8-Phase OSINT Investigation Framework
A structured approach to open-source intelligence investigations consisting of eight sequential phases.
Read definition →Glossary
Browse glossary definitions used across inet-investigation.com. These entries are generated from published research articles and can be expanded over time with related guides and source references.
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A
Arrest Records
Documents detailing an individual's arrest history maintained by law enforcement agencies.
Read definition →B
Background Check
A background check is a review of public and official records to verify an individual's history.
Read definition →Bankruptcy records
Federal court records documenting bankruptcy filings and related financial information.
Read definition →C
Case docket
A case docket is an official summary of proceedings and filings in a court case.
Read definition →Chain of Title
The sequential history of ownership recorded for a property, documented through deeds and other legal instruments.
Read definition →Civil court records
Court documents related to non-criminal disputes between private parties.
Read definition →Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)
A U.S. federal law that criminalizes unauthorized access to computers and digital information.
Read definition →County court records
Official documents and filings maintained by a county court relating to civil, criminal, family, and probate cases.
Read definition →Court Records
Official documents and files generated by courts documenting legal proceedings and judgments.
Read definition →D
Deed search
A deed search is the examination of property deed records to verify ownership and property history.
Read definition →Default judgment
A court ruling in favor of one party because the other party failed to respond or appear.
Read definition →Docket sheet
A docket sheet is a chronological summary of all filings and proceedings in a court case.
Read definition →F
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
A U.S. federal law regulating access to and use of consumer credit information.
Read definition →Federal court records
Official documents and filings from cases heard in United States federal courts.
Read definition →Federal Tax Lien
A claim by the federal government against property for unpaid tax debts.
Read definition →FOIA request
A FOIA request is a formal petition to access federal government records under the Freedom of Information Act.
Read definition →Formal FOIA Request
A Formal FOIA Request is a written application filed under the Freedom of Information Act to obtain federal agency records not readily available.
Read definition →Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
A U.S. federal law allowing public access to unreleased government agency records.
Read definition →G
GIS Parcel Map
A digital map showing property boundaries and parcel information using geographic information system technology.
Read definition →J
Judgment search
A search conducted to find court-issued judgments against individuals or entities.
Read definition →L
Lien search
A lien search is the process of checking public records for outstanding claims or encumbrances on a property or asset.
Read definition →Lis Pendens
A recorded notice indicating pending litigation affecting a property's title.
Read definition →M
Mechanic’s lien
A legal claim against property by a contractor or supplier for unpaid work or materials.
Read definition →O
Open Records
Open records are government documents and information accessible to the public by law.
Read definition →Open records act
A law that grants public access to government-held records unless specific exemptions apply.
Read definition →Open Records Laws
Laws that provide public access to government records and documents.
Read definition →Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
The collection and analysis of publicly accessible data to generate actionable intelligence.
Read definition →OSINT
OSINT, or Open Source Intelligence, refers to information collected from publicly available sources for investigative purposes.
Read definition →OSINT pivoting
OSINT pivoting is the technique of using each discovered data point as a new lead to explore related information across multiple sources.
Read definition →OSINT report
A structured document presenting verified findings from publicly available sources.
Read definition →OSINT verification
OSINT verification is the process of confirming the accuracy of information obtained from open sources.
Read definition →P
PACER Case Locator
An online tool that allows users to search across all federal court cases in the United States.
Read definition →PACER(Public Access to Court Records)
PACER is an electronic public access service for U.S. federal court records and documents.
Read definition →Parcel Number
A unique identifier assigned by local government to a specific real estate property for taxation and record-keeping purposes.
Read definition →Parcel number lookup
A parcel number lookup is the process of identifying property details using a unique parcel identification number.
Read definition →Pivot Methodology
A research technique that uses one piece of information to uncover additional related data in OSINT or records searches.
Read definition →Property owner lookup
A property owner lookup is a method to identify the registered owner of a specific property through public records.
Read definition →Property Records
Official documents recording information about the ownership, value, and history of real property.
Read definition →Property tax records
Official documents detailing property ownership, assessed value, and tax obligations.
Read definition →Public Records
Public records are government-created documents and data maintained by agencies that are generally accessible to the public.
Read definition →Public records exemption
A legal provision that permits withholding certain government-held records from public access.
Read definition →Q
Quitclaim deed
A deed transferring whatever interest the grantor has without any warranties.
Read definition →R
Recorded Deed
A recorded deed is the official public document filed with a government office that evidences ownership of real property.
Read definition →Reverse Image Search
A technique to find information about an image by searching the internet using the image itself.
Read definition →S
Skip Tracing
Skip tracing is the process of locating individuals who have changed locations or avoid contact, often using address histories and public records.
Read definition →Small claims court
A court that handles civil cases involving limited monetary disputes without formal procedures.
Read definition →State court records
State court records are official documents generated by courts in a state’s judicial system.
Read definition →Statement of Financial Affairs (SOFA)
A bankruptcy document detailing a debtor's financial history and transactions.
Read definition →T
Tax assessor records
Documents maintained by a local government official assessing property values for taxation purposes.
Read definition →Tax Liens
A tax lien is a legal claim by a government entity against a property for unpaid taxes.
Read definition →U
UCC filing search
A search of public records for Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings related to secured transactions.
Read definition →V
Vital Records
Official documents recording key life events such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces.
Read definition →W
Warrant search
A warrant search involves looking up issued search or arrest warrants in public records.
Read definition →WHOIS Records
WHOIS records provide public registration details about domain names and their owners.
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