Online scams rarely depend on one account or one website. Behind a fraud scheme there may be fake profiles, reused phone numbers, domains, payment routes, crypto wallets, business registrations, advertising accounts, and social media infrastructure. OSINT helps connect these fragments into an evidence-based picture.
What an online scam investigation looks for
- Profiles, usernames, phone numbers, email addresses, and aliases.
- Domain records, hosting indicators, website history, and cloned content.
- Social media accounts and cross-platform identity reuse.
- Payment indicators such as IBANs, merchant accounts, crypto wallets, and exchange references.
- Links between multiple victims, businesses, adverts, or communication channels.
Why evidence preservation is urgent
Fraud infrastructure is temporary. Websites disappear, Telegram handles change, WhatsApp numbers are abandoned, and social media profiles are deleted. Early evidence preservation can make the difference between a vague story and a structured report that legal counsel, platforms, banks, or law enforcement can understand.
OSINT does not mean guessing
A professional OSINT investigation separates confirmed facts from leads. Similar names, profile photos, or reused content are not enough on their own. Findings need source references, confidence levels, dates, screenshots, and context.
Common scam types NCRB investigates
- Investment fraud and fake trading platforms.
- Romance scams and relationship-based manipulation.
- Business email compromise and invoice fraud.
- Marketplace fraud and fake webshops.
- Cryptocurrency scams and wallet tracing cases.
- Impersonation, blackmail, and online extortion.
What clients receive
NCRB provides a structured intelligence report with findings, evidence, source references, relationship mapping, and practical next-step considerations. The report can support internal decisions, legal advice, platform reporting, or law enforcement referrals.
Learn more about scam investigation or contact NCRB confidentially.
