Private Cyber
Investigators
Specialist investigations for problems that exist online.
Cybertrace is an Australian investigations and intelligence firm specialising in cyber investigations, digital evidence and online intelligence.
Our private cyber investigators identify scammers, investigate anonymous online accounts, trace cryptocurrency, examine websites and email addresses, locate people and uncover digital evidence for private clients, lawyers and businesses.
Speak With a Cyber Investigator
We never share or sell your data — 100% confidential.
When the Evidence is Online, You Need a Different Type of Investigator
Traditional private investigations commonly focus on physical enquiries, surveillance and information held in conventional databases.
Cyber investigations are different.
The person you need to identify may be hiding behind a fake Facebook profile. The scammer may be operating through websites registered overseas. Money may have been converted into cryptocurrency and transferred through multiple wallets. An anonymous email address may be the only lead available.
In these cases, the investigation needs to follow the digital evidence.
Cybertrace combines traditional investigative methodology with open-source intelligence, blockchain analysis, social media investigations, website forensics, specialist databases and technical investigative techniques to uncover information that may otherwise remain hidden.
Do You Need a Cyber Investigator?
You Need to Identify Someone Online
You may only have a username, email address, telephone number or social media profile.
Our investigators analyse digital footprints and connections across multiple sources to identify further information and determine whether an online identity can be linked to a real person.
Learn more about Online Identity InvestigationsYou Have Been Scammed
Online scammers deliberately conceal their identity using fake websites, cryptocurrency, telephone numbers, email accounts, false documents and fabricated identities/aliases.
Our scam investigators analyse these digital footprints to identify connections, infrastructure, payment pathways and information about the people behind the fraud.
Learn more about Scam InvestigationsYou Are Being Harassed, Defamed or Stalked Online
Anonymous and fake social media accounts can be used for harassment, impersonation, threats, defamation and other harmful behaviour.
Cybertrace specialises in investigations designed to uncover the people operating anonymous Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other social media accounts.
Learn more about Social Media InvestigationsYou Need to Trace Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency transactions create permanent records on the blockchain.
Our certified cryptocurrency investigators trace Bitcoin, Ethereum and other digital assets through wallets, exchanges and services to establish where funds have moved and identify potential investigative or legal pathways.
Learn more about Cryptocurrency TracingYou Need to Find Out Who Is Behind a Website
Websites can contain significantly more investigative information than is visible on the page itself.
Our website forensic investigations analyse infrastructure, hosting, domain records, connected websites, historical data and other technical information to identify ownership and connections.
Learn more about Website Forensic InvestigationsYou Need Evidence for a Legal Matter
Cybertrace regularly assists lawyers and their clients with matters involving cryptocurrency, online identities, social media, websites, email accounts and digital evidence.
Our investigations focus on information that has genuine evidentiary value, with detailed reporting suitable for use by legal professionals and, where appropriate, law enforcement and courts.
Learn more about Legal Investigation ServicesDan Halpin
Founder & CEO
Cybertrace is led by Founder and CEO Dan Halpin, who has more than two decades of experience in investigations, intelligence and security risk management across public and private sectors. His background includes work with Australian intelligence (ASIO), Australian Federal Police, and government agencies. This experience informs Cybertrace's practical, evidence-focused approach to cyber fraud and scam investigations.
- 20+ Years' Experience
- Australian Intelligence (ASIO)
- Australian Federal Police
What Is a Cyber Investigator?
A cyber investigator is an investigator who specialises in obtaining and analysing evidence from online and digital sources.
This can include:
- social media accounts
- email addresses
- usernames and online identities
- cryptocurrency wallets and transactions
- websites and domains
- telephone numbers
- corporate records
- leaked and historical data
- online publications
- digital documents
- technical infrastructure
- other open-source and specialist intelligence sources
The objective is not simply to find information.
The investigator must analyse the available data, identify connections, test whether those connections are reliable and determine what the information actually means in the context of the case.
A search result is information. An investigation turns information into intelligence.
Cyber Investigations Are Not Cybersecurity
The terms are often confused, but cyber investigation and cybersecurity are different services.
Cybersecurity focuses on protecting computers, networks and systems from unauthorised access, malware, data breaches and other technical threats.
Cybertrace primarily investigates people, financial transactions, online identities and digital activity.
For example, if someone creates an anonymous Facebook account to defame you, the problem is not necessarily a cybersecurity issue. Your computer may be perfectly secure.
The question is:
Who created the account?
