Faced with a reporter asking questions about his credit repair companies and assets, Calgary businessman Sheldon Wolf struck back.

He secretly purchased a web domain in the reporter’s name, created a website, and invited anyone with information to dish about the reporter or his family. Over the last week, the same IP address is now associated with four URLs in the names of two Star journalists, and three URLs using versions of the Toronto Star’s name.

“The focus of this site is to produce news and information that is only of public interest regarding David Bruser and/or the Toronto Star,” read the first line of one website, under a large photo of the reporter taken from a university website, until the website was abruptly taken down last Monday.

“If you have a story or an issue about his conduct (good or bad) that you would like posted please contact us,” the original website stated. A form was provided to contribute information.

The Star asked Wolf and his lawyer, Peter Downard, a series of questions over the past few days, including this one: “It is my belief that Mr. Wolf’s intention was to smear Mr. Bruser, and that one of his intentions was to suggest Mr. Bruser was guilty of some sort of untoward behaviour. Would Mr. Wolf like to explain why he did this?”

In response, Downard told the Star Thursday that “Mr. Wolf has had no interest in obtaining private information about you or Mr. Bruser or your families.”

Since January, Bruser, a member of the Star’s investigative team, had been looking into allegations that Wolf’s companies were promising to repair people’s bad credit, but mainly delivering more debt. Bruser had contacted Wolf and asked him questions, both by phone and through an exchange of emails. The story was published on Wednesday.

In the days leading up to publication, the Star learned that Wolf had decided to create a website in the reporter’s name. The Star was told he did send an email at one point to his 70-member sales staff with Bruser’s home address.

The site said it was the “unofficial information page” for the reporter. At one point, the site stated that it was the “information website where we analyze the career and family of David Bruser — Website coming.”

There was initially no way to tell who was behind the site, though the Star has since been able to confirm it was Wolf.

Over the weekend, the website remained a largely dormant site, populated with news stories the reporter had done previously. The Star used various online resources to track the website’s ownership, but while there were clear hints that Wolf was behind the site, there was no definitive tie (various reverse-IP lookups on the Star-related URLs show that the IP is shared with more than 20 names that appear to be related to Sheldon Wolf’s companies).

Monday, the Star complained to the company that registered the site, Sibername. The manager of Sibername passed on the Star’s complaint to Wolf. Wolf responded to Sibername and Sibername sent Wolf’s letter to the Star. The letter confirmed that he was behind the website.

The letter from Wolf, which you can read below, suggested that Wolf would release control of the website if certain terms were met. The Star had asked Wolf if he was suggesting he would get rid of the site if the Star ends its investigation. Wolf did not respond to this question.

In his responses on behalf of Wolf, lawyer Downard said his client took issue with the Star’s “questionable tactics,” which included an examination of personal assets of Wolf such as his house and cars.

“In the course of Mr. Bruser’s and your inquiries, Mr. Wolf came to believe that you intended to publish a personal attack on him,” Downard wrote, adding that the front page article entitled “The Loan Wolf” “shows that he was right.”

Downard also said the Star is a “powerful media outlet owned by a billion dollar public consortium” and that “there is a clear public interest in criticism of the manner in which you in fact carry out your work.”

Downard took issue with the Star’s undercover reporting (speaking to Wolf’s company to see what his employees were offering debt-ridden Canadians) and sending a copy of the “deed” to Wolf’s home to Wolf. The Star’s investigation found a $1.4 million Canada Revenue Agency lien on his home dating back to 2012 and the Star asked Wolf about it. Downard said sending information on Wolf’s home to Wolf “smacks of an attempt to intimidate and bully.”

Sheldon Wolf letter

Letter from Sheldon Wolf, holder of domain davidbruser.com, to M. Bulent Turkoglu, director of operations for Sibername, which registered the website. The Star had raised an issue with the use of personal information and photos of Bruser. The Star had offered to buy the website domain name for a nominal amount ($10).

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MB Turkoglu,

Thank you for your inquiry into our new website. Our response is a follows:

1. Any such pictures in question will be removed forthwith, until such time as we can receive proper clearance from our legal counsel.

2. The acquisition of the domain was done legally and in good faith and will ONLY be used for ethical accurate and informational purposes.

3. Any other such information currently posted on the website is without a question done in accordance with the laws of Canada.

4. This website is strictly a “Public interest” website and in compliance with the laws of Canada. Only matters of Public Interest will be posted!

5. The author of your complaint Mr. Donovan has made an offer to purchase our domain and is frustrated because we have NOT accepted his very low bid.

6. It is my view that rather than negotiating in good faith they are attempting to scare you into thinking that you have broken Canadian laws.

7. Should you be in breach of ANY law in Canada, I would be very curious as to what if any specific laws have been violated. Should Mr. Donovan be legitimately interested in acquiring this “Premium” website for David Bruser; he should consider increasing his minimum bid to us and perhaps he can offer me some reasonable terms. Both Mr. Bruser and Mr. Donovan are very aware of what my terms are and I am very sure that they will find me very easy to deal with once they bring forth a reasonable proposal. Either way we will be meeting with our corporate lawyers and insuring that our website is compliant and within the proper publication laws in Canada.

Have a great evening,

Sheldon H. Wolf

President/Director

Bus. 403-279-3646

Fax. 403-301-5380

By Tuesday morning, the website was scrubbed clean. Later in the day, Wolf purchased another web domain name, this one in the name of a Star editor (kevin-donovan.com). Sheldonwolf.com was also purchased at the same time. Also purchased this week, and on the same IP address as Wolf’s companies, are three websites using the Toronto Star’s name. There is no information currently on any of the sites.