Regular readers of the ReputationDefender blog are well versed in the real world effects of electronic gossip and internet harassment. The ReputationDefender blog posted about the Chicago ad executive who took his own life after an anonymous poster trashed his reputation online earlier this year. Today, the New York Times is reporting another case of Internet Revenge, with damaging real world consequences. Quoting from the page:

An angry husband’s Web-based vendetta against Steven Rattner, the head of Credit Suisse’s private equity arm, ultimately led to the executive’s resignation last week, Andrew Ross Sorkin writes in his latest DealBook column.

The tale and the Internet campaign — the talk of Wall Street for weeks — provide a lesson in the fragility of reputations on Wall Street, especially in the Internet age.

The backstory for this tale involves Mr. Rattner engaging in an affair with a married woman five years ago.

Kelly Cosgrove, the woman with whom Mr. Rattner had an affair, was married at the time to an Australian named Tommii Cosgrove. And after he learned of the affair, Mr. Cosgrove decided to make it his life’s mission to damage Mr. Rattner. And with Mr. Rattner’s resignation, he may have succeeded.

[SNIP]

On a half-dozen Web sites, and in a series of incendiary e-mail messages to Mr. Rattner’s colleagues and clients, as well as reporters, Mr. Cosgrove accused Mr. Rattner of trying, essentially, to steal his wife.

The Times leaves out the details of the internet whisper campaign, but Gawker has the enraged husband’s posts in its write up of the story:

 I warned you MR. RATNER, I would not let this rest. I am coming for you big time.

To be featured on FACEBOOK & MYSPACE very soon

[SNIP]

Mr. Ratner - the story doesn’t end until i say so. have a nice life. Everyone will know Steve Ratner pays for sex and stole my wife with $500,000.00 and a car.

Anonymous sources say that the damage caused to the Banker’s reputation led to his departure from Credit Suisse. Again, quoting from the Times:

Nonetheless, with DLJ Merchant Banking planning to raise a new investment fund, and the rumor mill still swirling about Mr. Rattner, and continually stirred up by Mr. Cosgrove, some of the firm’s partners were worried that Mr. Rattner was becoming a liability, said people at the firm who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Mr. Rattner apparently felt powerless to stop the attacks. He was described as a “man who said he was helpless against the destruction that can be wrought by aggressive campaigns on the Internet.”

When faced with an internet problem, many people may feel powerless. ReputationDefender can give you an Edge to defend your online reputation. With ReputationDefender you can put the power of personal PR to work for you and protect your good name today.

Bookmark It