope all this blows over and if I see anyone sharing or anything else with regards to the fake news I'll make sure they're properly informed. Sorry this has happened to you

There was only one hit on fb when i searched Op yoy may need to check it out

Hopefully those with an ounce of common sense will work out that it's fake.

But maybe you could contact the Guardian since it's clearly causing harm to not just you buy other restaurants as well?

www.theguardian.com/help/ng-interactive/2017/mar/17/contact-the-guardian-securely

What arseholes!

Is there anything I can do? I can share your FB page. I live up north now but the majority of my friends/family are down your way.

I'm so sorry this has happened. X

OP sorry in middle of getting kids ready so no time to read full thread.

if you go to www.whois.com and click on whois it will come up woth a box to enter the domain name. you may find skme details of the site owner or at least who registered it there

i hope things blow over for you

final pair of shoes and coat located

there is a name and address in winsconsin and even a phone number. No idea if it will be a dead-end but have a look. sorry cant link on phone

Just typed your restaurant name on Facebook and all that's seems to come up is a post from a women who had shared the link with the title "why I don't eat meat"
She said she was checking the story out as she always checks out food storys.
I wanted to say how about checking the story out before you share the link you stupid cow
She then posted later that is was fake and one of her equally stupid friends goes on to say "there is no smoke without fire"
Why can't people just think, the article was full of mistakes and if it was real it would have been across the front page of the sun, daily fail etc etc etc.
It worries me at time about how stupid people can be

Nothing really to add other than I'm so sorry someone has done this to you (and also slightly despairing that people are so gullible, a story like that would be all over the national press!).

As other Indian restaurants have been targeted, I'm with others in wondering if there's a racist component. Where I grew up there were regularly urban myths about the Chinese restaurants and takeaways stealing cats and dogs for food, because I grew up in an area of racist yokels.

I wanted to say how about checking the story out before you share the link you stupid cowangry
She then posted later that is was fake and one of her equally stupid friends goes on to say "there is no smoke without fire"

Not that I'd advocate such a thing, but it'd be terrible to farm as much info as possible about them from their social media accounts, and to then make a fake story about them, the more horrific the better. Perhaps on how they've been charged with child abuse, animal cruelty, or running a brothel. I wonder if they'd still maintain their 'no smoke without fire's attitude then.

(Seriously, don't do that, it'd be stupid and illegal).

op its channel123 thats based in Hong Kong.

channel23 was registered by godaddy.com who have their reputation to think of. they are not the owners but emailing [email protected] may be a good idea. whois will show you the owners details

I have read everyones messages-I will follow up on the Godaddy lead and email. I truly appreciate the support given here.

Glad to see your story in the Metro today!

OP this looks like a hate crime, and I hope you get a good result from the courts.

I've read the Metro story now - this is exactly the crap I saw on far right websites, right down to the little detail about being frozen.

And I think that was about 10 years ago.

So sorry you're dealing with this OP.

A little update for everyone, my story has gone on to the Evening Standard online. I am so surprised that they were interested in my story! Thank you for your encouragement on here, you all are the best!

I hope this means you are getting some good publicity now and things turn around for you. If I lived nearer I would come to your restaurant in support!

Now on the Fail too!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4518092/Indian-restaurant-accused-serving-HUMAN-meat-diners.html

It's reached the daily mail 🎉

Really hope you find out who the arsehole is that made this up