Discord is Not All Fun and Games
Discord brings together all sorts of communities drawing the attention of investigators and intelligence analysts
Telegram: Criminals’ Favorite App
How bad guys decided to ditch the Dark Web and come to the light of messaging apps
Shocking Fraud Losses: 2023 Statistics
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released its annual fraud statistics for the last year and the numbers are shocking
You’ve got a refund! And other IRS scams
Our favorite time of the year has come and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is breathing down our necks. It’s also a perfect time for fraudsters to steal our sweet tax refunds. Here are a few examples of IRS scams that are most common in 2024.
Is It Legal to Secretly Record People?
Is it legal to secretly record people? General consideration for investigators who want to record over the phone or in-person conversations
Five Great TV Shows About Fraud
A curated list of five riveting shows centered around fraud and scams that are perfect for Thanksgiving weekend binge-watch sessions. Thrilling crime dramas and insightful documentaries offer a unique perspective on the world of deception and investigative success.
Very “Friendly” Fraud: Chargebacks and Promo Abuse
How real customers become fraudsters and what to do about it
How Do You Find a Dead Person?
Basics of genealogy research to find any grave, burial, or cemetery
Have You Donated to a Fake Charity?
You might have given money to a donation scam without knowing it. How to recognize charity fraud
How To Make File Search on Google Exciting
How to easily find and unexpectedly private documents in any search engine
Some of Your Online Friends are Sock Puppets
Fake accounts that both bad actors and legitimate investigators use to gather information and how to recognize them
How I Fell for a Job Scam and Lost Money
A very personal and slightly shameful story about me losing too much money to fraud
It’s Time to Make Your Venmo Private
Payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, Cash App and PayPal are a great source of open-source information for investigators
A Beginner's Guide to the Dark Web for Investigators
A short instruction on how to find information on the Dark Web for OSINT purposes
Investigating on the Russian Internet
A list of tools to start looking for anyone in the Russian language
Basics of Cryptocurrency Investigations
Free online tools for cryptocurrency investigators that will help to follow the money
Becoming a Certified Fraud Examiner: Is it Worth It?
The pros and cons of getting certified as a fraud examiner
Find a Person by Their Website Link
Best OSINT tools for website and domain investigations
Why Fraud on Social Media Will Never Be Stopped
Social media companies profit from fraudsters and they will never take them down unless someone makes them
Real-Life Example of Pig Butchering Scam
How a simple “Hello” text led to weeks of talking to a fraudster