Similarly, if you have been deceived through a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment platform, the objective is likely to identify the people, websites, wallets and exchanges connected to the fraud.
That is where a cyber investigator becomes relevant. Cybersecurity focuses on protection. Our role begins after an incident has occurred, when the focus shifts to identifying what happened, who was responsible and what evidence can be uncovered.
Our Cyber Investigation Services
Cybertrace conducts specialist cyber investigations involving people, online identities, financial transactions and digital evidence.
The exact investigation depends on the information available and what you need to establish.
Scam & Fraud Investigations
Online scammers leave behind digital evidence through websites, email addresses, telephone numbers, cryptocurrency transactions, documents and online accounts.
Our investigators analyse these connections to identify the people, businesses and infrastructure potentially associated with the fraud.
Scam & Fraud InvestigationsCryptocurrency & Blockchain Investigations
Our certified cryptocurrency investigators trace Bitcoin, Ethereum and other digital assets through wallets, exchanges and services.
Cryptocurrency tracing can assist with scams, stolen assets, family law matters, commercial disputes and identifying exchanges that may hold information about the people who received the funds.
Cryptocurrency Tracing InvestigationsSocial Media Investigations
We investigate anonymous and fake Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and other social media accounts used for harassment, defamation, impersonation and other harmful behaviour.
Our investigators analyse usernames, connected profiles, photographs, content, digital footprints and other available information to identify potential connections to the person responsible.
Social Media InvestigationsEmail Investigations
An email address can provide a starting point for identifying the person or organisation behind online activity.
We investigate connections to usernames, social media accounts, websites, historical information and other digital identifiers. Where original emails are available, we can also analyse headers and other technical information.
Email InvestigationsWebsite Forensic Investigations
Websites can reveal information long after they have been taken offline.
Our forensic investigations can examine historical domain registrations, DNS records, hosting infrastructure, IP addresses, connected domains, archived websites and other technical information to identify potential ownership and connections.
Website Forensic InvestigationsDue Diligence & Background Investigations
We combine corporate records, online intelligence, social media, websites, historical information and specialist databases to investigate individuals and organisations.
These investigations can assist clients before making significant financial, commercial or personal decisions.
Due Diligence InvestigationsSkip Tracing & Locating People
Cybertrace uses investigative databases, online records and digital footprints to locate individuals and identify current contact or location information where legally available.
Skip Tracing InvestigationsWhy Use a Private Investigator for Cybercrime?
Law enforcement performs an essential role in investigating criminal offences, but not every matter will receive an immediate or extensive police investigation.
A private cyber investigator can conduct an independent investigation on behalf of the client and focus specifically on the available evidence and investigative objectives.
This can be useful where:
- police require further evidence before progressing a matter
- an offender is anonymous
- the client needs information for civil litigation
- cryptocurrency needs to be traced
- information is required from several jurisdictions
- the matter involves online harassment or defamation
- the client requires independent evidence gathering
- a lawyer needs specialist investigative assistance.
Private investigation does not replace law enforcement.
Instead, a properly conducted investigation can help identify evidence, organise complex information and develop investigative leads that may later assist lawyers, police, courts or other relevant parties.
Specialist Investigative Tools & Intelligence
Not all relevant information can be found through Google.
Cybertrace investigators use a combination of commercial intelligence platforms, specialist databases, blockchain intelligence software, historical internet data and proprietary investigative tools.
We have also developed our own investigation and intelligence-gathering technologies for use in specialist cyber cases.
The tools used depend entirely on the circumstances.
There is no single database or piece of software that identifies every anonymous account or online offender. Successful cyber investigations usually require investigators to combine numerous sources, identify small connections and follow the evidence as new leads develop.
Evidence That Can Be Acted On
Finding information is only one part of the investigation.
We also consider how the information may ultimately be used.
Depending on the case, our findings may assist with:
- civil litigation
- family law proceedings
- fraud matters
- police reports
- subpoenas and requests for third-party records
- asset recovery efforts
- internal corporate investigations
- identifying further witnesses or evidence
- making informed commercial or personal decisions
Our reports explain the investigative process, relevant evidence, identified connections and our findings in a format designed to make complex digital information understandable.
Where appropriate, Cybertrace can also provide expert reports and expert witness services.
Why Cybertrace?
Licensed Private Investigators
Cybertrace operates as a professional investigations firm and our investigators hold relevant investigative qualifications and licensing.
Our clients are engaging investigators, not an anonymous online tracing service.
