CASE FILE VI ยท REPUTATION MONITORING
Someone is spreading lies about me.
Your reputation took years to build and a rumour can dent it overnight. Reacting well matters more than reacting fast - here's how to protect it.
Assess before you react
Pause. A public, angry response often amplifies the very thing you want gone (people notice the fight, not the facts). Decide whether this needs a reply at all, or quiet removal.
Document everything
Screenshot the false claims, where they're posted, who's posting, and timestamps. If this ever becomes a legal matter, contemporaneous evidence is invaluable.
Use platform and legal removal routes
Most platforms remove content that breaks their rules - harassment, false claims, fake reviews. For clearly defamatory material, a formal removal request or legal letter may be appropriate. Report through the correct channel first.
Strengthen the true story
You rarely erase everything - so make sure accurate, positive information about you ranks higher and speaks louder. Your own profiles, real reviews and genuine content push false claims down where fewer people see them.
Monitor so you hear it first
The worst outcome is learning about a smear from a client or a friend. Monitoring your name means you catch a story as it starts - when it's small and easiest to address.
Hearing a story turn against you - early, from a quiet alert rather than a phone call - is the whole point of reputation monitoring. It buys you the time to respond calmly, before a rumour becomes the narrative.
You don't have to handle this alone.
Talk to a guardian