This project demonstrates how fake social media accounts can be investigated using Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) techniques in a legal and ethical manner.
The project is designed for academic and learning purposes and aligns with government cybersecurity, cybercrime investigation, and IFSO internship requirements.
- Identify indicators of fake social media accounts
- Apply OSINT techniques for investigation
- Understand cybercrime investigation workflow
- Promote ethical and lawful cybersecurity practices
The investigation follows a structured OSINT workflow:
- Profile analysis
- Username and identity assessment
- Image verification (reverse image search)
- Content and behavior analysis
- Network and engagement analysis
- Findings and conclusion
- OSINT techniques
- Profile & content analysis
- Reverse image search
- Network and activity analysis
- Documentation-based investigation
This project uses a simulated social media profile created strictly for academic demonstration.
- No real individuals were targeted
- No interaction or messaging was performed
- The individual present in the case study is fictitious.
The project complies with ethical guidelines and the IT Act, 2000.
This project is relevant for:
- IFSO Internship
- Cyber Crime Cell
- I4C (Ministry of Home Affairs)
- Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics students
Deepanshu Semwal
B.Tech CSE (Cybersecurity) Student
Academic OSINT Project