Can a Private Investigator Help If Someone Is Using a Fake Identity Online?

In today's digital world, it’s easier than ever for someone to hide behind a fake name, profile picture, or entire online persona. Whether it's on dating apps, social media, or through email and messaging platforms, fake identities are more than just an inconvenience—they're often tied to fraud, deception, emotional manipulation, or even criminal activity.

So what can you do if you suspect someone is lying about who they are online?

If you’ve reached a dead end trying to investigate on your own, a licensed private investigator (PI) can help you uncover the truth—legally, discreetly, and often faster than you think.

 
The Rise of Online Identity Fraud

From catfishing to romance scams to business impersonation, fake identities are everywhere:

• A new romantic interest always dodges video calls and gives vague answers.
• A “contractor” offering cheap work insists on communicating only via encrypted apps.
• Someone’s using your photo or name on a fake profile to deceive others.
• A person you're talking to online is asking for money or personal information—but won’t prove who they are.

These aren’t rare cases anymore. In fact, the FTC reports billions in annual losses from fraud connected to fake online identities, especially in areas like romance scams, crypto schemes, and phony online businesses.

 
What a Private Investigator Can Do in Fake Identity Cases

When you hire a PI to investigate a potential fake identity, you're getting more than just a digital footprint search. You’re getting a licensed professional who knows how to cross-reference fragmented information, verify identities, and legally uncover who's really behind the screen.

Here’s how we handle these cases at Easton Secure Solutions:

 
1. Analyze the Digital Trail
Even the most “private” fake accounts often leave clues:

• Username history and reused handles
• Reverse image searches tied to stolen profile photos
• Email domains or phone numbers linked to past accounts
• Patterns in message timing and grammar that match other scams

We conduct a full OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) sweep to identify connections and trace activity to other profiles, emails, or past scams.

➡️ Learn more about our OSINT services

 
2. Phone Number, Email & IP Tracing
Many online scammers use prepaid phones, Gmail accounts, or messaging apps. Still, we can often:

• Link emails or phone numbers to known users via data cross-referencing
• Identify geolocation patterns when activity occurs across platforms
• Detect alias re-use in online communities, job sites, or classified ads

This is crucial in determining whether the person is pretending to be someone else or creating multiple personas for fraud.

 
3. Facial Recognition & Image Matching
If you have a photo of the person—even from social media—we can often verify their real identity using advanced tools:

• Reverse image searches across the web
• Facial match tools comparing the image to known individuals (within legal limits)
• Cross-reference with public and semi-public profiles like LinkedIn, real estate sites, or business registries

This is especially useful in romance scams or professional impersonation cases.

 
4. Surveillance (When Justified and Legal)
In rare, high-stakes cases involving ongoing fraud or legal harm, we may recommend discreet in-person surveillance only if the subject’s real-world identity has been narrowed down. This can help prove cohabitation, catch an impersonator, or gather legal evidence tied to a specific person.

 
Real Case Example: Romance Scam Turned Financial Fraud

A Long Island client reached out after engaging in a year-long online relationship with a man who claimed to be a traveling engineer. Despite promising to visit her, he always had excuses. Eventually, he asked for a "loan" to cover a passport renewal.

Something didn’t feel right.

We traced the email address to multiple fake dating profiles across other states. The image he used belonged to a European model—verified through facial recognition tools. By cross-referencing the CashApp handle he used, we identified a real-world account linked to a known scam ring operating out of Queens.

We documented the findings, and the client was able to submit a police report with verified evidence. Her bank cooperated after learning the identity involved a known fraudster.

This case could’ve cost her tens of thousands had she not investigated in time.

 
Why You Shouldn’t Try to Investigate Alone

When people suspect someone is faking an identity online, the first instinct is to Google the name, reverse search the phone number, or ask mutual contacts for clues. While that may give you surface-level info, it rarely leads to confirmation—and sometimes it can be risky.

Here's why:

• You could alert the scammer and cause them to disappear.
• You might misidentify the wrong person and create legal exposure.
• You may waste time chasing outdated or inaccurate data.
• You likely don’t have access to proprietary or real-time databases.

A licensed PI works with verified, non-public data sources, has experience in complex online investigations, and knows the legal boundaries for obtaining and using information.

 
When Fake Identity Cases Turn Civil or Criminal

These situations often escalate quickly:

• Romance or financial scams can involve fraud, wire fraud, or even elder abuse.
• Fake business identities can lead to civil lawsuits for damages or restitution.
• Social media impersonation may violate harassment or defamation laws.
• False identity in child custody cases can affect court decisions or supervised visitation.
  In these situations, having a licensed PI involved early helps preserve the digital trail, verify identities, and protect your rights before it’s too late.

 
What We Need to Start a Fake Identity Case
You don’t need a full name or address. Most of our cases begin with just:

• A phone number or email
• A screenshot of the profile or messages
• A photo (if available)
• A brief description of the situation
  From there, we build a profile and follow the digital breadcrumb trail to uncover the truth.

Our Basic Identity Check starts at $199, and more complex investigations are quoted after a free consultation.

 
Serving New York City & Long Island with Discreet Online Investigations
At Easton Secure Solutions LLC, we understand how emotionally and financially damaging fake identity cases can be. Whether you’re dealing with a potential scam, impersonation, or online deception, we’ll help you verify the facts—discreetly, legally, and quickly.

📞 Call today: (516) 962-1267
📧 Email: [email protected]
➡️ Visit our Identity Verification Services

 
Don’t Let a Fake Identity Control the Narrative
You don’t have to second-guess. Get peace of mind with facts—and take the next steps confidently, whether it's through legal action, police involvement, or simply cutting ties.