Fraud and Catfish Investigations
Find out who you are really dealing with — before you send money, or before you send any more.
- Licensed investigators — Australia-wide
- 20+ years locating people, debtors and businesses
- Verified results, not unconfirmed database matches
- Confidential handling on every matter
No obligation. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help before you commit.
Start a confidential enquiry
Most enquiries answered the same business day.
Licensed inquiry agent
Registered with the Private Agents Registry, Victoria Police
Ask any firm you are considering for their registration. An unlicensed trace is a risk you inherit.
- years
- 25+ Locating people, debtors and businesses
- law firms
- 500+ Trust us with their matters
- followers
- 1K On LinkedIn
- states & territories
- 8 Metro and regional, Australia-wide
What is a catfish or fraud investigation?
A catfish or fraud investigation establishes whether the person you are dealing with online is who they claim to be. We verify identity, trace the real person behind an account, and provide a written report you can act on.
The pattern is consistent: a relationship that developed quickly, a person who is always unable to meet or video call, and eventually a request for money — for a medical emergency, a customs fee, a business opportunity, a flight that never gets booked. By the time someone looks for help, they usually already suspect the answer.
Establishing the truth early stops the loss. Establishing it late is still worth doing, because a documented identity is what any report to police, a bank or a platform will depend on.
Who we do this for
Online relationships
Verifying whether someone met through a dating app or social media is genuine before money or travel is involved.
Romance scam concerns
Establishing identity where requests for money have already started, and documenting it for reporting.
Investment and crypto approaches
Checking who is actually behind an unsolicited investment opportunity or trading platform.
Marketplace and business fraud
Verifying a counterparty in an online transaction or supplier arrangement.
Families acting for a relative
Where an older family member is in contact with someone the family believes is not genuine.
Impersonation and fake profiles
Identifying who is operating an account using someone else's photographs or identity.
How it works
- 1
Confidential intake
You tell us what you have — profiles, messages, photographs, phone numbers, payment details. No judgement, and nothing is disclosed to the other party.
- 2
Identity analysis
Images, accounts and provided identity details are analysed for signs of reuse, fabrication or inconsistency.
- 3
Open-source investigation
Accounts, numbers, email addresses and payment details are traced across available sources to establish who is actually behind them.
- 4
Verification
Where a real identity emerges, it is confirmed against independent sources before it is reported to you.
- 5
Written report
You receive a clear report on what was established — suitable for taking to police, a bank, or a platform.
Why it matters
A reverse image search is where this starts, not where it ends
Anyone can run a photograph through a search engine. Sophisticated operators know that, and increasingly use generated images that return nothing — which people then read, wrongly, as reassurance.
A proper investigation works the other identifiers: phone numbers, email addresses, payment details, account histories, language patterns and the inconsistencies between what has been said over weeks of conversation. That is what establishes identity, and what produces a report a bank or police will act on.
What you receive
- A clear finding on whether the person is who they claim to be
- Identification of the real person behind the account where established
- Evidence of image reuse or fabricated identity where found
- Analysis of accounts, numbers and payment details supplied
- A written report suitable for reporting to police or a financial institution
- Complete confidentiality — the subject is not contacted or alerted
Cost and turnaround
- Fraud & Catfish Investigations from
- $100
- Quoting
- Fixed fee, confirmed upfront
See full pricing
What we can and cannot recover
We investigate identity. We do not recover money, and we would encourage caution toward anyone who promises they can — recovery scams frequently target people who have already been defrauded once.
Where funds have been sent, report it to your bank immediately and to ReportCyber. Our report supports those steps by documenting who was actually behind the contact; it is not a substitute for them.
Lawful and compliant
All work is conducted in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles, and under the regulations applying to licensed inquiry agents in each state. We collect only information necessary for the engagement, use it only for that purpose, and hold all documentation securely.
For professional clients this matters commercially as well as ethically — engaging an unlicensed or non-compliant provider transfers risk onto your firm. Read how we operate lawfully →
Australia-wide coverage
We work in every state and territory, across metropolitan and regional areas — including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and Darwin.
Investigator licensing in Australia is administered state by state, and our work is carried out in accordance with the requirements applying in the relevant jurisdiction.
Fraud & Catfish Investigations — frequently asked questions
How do I know if I am being catfished?
Common indicators include a person who will not video call or meet, photographs that look professional or inconsistent, a relationship that escalated unusually quickly, a story involving being overseas or working offshore, and eventually a request for money. Any single one may be innocent. Together they warrant checking.
How much does a catfish investigation cost?
Fraud and catfish investigations start from $100, quoted as a fixed fee once we understand what you have and what needs to be established.
Will the person find out I am investigating them?
No. The investigation is conducted without contacting the subject or alerting them in any way.
I have already sent money. Is it too late?
It is still worth establishing who they are. Report the payments to your bank immediately and to ReportCyber. A documented identity supports those reports and any subsequent action — but do not engage anyone promising to recover your funds for a fee.
What information do you need from me?
Screenshots of the profile and conversations, any photographs sent, phone numbers, email addresses, social media handles, and details of any payments or accounts involved. The more of the history you can provide, the stronger the result.
Can you identify who is really behind the account?
Frequently, yes — through the identifiers attached to the account rather than the photographs on it. Where the operation is offshore and well structured, we may establish the nature of it without naming an individual, and we will be clear about which we have achieved.
Can I use your report to go to the police?
Yes. The report sets out what was established and how, in a form appropriate for providing to police, your bank, or the platform involved.
Can I ask you to investigate on behalf of a family member?
Yes. Families frequently instruct us where an older relative is in contact with someone they believe is not genuine. We will discuss the appropriate way to handle the outcome with you.
Related services
Locate a Person
Locating a person means confirming where someone currently lives or can be contacted, using lawful information sources. Common reasons include reconnecting with family, serving legal documents, administering an estate, or resolving a financial matter.
Learn more →Skip Tracing
Skip tracing is the process of locating a person whose current address or contact details are unknown. Licensed investigators gather information from lawful sources — public records, registries, credit-header data and open-source intelligence — then verify each lead before reporting a confirmed result.
Learn more →Surveillance & Field Investigations
Surveillance and field work put a licensed investigator on the ground — attending an address to confirm occupancy, verifying a trace result in person, or gathering evidence for a legal or insurance matter.
Learn more →Need to locate someone?
Tell us what you know and we'll tell you honestly whether we can help — before you commit to anything.
Licensed by Victoria Police · 20+ years' experience · Australia-wide