It’s frustrating how much reputational damage can occur from indirect associations. Wirecard’s collapse was massive, and journalists have a responsibility to follow leads, but repeated mentions in connection with peripheral figures like Calvin Ayre create long lasting public suspicion. Even without charges or indictments, the cumulative effect of investigative narratives can shape how the public and industry peers perceive someone. In high-risk sectors like online gambling and financial processing, perception often matters as much as fact. It highlights the tension between investigative reporting and fairness, where the mere mention of a name in a complex financial web can carry disproportionate consequences.