- This topic has 50 replies, 28 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 2 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
BCase :
A well-respected family approached family lawyer in a state of emotional distress. Their son was engaged to a well-mannered and educated young woman. Soon after the engagement, they are receiving anonymous blackmail messages containing vague threats and allegations about the fiancée’s character.The family was being told not to go ahead with the marriage, or they would “regret it.” The messages claimed that the girl had a “past” her morphed pics and warned them of social disgrace. Creating mistrust between the families.
(How we investigated the Case)
Step 1: Tracing Digital Footprints
I analyzed the messages/ images for metadata, IP logs, and device fingerprints. Though the messages came from fake accounts, patterns emerged from the language, timing, and reused devices.Step 2: Social Engineering & Link Analysis
I mapped the family’s extended network to see who had knowledge of personal details mentioned in the blackmails. This helped narrow down potential insiders.Step 3: Tracking Behavioral Cues
One message included a unique phrase that I cross-searched across social platforms. It led to a secondary fake account, which I linked to a lesser-known relative from the fiancée’s extended family.Step 4: Technical Confirmation
Using OSINT tools and a bit of ethical social engineering, I matched activity logs and device IDs. It confirmed the person behind the harassment.—
Outcome
The culprit was revealed to be a jealous relative of the fiancée’s extended family. They had personal grudges and were trying to break the relationship by damaging the girl’s character anonymously. The blackmailer admitted everything when confronted with digital proof in private.
—
I am looking to freelance work with fellow lawyers for more practical experience.Ps. We did some more steps which cannot be mentioned here for privacy / concent reasons.
-
-
-
BThe situation was delicate:
1. They didn’t want to accuse anyone without proof.
2. They didn’t want to harm the girl’s reputation if the allegations were false.
3. They didn’t want to escalate the matter to the police and cause public embarrassment.
So they seeked help from family laywer who in turn brought me up with the details, together we got the truth without creating noise.
-
-
-
-
-
RVery interested in knowing how you got the metadata from images sent over via the usual messaging platforms – since Whatsapp/Instagram strip metadata/exif data from all images sent from their platform.
Also, how did you get IP logs to analyse data since this is proprietary information not available to the public.
And the same for device ingerprints. That is analytical data and once again not shared.
-
-
DOMG, you are awesome 👍 kudos.
I suggest you make it into a formal process and start advertising privately for investigation help for people suffering from cyber crime.
I am sure many people would be grateful for this kind of service and there could be huge demand for this in future. I think there are already firms offering such services.
You can probably fix some approx fees for your services.
If I come across any potential clients, can I refer them to you?
Also, can you make this into a short online course and teach it?
-
BSure, definitely. The aim of the post is to collaborate with fellow lawyers, as we may need unofficial support from the police and courts at some stages of investigation.
-
-
BI’m just a techie, but I want to freelance for lawyers to avoid crossing the thin line that could cause trouble.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
SYour desire to assist victims of criminal activity is lauded. The techniques you have described are standard tools to uncover trails. Some of these processes involve access to privileged data, devices and networks. I hope that you are doing everything ethically and in accordance with the law. Violating the law while aiming to be a positive Robinhood can land you in difficult waters.
-
BYes therefore I am looking to assist lawyers only and never take any leads in my own.
Lawyers in turn handles the legalities, courts and Police stations.
-
SIf you want to do this professionally, I suggest you set up a formal venture. You can then outsource and collaborate with others. Otherwise, even if you collaborate with lawyers in the alternative situation, you can still be held legally liable for violations. Collaborating partners may not have your best interests when things go wrong. In a formal venture, you can set up matters such that you are protected from bad actors.
-
-
SMaybe I wasn’t clear. You should do this asap to cover your bases. Waiting to do so after a few gigs may be too late.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
RBlackmail occurs when a person is manipulated with the threat of exposing private information that the person wants hidden from public.
Here, the information was not about the son, and the groom’s family would not have lost anything if the girl’s photos were to be leaked.
It looks like a case of the groom’s family being warned rather than blackmailed.
-
-
-
-
