Overview
This training goes far beyond surface-level internet searches. Open-source intelligence is not simply searching the web: the course teaches you to leverage specialized databases, international resources and offline data sources that are routinely overlooked, and to streamline your searching into focused, defensible results — including hidden financial data, KYC/KYCC research and open-source vulnerability assessments. Day 1 builds the foundations and global search methodology; Day 2 moves into advanced sources, platforms and investigative tools. Designed for participants with basic through advanced computer skills, and traditionally delivered to federal agents and government personnel before opening to the wider professional community.
Course outline
- Protecting your identity, online activity and sensitive data while conducting OSINT investigations.
- Foundational and advanced search strategies for accurate, efficient and defensible research.
- Practical use of mapping tools and geolocation methods to validate locations, movements and spatial data.
- Techniques for locating individuals across global data sources beyond standard search engines.
- Accessing and analyzing foreign public records, registries and government data sources.
- Searching social networks, blogs, forums and alternative platforms for investigative intelligence.
- Leveraging social media for attribution, behavioral analysis, network mapping and verification.
- Utilizing global business search engines, corporate registries and commercial data resources.
- Identifying and exploiting specialized databases and industry-specific information sources.
- Core tools, browser extensions and resources to enhance investigative efficiency and capability.
What you will learn
- An investigative mindset that transforms how information is identified, analyzed and connected
- Identity protection techniques for conducting discreet and covert research
- Targeted search strategies that produce faster, more accurate due-diligence results
- Discovery of hidden data, including financial and non-obvious information sources
- Use of social networks and online platforms as investigative tools
- Advanced business intelligence research for deeper corporate and entity analysis
- KYC and KYCC methodologies using open-source intelligence
- Open-source vulnerability assessments to identify risk and exposure
- Network and device security best practices to safeguard sensitive information
After this class you can
- Direct searches to get results fast
- Find information you would expect to be confidential
- Use social networks and media as an investigative tool
- Dive deep for business information
- Protect your identity while searching; maneuver covertly
- Conduct vulnerability assessments using open sources
- Prepare for executive protection operations
Who should attend
- Licensed private investigators
- Active & retired law enforcement
- Attorneys & paralegals
- Intelligence analysts & information specialists
- CPAs & financial intelligence units (FIUs)
- Background screening agencies
- Security specialists & teams
- Forensics examiners
- Financial industry professionals
- Sales & marketing
- HR directors
- Office managers
Scheduled dates
- Ft. Lauderdale, FLNovember 5–6, 2026
Instructor
Sandra Stibbards — Owner & President, Camelot Investigations · Lead OSINT Instructor
Owner and President of Camelot Investigations, founded 2 January 1996, and a California licensed private investigator (#PI18099). Her specialties are financial fraud, competitive intelligence, counterintelligence, corporate espionage, physical penetration tests, online vulnerability assessments, brand protection and anti-counterfeiting, due diligence, internet investigations, and social engineering and elicitation. She has worked cases on five continents for Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, airlines, pharmaceutical companies, law firms and multiple three-letter agencies.