What Does OSINT Deliver in Claims Investigations?

What you will find below:

• What Can OSINT Uncover in an Insurance Investigation?
• How Do OSINT Findings Support Claims Investigations?
• What Are the Limits of OSINT?
• What OSINT Delivers in Claims Investigations

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) helps investigators find leads, understand context, and verify information using publicly available sources. In claims investigations, OSINT can help identify relevant details, compare them with reported facts, and determine what to investigate next.

The U.S. Intelligence Community defines OSINT as intelligence derived from publicly or commercially available information to address specific requirements. In claims investigations, the goal is straightforward: What does publicly available information reveal about the claim, and what needs further investigation?

What Can OSINT Uncover in an Insurance Investigation?

OSINT can help investigators learn more about a claimant’s activities, background, employment, financial interests, and whereabouts. The type of research depends on the questions surrounding the claim.

Online Activity and Claimant Profiles

• Social Media Investigation: Reviews public posts, photos, and interactions on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn to identify activities, connections, and locations relevant to a claim.
• Internet Mining: Expands the search beyond social media to news articles, blogs, forums, race results, and other online sources that may provide additional context.
• Claimant Profile Investigation: Brings relevant online findings together to develop a broader picture of the claimant and identify potential leads for further investigation.
• Gym/Sport Activity Canvass: Combines online research with outreach to gyms, sports leagues, and other facilities to gather information about reported or observed physical activity.

Identity, Background, and Criminal History

• Background Investigation: Reviews available information, such as address history, court filings, and business registrations, to establish a person’s background and identify relevant leads.
• Criminal History Profile: Examines available criminal records for information that may be relevant to the investigation. A criminal record alone does not establish fraud, and findings must be matched to the correct person.
• Due Diligence Investigation: Uses background research to help evaluate a person or business before a specific decision, such as entering a business relationship or completing an acquisition.

Employment, Business, and Financial Leads

• Employment Verification: Helps confirm reported work history, identify potential employers, and develop leads related to employment or work activity.
• Financial Asset Investigation: Uses public records to identify potential property interests, business affiliations, and other financial leads.
• Insurance Coverage Check: Helps identify potential insurance coverage relevant to an assignment, although public information alone may not confirm whether a policy is active.

Locating People and Records

• Locate Investigation: Uses available information, including address history, vehicle registrations, property records, and online sources, to develop leads about a person’s whereabouts.
• Record Retrieval: Obtains relevant documentation from available sources, which may require formal requests or signed releases.
• Medical Facility Canvass: Uses direct outreach to medical facilities to help identify where and when treatment may have occurred.

Litigation Research

• Jury Pool Investigation: Researches prospective jurors through public records and online information to support litigation preparation, subject to applicable legal and ethical restrictions.

How Do OSINT Findings Support Claims Investigations?

OSINT helps investigators determine what to check next. Comparing public information with reported claim details can reveal potential inconsistencies, identify new leads, and indicate whether additional investigation is warranted.

For example, public posts showing visits to sports venues may help investigators determine whether surveillance is appropriate. Information identifying a previously unknown medical facility may lead to a formal records request.

The process generally involves four steps:

• Discovery: Find potentially relevant information.
• Lead development: Assess how it may relate to the claim.
• Verification: Use additional sources or investigative methods to confirm or rule out the lead.
• Documentation: Record verified findings to support the next investigative step or claim decision.

Finding information is only the first step. Investigators must verify relevant details and consider the context before using findings to inform claim decisions.

What Are the Limits of OSINT?

Public information can be outdated, incomplete, misleading, or linked to the wrong person. Investigators should consider several limitations:

• Outdated information: An old post may show activity that occurred before the date of loss.
• Mistaken identity: Similar names or shared account details can lead to false matches.
• Incomplete records: A missing record does not prove an event never occurred.
• Missing context: A photo may show physical activity but cannot establish pain levels, duration, or medical restrictions.
• Privacy requirements: Applicable laws, court rules, and platform terms may limit how information can be accessed or used.

Investigators should document source URLs, capture dates, and relevant content to support verification and potential litigation needs.

What OSINT Delivers in Claims Investigations

OSINT delivers leads, context, and verification support across online activity, background research, employment, financial assets, and locating people or records. It works best alongside other investigative methods, including surveillance, canvassing, and formal records requests.

Public information can help explain a claim, but it must be verified before it supports a decision.

Looking for defensible OSINT findings? Talk to our team today.

Sources:

• American Bar Association. “The Dos and Don’ts of Using Social Media in Jury Selection.” GPSolo, https://www.americanbar.org/groups/gpsolo/resources/magazine/archive/dos-donts-using-social-media-jury-selection/.
• Federal Trade Commission. “As Part of ‘Operation Detect Pretext’ FTC Sues to Halt ‘Pretexting.’” 18 Apr. 2001, https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2001/04/part-operation-detect-pretext-ftc-sues-halt-pretexting.
• Federal Trade Commission. “Background Checks: What Employers Need to Know.” https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/plain-language/pdf-0142-background-checks-what-employers-need-know.pdf.
• Federal Trade Commission. “Two Data Brokers Settle FTC Charges That They Sold Consumer Data Without Complying With Protections Required Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.” 9 Apr. 2014, https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2014/04/two-data-brokers-settle-ftc-charges-they-sold-consumer-data-without-complying-protections-required.
• Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The IC OSINT Strategy 2024-2026. Mar. 2024, https://archive.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/IC_OSINT_Strategy.pdf.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Disclosures for Workers’ Compensation Purposes.” https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance/disclosures-workers-compensation/index.html.