How #LinkedIn tripped up a super spy… #socialmedia

It could almost be a scene from the latest James Bond blockbuster… sensitive industrial information needed on a high-flying couple so a spy with a tangible cover moves in next door to befriend the pregnant wife and steal the secrets… great fiction right?  Except it’s real and the super spy was tripped up by modern day technology…

No not microphones hidden in flowers or even an iPad transmitting intimate details… nope this spy screwed up by sending an email from her real account and listing her CV on a high profile social media site….

Armed with her real name, Laura Merts, the suspicious couple searched her on-line and discovered a LinkedIn profile listing her espionage exploits during the time she befriended them.  It appears to have now been removed.

Glamourous Merts was allegedly hired by a hedge fund boss to learn confidential and private information about high flying businessmen Tobin Gover’s affairs it was revealed in a court action for breach of confidentiality Gover won this month.

Dutch born Merts used the alias of Lara Maria Von Egmond to get close to Gover’s wife Laura to find out what evidence Gover was intending to use in a potential case for unfair dismissal against Ikos and his future business plans.  She had access to the family computer whilst she looked after their child and spent considerable amount of time with them whilst supposedly recouperating from a car accident.

In reality she was super fit and trained in counter terrorism and unarmed combat with a 10 year background in undercover operations that included working with royalty, heads of state and celebrities.

Gover discovered she had listed London and Kent investigative group Inkerman on profile for the time she was based in Cyprus.  His High Court action was listed against Fund Manager Elena Ambrosiadou who hired them.  Ambrosdiadou did not contest it and judgement was entered in default, her lawyers agreed to fund the substantial damages.

In the week that saw LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman earn $1.7 billion on the float of the “old boys” network of the social media world the comment I had repeated to me at a City convention “You are nobody if you are not on LinkedIn” seems to apply everyone… including spies… and given there are almost 4,000 James Bond’s listed and a group for James Bond enthusiasts… I wonder if they need a Moneypenny…?

This really does show you even professionals screw up and it is much easier being yourself on-line.. if you are not supposed to be undercover…

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