A foreign client approached our agency with a seemingly simple problem. He had a significant amount of money to recover from a person running a business in Poland. Initially, contact proceeded smoothly – the debtor admitted to the debt, promised repayment and set further deadlines. Over time, however, he stopped answering phone calls and messages.
From the creditor’s perspective, the case looked like a typical case of avoiding contact, but we were interested in something else – whether he was actually hiding or whether his life situation had changed. Our task was to determine the whereabouts of this person so that the client could take further legal action and recover the debt.
First steps and data analysis
At the beginning, we only had basic information at our disposal: names, telephone numbers, details of several small companies and registration documents.
We quickly determined that the addresses provided in the documents were office mailing addresses, not private residences, so a classic registry check was not sufficient.
So we began to combine data from various sources – public registers, open databases, social media and OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) analytics tools. The goal was to build as complete a profile as possible of the debtor’s online activity – wherever he might have left even the smallest digital trace.
One of the key starting points was the telephone number. This data is often underestimated, but in practice it is very useful – it allows us to determine on which websites and in which applications it has ever been registered. In our case, this yielded an interesting lead.
Public profiles and hidden routes
It turned out that the person we were looking for used several popular sports apps that record running, cycling or walking routes and then allow them to be shared with the community. Importantly, the profiles were public.
The user shared their results, route maps, times and photos from their training sessions. It would seem like an innocent hobby, but in practice, this type of data can reveal a lot about a person’s habits and whereabouts.
Although the applications hid the start and end points of the routes by default to protect the privacy of users, analysis of the activity history revealed repetitive patterns. Combined with photo metadata and public comments from other users, we were able to determine the approximate area where the debtor was likely to live.
This was the moment when OSINT analysis turned into operational action.
From the data to field operations
Based on the information obtained, we selected the most likely location and planned our surveillance. The field detective prepared for action – he dressed casually to blend in with the surroundings and appeared on the route at the times when the debtor usually trained.
As expected, the subject appeared on the running track at the usual time. He ran with headphones on, completely focused on his training, paying no attention to his surroundings. The detective discreetly observed the man finish his run and head for a nearby block of flats.
After a few minutes, a light came on in one of the windows – this was the key moment. To confirm the observation, it was repeated the next day, with identical results. In this way, it was possible to precisely determine the place of residence of the wanted person.
Results and conclusions
The collected information was provided to the client along with complete analytical and photographic documentation. This enabled him to take effective legal action and close the case.
The entire operation demonstrated the importance of combining digital analysis with traditional fieldwork in detective work. Seemingly trivial data, such as public routes from sports applications, can provide very specific clues when combined with other sources and analysed.
It is also a reminder that digital traces remain on the web for a long time. Many users do not realise that public profiles, photos or activity maps can reveal not only their passions, but also their daily habits, whereabouts and times of returning home.
Summary
This case was an excellent example of synergy between OSINT analysis, data from public applications, and fieldwork. It also showed that in a world where each of us generates dozens of digital traces every day, the boundary between the online and offline worlds has virtually disappeared.
Patience, meticulousness and the ability to read between the lines proved to be the key to success. Sometimes it is the small, seemingly insignificant pieces of information that create a complete picture of the situation – you just need to know how to connect them.
Author: Piotr Dobosz
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