Case Details

Operation Viral ICO

Operation Viral ICO was a successful case that our OSINT company handled for our client. The case centred around identifying and exposing a highly coordinated campaign to extort our client's funds, through misinformation on social media and specialised forums, which sought to manipulate public opinion and influence the successful execution of the ICO (Initial Coin Offering) for our client. The goal of the ICO was to raise funds to expand the company's services and develop new products. The investigation focused on identifying the origins of the campaign and identifying the individuals and organisations responsible for executing, organising and financing the extortion operation.

Challenging facts about this case

1. Identifying Bots and Fake Accounts: A significant challenge in this case was detecting the numerous bots and fake accounts used to amplify the disinformation campaign. Our OSINT team had to develop and employ advanced algorithms to differentiate between genuine users and malicious actors on various social media platforms..

2. Tracing the Origins: The perpetrators behind the disinformation campaign were skilled at concealing their identities, using VPNs, proxy servers, and other obfuscation techniques. Our team had to employ cutting-edge digital forensics and network analysis methods to trace the origins of the campaign and identify those responsibly.

3. Disentangling the Narrative: The disinformation campaign consisted of a web of interconnected narratives, with some genuine news stories and opinions mixed in to make it appear more credible. Our analysts needed to meticulously dissect each narrative and assess its veracity, which required both subject matter expertise and critical thinking skills..

4. Monitoring Real-Time Activity: As the disinformation campaign was ongoing, our OSINT team had to continuously monitor social media activity and adapt to new developments. This required the use of automated tools and machine learning algorithms to track the spread of disinformation and identify emerging trends..

5. Collaboration and Information Sharing: The scale and complexity of the case necessitated collaboration between our OSINT team, individuals and social media platforms. This involved sharing information, resources, and insights to effectively counter the disinformation campaign and hold those responsible accountable..

Operation Viral ICO successfully exposed the disinformation campaign and identified the individuals and entities behind it. The collaboration between our OSINT company and the investigative journalists led to a series of high-profile articles that unveiled the deceptive tactics used by the perpetrators and their hidden agenda. As a result, public awareness about the issue increased, social media platforms implemented new measures to combat disinformation, and appropriate legal action was taken against those responsible. This case demonstrated the power of OSINT and investigative journalism in tackling the spread of disinformation and preserving the integrity of the information landscape.