T
he summer of 2021 was a challenging time for well-known characters on X, formerly known as Twitter. An anonymous account named "LPWhisperer" emerged, targeting influential figures in the online real estate community. The account's reign of terror began in June but was short-lived as it vanished shortly after its appearance. However, its impact was felt in at least one lawsuit and an alleged federal investigation. The account's tweets are no longer visible, but its summer of posting still resonates in at least one lawsuit and an alleged federal investigation.

    LPWhisperer's favorite targets included investors like Dallas-Fort Worth's S2 Capital CEO Scott Everett and Fort Capital CEO Chris Powers, who hosts a popular podcast called "The Fort." The account also went after people outside of real estate, such as Matthias Smith, an SBA loan broker based in Madison, Wisconsin. According to LPWhisperer, Powers and Everett are "woke libtard Commies," while Smith is a "violent predator." The popular #RETwit account StripMallGuy does less business "than a decent house flipper."

    Everett sued LPWhisperer on Aug. 29, claiming that the account's crusade amounts to defamation. The war of words between LPWhisperer and its targets initially took place via email, but soon escalated into real-life confrontations. Powers issued a cease and desist letter and announced FBI involvement via a news release published in the Southeast Texas Record, a pro-business website backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

    LPWhisperer's targets claimed that the account was run by Jakub Kostecki, a Poland-born entrepreneur based in Colorado. According to his website, Kostecki lives in Boulder with his wife of 15 years and four children. LPWhisperer denied these claims when asked via direct message. The account's owner refused multiple requests for an interview.

    LPWhisperer often juxtaposed an investor's lavish lifestyle with the experiences of tenants in their properties or the reality of being one of their capital providers. Photos posted by Scott Everett provided perfect fodder for this type of content. One post included a GIF of a person falling through the ceiling of a second-floor unit at one of Everett's S2 Capital properties, claiming that S2 couldn't repair the apartment due to lack of funds.

    Everett claimed that LPWhisperer demanded he buy the account in exchange for stopping its harassment. On Aug. 29, he filed a lawsuit against Kostecki. The undoing of LPWhisperer began when several of its targets claimed otherwise, including Matthias Smith, who spent $33,000 on an investigator to determine who was behind the account. The investigator determined that LPWhisperer was likely operated by Kostecki based on its behavior and characteristics.

    Kostecki reappeared online after being inactive for five years, asking how to find out all the properties someone owns on Quora, an interest he shares with LPWhisperer. Everett's lawsuit claimed Powers contrived a sting operation to uncover LPWhisperer's true identity. Powers hired a former law enforcement officer to approach LPWhisperer, pretending to bring a lawsuit against Powers. LPWhisperer agreed to provide information about Powers for $45,000, according to Everett's lawsuit. The wiring information provided traced back to Kostecki's children.

    Powers took the matter to Kostecki's doorstep, where he was filmed approaching the well-manicured front yard with a Ford Bronco parked in the driveway. Kostecki confirmed he was home when Powers showed him the cease and desist letter. Everett's lawsuit includes a photo of Kostecki answering the door and claims his expression revealed he knew he'd been caught. Powers and Smith also tried to involve the FBI in their investigations. Smith filed a report on June 27, but it didn't go anywhere. Powers claimed the FBI had opened an investigation into LPWhisperer and was cooperating with them via email.

    In his lawsuit, Everett claimed LPWhisperer's harassment amounts to defamation, for which he deserves punitive damages. LPWhisperer stopped posting on Sept. 5, announcing that the account was "changing hands" as work and life ramps up in the fall.