Description
Description
This 14-Hr. self-paced, non-state specific, on-demand course is a must for Probation Officers, Parole Agents, Investigators and Detectives, School Resource Officers, Prosecutors and Staff who investigate crimes related to the need to collect digital evidence and data. This course will use sex related crimes as case study examples. It provides detailed descriptions of tools and resources for investigating high risk offenders on social media, the dark web, and other dark corners of the internet.
Course Summary
The rise of social networking sites and mobile technology has expanded cyber-crime while also providing new investigative opportunities for law enforcement. Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) offers a range of techniques to gather intelligence across the internet and social media platforms. This course will introduce key OSINT methods, including tracing usernames and emails, identifying hidden text software, conducting phone number searches, utilizing OSINT dashboards, performing reverse image searches, analyzing websites, capturing digital evidence, and conducting trace-and-track linkage analysis.
This comprehensive training will explore the use of cyber technology in investigations, covering web platforms, artificial intelligence, bot technology, and linkage analysis. Participants will examine major social networking and communication platforms to understand their role in cyber-crime and intelligence gathering.
Designed for both new and experienced investigators, this course will provide hands-on experience with OSINT tools and techniques, including how to create and use a sock puppet account to protect investigator identities during cyber investigations. Special focus will be given to OSINT applications for mobile devices, including hidden app detection which can be beneficial is detecting registered sex offender activity.
Additionally, participants will receive information on warrant templates detailing the types of data these platforms collect, such as IP addresses, URLs, voice recordings, images, videos, and financial transactions. The course will also incorporate real-world case studies—primarily involving sex related crimes such as sextortion, trafficking, CSAM, and other cyber-enabled sex crimes—to demonstrate the application of OSINT, linkage analysis, and technological tools in successful investigations.
Outline of Topics Covered
I. Introduction to OSINT and Cyber Investigations
1. The evolution of cyber-crime and investigative challenges
2. The role of OSINT in digital investigations
3. Legal and ethical considerations in OSINT investigations
II. OSINT Techniques and Tools
1. Tracing usernames and email addresses
2. Conducting phone number searches
3. Utilizing OSINT dashboards for data aggregation
4. Performing reverse image searches
5. Website analysis for intelligence gathering
6. Capturing and preserving digital evidence
III. Linkage Analysis in Cyber Investigations
1. Understanding trace-and-track techniques
2. Identifying connections between suspects, victims, and networks
3. Cyber technology and its role in pattern recognition
IV. Investigating Social Media and Online Communication Platforms
1. Examining major social networking platforms
2. Risks and vulnerabilities in online interactions
3. Methods for identifying suspicious activity
V. Cyber Technology in OSINT Investigations
1. Artificial intelligence and bot technology
2. Hidden text software and applications
3. Automated tools for online data collection
VI. Protecting Investigator Identities in Cyber Investigations
1. Creating and managing sock puppet accounts
2. Digital security best practices for investigators
3. Avoiding detection while conducting online surveillance
VII. OSINT Applications for Mobile Device Investigations
1. Identifying hidden apps used for illicit activities
2. Detecting and tracking mobile-based cyber-crimes
3. Understanding mobile technology’s role in OSINT
VIII. Legal Considerations and Data Collection
1. Reviewing warrant templates for digital evidence acquisition
2. Understanding platform-specific data retention policies
3. Data types collected by online platforms (IP addresses, URLs, voice recordings, images,
videos, financial transactions)
IX. Case Studies in Cyber-Enabled Sex Crimes
1. Sextortion investigations using OSINT
2. Human trafficking cases and digital evidence
3. CSAM detection and tracking
4. Other cyber-enabled sex crimes and investigative strategies
X. Hands-On Training and Practical Application
1. Practical exercises using OSINT tools
2. Real-world investigative scenarios
3. Developing critical thinking and analysis skills
XI. Conclusion and Future Trends in OSINT Investigations
1. The evolving landscape of cyber-crime
2. Emerging OSINT techniques and technologies
3. Best practices for staying updated in cyber investigations
*** Note: This course is for Law Enforcement and support staff ONLY. Please register with
your work email address, which will be verified. Unauthorized registrations will be
terminated, no refund provided, and the student will be expelled from the course and
website.
About The Instructor:
Melissa Maranville, PhD-c, serves as the Founder/CEO of DeVille and Associates, LLC, situated in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. With an extensive background spanning over 30 years, Melissa delivers comprehensive consulting and training services to law enforcement agencies nationally and globally. Her areas of expertise encompass intricate subjects such as criminal forensics, cryptocurrency, dark web, social media, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and linkage analysis, with a primary emphasis on the investigation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC).
Melissa holds certifications in forensic investigations, cryptocurrency, and blockchain forensics and is a nationally accredited law enforcement instructor with IADLEST. Apart from her training responsibilities, Melissa proficiently conducts forensic investigations, gathers digital evidence for human trafficking and CSAM cases, and is an expert witness on social media platforms and websites regarding child exploitation, CSAM and trafficking. Melissa is a master researcher, subject matter expert (SME), expert witness, speaker, and thought leader.
Melissa is also a Ph.D. candidate at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Her dissertation topic is “A Case Study of Ineffective Legislation: Moral Panic and the Sex Offender Registry.” Upon completing her Ph.D., Melissa aims to influence new sex offender legislation concerning the tracking and tracing of registered and non-registered sex offenders and absconders. She also earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. You can find more information about Melissa
on her LinkedIn page at http://www.linkedin.com/in/mmaranville