Open Source Intelligence, commonly referred to as OSINT, involves the collection and analysis of publicly available information to support investigations, due diligence, tracing and risk assessments.
OSINT can include adverse media, public company information, court records, social media indicators, websites, professional profiles, public documents, online relationships and digital footprint information.
In modern investigations, OSINT is often used to identify links between people, companies, suppliers, addresses, assets, events and risk indicators. It is especially useful in fraud, due diligence, tracing and lifestyle audit matters.
OSINT is not simply searching Google. It requires structured methodology, source evaluation, corroboration and careful reporting. Public information can be outdated, misleading or incomplete if not properly assessed.
Common OSINT outputs include adverse media summaries, relationship mapping, social footprint reviews, corporate link analysis, location indicators and risk intelligence briefs.
Investigators must ensure that OSINT enquiries are conducted lawfully and ethically. The fact that information is publicly available does not mean it should be used without considering relevance, privacy and proportionality.
Used properly, OSINT provides valuable intelligence. It helps clients identify risk indicators, focus enquiries and make more informed decisions.
Author: Adrian van Straaten, CFE | IAFCI