10th February 2011
An impersonator on The Economist online website
Someone has been impersonating me on The Economist website for quite a while. I found this out relatively recently and took it up with The Economist . The latest situation is noted below for the public record.
Please be ware that if you find comments by one 'Sanjiv Sabhlok' (a FAKE person) on The Economist website purporting are NOT from me! This impersonator has been giving out my home page as his own, and pretends to live in Melbourne! He is undertaking a deliberate and malicious program to malign my reputation. That is intolerable.
I've asked The Economist to take appropriate action including report this to the British Police. Should the magazine not resolve this matter soon enough I'll need to consider other options including reporting this to the relevant authorities in UK and Australia. I believe that The Economist is obliged to prevent mischievous misrepresentation. I am waiting for a proper resolution of this matter. It is not enough, in my view, to simply amend the 'pen name' (deliberate misrepresentation with clear intent to misled the public/ harm me can't be lightly treated). I expect this to be reported to the Police.
Examples of the impersonation (click for larger image)
EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE ECONOMIST
—– Original Message —-
> From: Comments Moderator <>
> To: Sanjeev Sabhlok <>
> Sent: Wed, 2 February, 2011 9:59:22 PM
> Subject: Re: sanjeevsabhlok's comment to The Economist online
>
> Dear Sir,
> Please be advised that this comment, and all other comments in which this user
>links to your site, have been removed from economist.com.
>
> We are in contact with the individual concerned. If this user wishes to
>continue to comment appropriately on economist.com we will most likely amend
>their chosen pen name. Alternatively the account may still be suspended in its
>entirety.
>
> Yours Sincerely,
> Comments Moderator
>
> >>> Sanjeev Sabhlok <> 29/01/2011 10:39 >>>
> Dear Moderator
>
> I just came across yet another comment (since I've set up google alert), and
> this person who is impersonating me is continuing his comments pretending to
>be me. Indeed, I notice the following comment: "Do you have the copyright to the
> name sajiv sabhlok. Its SANJIV, not Sanjeev…:), I dont think so. Even 2 –
>2000 people can have the same name. Keep dreaming. And your website is in public
> domain and I can link it wherever I want to. "
> I'm afraid NO ONE has any right to link to MY home page and claim that it is
> them (which is what this fraudulent impersonator has done in the past). They
>are welcome to link to my website but not to claim ownership. Also it is
> inappropriate to use a name similar to mine UNLESS that is their actual name.
> Can you please ask this person to prove his actual name.
> I trust you are taking urgent action against this fraudulent impersonator! I'm getting a bit concerned now at the severe misundersatnding that The Economist is assisting in spreading about me – the sooner this is fixed the better. I'm not > happy at all with what is going on.