OSINT
Online Identity Theft Detection
When Your Identity Is Stolen
Online identity theft takes many forms: fake profiles created in your name, fraudulent accounts using your photos, messages sent in your name, and scams that exploit your image. The consequences can be severe, both for your reputation and for your loved ones or professional contacts, and victims often feel helpless in the face of a phenomenon that spreads rapidly.
To put an end to the impersonation and obtain redress, we must first identify all the accounts and content involved, then trace the perpetrator as far back as possible. An open-source investigation makes it possible to map out the impersonation and gather actionable evidence, in compliance with the law.
Acting quickly is crucial: the longer the identity theft continues, the more damage it causes. A methodical approach will allow you to regain control of your identity and build a strong case.
What’s Included
: Our Services
- Our investigation aims to map the unauthorized access and identify the perpetrator:
- Detection of fake profiles and fraudulent accounts;
- Investigation into the origin and identification of the impostor;
- A review of the content and messages posted on your behalf;
- Dated and documented findings that can be used in court;
- Support for the reporting and removal process.
Each item is time-stamped and recorded in a clear report. This service is often combined with work on your digital identity and online reputation.
How is the procedure performed?
It all starts with a confidential, free, and no-obligation consultation to assess the extent of the identity theft and provide a clear quote. Our investigators then map out the accounts and content in question and search for the perpetrator throughout France. Our digital investigations are led by Sarah Da Silva, who heads the Aquila Group’s OSINT division. You’ll receive a detailed report that can be used to file a complaint or request the removal of content.
Gathering the necessary information to file a complaint
Identity theft is a crime, but a complaint will only be successful if it is based on concrete and well-documented evidence. Our report compiles the findings in a dated and documented manner, which greatly facilitates the work of the authorities and strengthens your chances of having the identity theft stopped and receiving compensation.
This documentation is also useful for securing the prompt removal of content from platforms, which require specific information in order to take action. We therefore compile the file with both of these purposes in mind.
Act quickly to minimize the damage
In these situations, every day counts: a fake profile left online continues to mislead your contacts and cause harm. We tailor our efforts to this urgency by prioritizing the rapid identification of content to enable immediate reporting, while continuing to search for the perpetrator.
This responsiveness, combined with the thoroughness of the findings, is what makes it possible to quickly regain control of a situation that, otherwise, tends to worsen.
Legal Framework and Privacy
Our research is based exclusively on lawful sources and complies with personal data protection regulations, in accordance with the CNIL’s recommendations. Identifying an imposter requires a methodical approach, never unauthorized access. This adherence to the legal framework ensures the admissibility of our findings.
It is this compliance that ensures our products can be used with confidence in the event of a complaint or legal action.
Why Choose the Aquila Group?
The Aquila Group is a private detective agency accredited by the CNAPS. Your investigations are conducted by our own investigators, and we operate throughout France—with particularly high demand in the Paris region—thanks to our network of twenty offices across five regions.
Responsiveness, expertise in digital forensics, and compliance with legal requirements are the cornerstones of our work. To discuss your situation with us, please contact our teams : the initial consultation is free and non-binding.
A rapidly growing phenomenon
Online identity theft is becoming increasingly common, fueled by how easy it is to create a fake account or obtain photos. No one is immune: an individual whose image is misused to deceive loved ones, a professional whose name is used in scams, or a company whose brand is used as bait. The damage can be reputational, financial, or relational.
When faced with this phenomenon, the worst possible response is inaction, because a fake profile that is left online continues to cause harm and mislead others. A systematic response makes it possible to determine the extent of the impersonation and to quickly take steps to have the profile removed and, if necessary, file a complaint.
We’re here to support you every step of the way, from the initial assessment to putting together your case file, so that you don’t have to face this often-unsettling situation alone.
Protect your loved ones and your business, too
Identity theft doesn’t just affect you—it also puts your loved ones, your contacts, and your business at risk, as they may be deceived in your name. Taking action, therefore, means protecting everyone around you by putting an end to a deception that preys on the trust others place in you.
We identify all affected accounts and content to ensure that our response is comprehensive, not partial. Addressing an impersonation only halfway leaves a risk unaddressed.
If you’re a victim of identity theft, you don’t have to face it alone or suffer in silence: a methodical and swift response almost always allows you to regain control. By mapping out all the affected accounts, identifying the source, and building a solid case, we give you the tools to have the content removed and, if necessary, to assert your rights in court.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Often, yes. Fake accounts leave traces that can frequently be linked to their creators through lawful cross-checking. A firm accredited by the CNAPS operates within this framework.
Yes. Because it is dated and documented, it makes it easier to file a complaint and supports requests for removal from platforms.
Yes. We prioritize the rapid identification of content to enable immediate reporting, while continuing to search for the author.
The estimate is free and non-binding. The cost depends on the extent of the identity theft; it will be clearly communicated to you before any work begins.
Yes, throughout France, since most of the work can be done using open-source tools.
Browse all of our OSINT investigation sections
Be sure to check out our section on TSCM detection – Electronic dust removal for detecting hidden microphones and cameras, as well as our insurance division.