One of our clients had received an anonymous email identifying an individual who was counterfeiting their products. The email included a great deal of detailed information, including how the counterfeiter stacked his money within shoe boxes that he left on the back portion of an upper shelf in his closet – details that only someone close to the individual would know.
Based on the email, we started digging into the background of the alleged counterfeiter and learned that he had recently been divorced. We also learned through a court check that he was currently involved in a legal battle with his ex-wife over custody of their daughter. Court records showed that the former wife had filed a restraining order against the individual for battery. We also learned through the IP address from which the email was sent that the originator lived in a neighboring country, which happened to be the same country in which the former spouse was born and raised.
Armed with the above, we traveled to the neighboring country and rang the doorbell of the former wife, identified ourselves and asked if she would be willing to discuss her ex-husband. She appeared nervous but agreed. We asked a few general questions and then asked directly if she had written the email.
After getting over her initial shock, she admitted sending the email and proceeded to provide detailed information about every aspect of his counterfeiting operation: from whom he bought the component parts, where he bought the packaging, who did the printing work and even a full list of his clients. We had received more details about the counterfeiter’s operation before actually beginning the investigation than we ever would have hoped to obtain during the investigation.
After verifying as much of the information as possible, we coordinated with the police to take down the counterfeiter, the manufacturer of the counterfeit packaging and the graphic designer simultaneously. We dismantled the entire counterfeiting organization.
Such can be the vengeance of an angry ex-spouse.