EFRI, a qualified entity under the Austrian Collective Redress Act (QEG), has been fighting online investment fraud across Europe. In this article, we expose Finleaks.com and Finleaks.media as a retaliatory defamation platform created by individuals connected to convicted cybercriminals. The site attacks EFRI and its leadership through false claims, personal insults, and smear tactics. This is our response.
What Is Finleaks.com/Finleaks.media?
Finleaks.com presents itself as an “investigative blog,” but its actual purpose is far from journalism. It appeared shortly after the criminal conviction of Gal Barak, the Wolf of Sofia – a cybercriminal sentenced in Austria for defrauding thousands of retail investors. EFRI resp. Elfriede Sixt played a central role in starting and coordinating legal action that led to his conviction in September 2020 in Vienna. Pls read here for more info.
In retaliation, Finleaks.com and Finleaks.media was launched when BARAK was released from jail. It targets Elfriede Sixt, EFRI’s Chairwoman, and others in the anti-fraud space, using dehumanizing cartoons, false accusations, and fabricated narratives.
The domain is operated by SmartApe OÜ, an Estonian shell company, offering no legal imprint, no editor, and no accountability.
What Kind of Content Does Finleaks Publish?
Articles on the site contain:
Defamatory statements about EFRI and its leadership,
False allegations of criminal involvement,
Cartoons and memes designed to ridicule and discredit,
A narrative designed to undermine public trust in EFRI’s mission.
The platform offers no sources, no verification, and no right of reply. Its sole purpose is reputational damage.
Legal Ruling Against Finleaks
In 2021, the District Court of Korneuburg (GZ 18 C 488/21b) issued a provisional injunction (Unterlassungsauftrag) confirming that key Finleaks content is unlawful and must be removed.
While attempts to deliver the injunction to the Estonian company failed due to evasive behavior, the legal assessment remains binding: Finleaks spreads defamation.
Until now, we have refrained from investing time and resources into legal action against platforms like Finleaks or intermediaries such as search engines. Why? Because we know that the dissemination of falsehoods is a core tactic used by organized cybercriminals. When one defamatory website is taken down, another one often appears within 24 hours—same lies, different domain. In that sense, we have been reluctant to play whack-a-mole with disinformation.
And in a way, being targeted by convicted fraudsters and their enablers is a backhanded compliment—a sign that our work is making an impact.
Why We Are Speaking Out Now
Some may ask: Why respond now, after these articles have been online for years?
EFRI is currently preparing an innovative token-based funding mechanism to support collective legal actions across Europe. As we increase our visibility and impact, we must proactively address false narratives that could undermine public trust, our legal credibility, and victim participation.
We will continue to expose threats to consumer protection, regardless of intimidation tactics.
To Those Who Have Lost Trust
To the victims out there — many of whom have lost trust in everyone after being defrauded, re-victimized by their banks, and let down by regulators — we understand. You are right to be cautious, even with us. Skepticism is not weakness; it’s self-protection.
But if you’re still searching for answers, we invite you to simply call us. No promises, no pressure — just a real conversation with real people who are doing their best to help.
EFRI exists because justice should not end where fraud begins.