Cyber Investigation Specialists
We have specialised in online investigations since Cybertrace was established in 2015.
Cyber investigations are not an additional service attached to a traditional surveillance business. They are central to what we do.
Intelligence-Led Investigations
Our investigators do more than collect search results.
We analyse relationships between people, accounts, transactions, infrastructure and digital evidence to develop intelligence that can progress an investigation.
Specialist Technology
We use commercial intelligence databases, blockchain analytics, historical internet records and specialised investigative technologies unavailable through ordinary internet searches.
Evidence-Focused Reporting
Our work is conducted with the understanding that findings may ultimately be reviewed by lawyers, police, regulators or courts.
We focus on evidence that can have genuine investigative or evidentiary value.
Australian Based. International Capability.
Cybercrime does not respect borders.
A client may be in Australia while a website is hosted in another country, cryptocurrency is transferred through an overseas exchange and an offender is located somewhere else entirely.
Cybertrace conducts investigations involving digital evidence and entities across multiple jurisdictions.
Who We Assist
Private Clients
We assist individuals dealing with scams, online harassment, anonymous accounts, cryptocurrency theft, impersonation, defamation and other matters where important evidence exists online.
Lawyers & Law Firms
We provide investigative support for legal matters involving cryptocurrency, social media, online identities, websites, email accounts, hidden assets and other digital evidence. Our work can include investigation reports, evidence gathering, technical analysis, expert reports and expert witness services.
Businesses & Organisations
Cybertrace assists businesses with fraud investigations, employee and executive due diligence, online impersonation, brand protection, corporate intelligence and investigations involving anonymous online activity.
Government & Law Enforcement
Our specialist capabilities can support government and law enforcement investigations involving cryptocurrency, digital identities, cyber fraud and online intelligence.
How Our Cyber Investigations Work
- 1. Initial Assessment Tell us what has happened, what information you already have and what you are hoping to establish. We review the circumstances and determine whether there are realistic investigative opportunities.
- 2. Evidence Collection We identify the information required to commence the investigation. Depending on the matter, this may include screenshots, URLs, usernames, emails, transaction records, wallet addresses, documents, telephone numbers and background information.
- 3. Investigation Our investigators conduct targeted enquiries using the techniques and intelligence sources relevant to the matter. New information identified during the investigation can create additional lines of enquiry, and the investigation develops as those leads are assessed.
- 4. Analysis & Verification Finding a possible connection is not enough. Our investigators assess the reliability of the information and look for independent evidence that supports or contradicts the connection. This is particularly important when attempting to attribute anonymous digital activity to a real person.
- 5. Reporting & Next Steps At the conclusion of the investigation, we provide our findings together with recommendations where appropriate. Depending on the outcome, the next step could involve further investigation, approaching law enforcement, obtaining records from a third party, issuing a subpoena, obtaining legal advice or progressing an asset recovery strategy.
Speak With a Cyber Investigator
We never share or sell your data — 100% confidential.
Frequently Asked Questions
A cyber investigator examines digital and online evidence to identify people, transactions, relationships and other relevant information.
Cybertrace investigations can involve social media accounts, cryptocurrency wallets, email addresses, websites, usernames, telephone numbers, corporate records and other digital footprints.
The exact methodology depends on what information is available and what the client needs to establish.
A cyber investigator is effectively a private investigator who specialises in digital and online investigations.
Traditional private investigators may focus heavily on surveillance, physical enquiries and conventional databases. Cyber investigators specialise in evidence found through websites, social media, cryptocurrency, email, online accounts and other digital sources.
Cybertrace combines traditional investigative methodology with specialist cyber and intelligence capabilities.
No. Cybersecurity professionals primarily protect computer systems, networks and data against technical threats.
Cyber investigators investigate people, activity and evidence connected to online incidents.
There can be some overlap, but the objectives are different.
Yes. Private investigators can lawfully gather and analyse information relating to cybercrime, provided the investigation is conducted within relevant laws and licensing requirements.
Private investigators do not have the same powers as police. We cannot compel a company to provide private customer records simply because we request them.
However, our investigations can identify evidence and investigative leads that may support further legal or law-enforcement action.
A lot of the time, yes. Anonymous accounts can often be investigated through usernames, connected profiles, photographs, content, online behaviour, technical information and other digital evidence.
Success depends entirely on the digital footprint left by the account operator, how carefully accounts are registered and the information available in the particular case.
In many cases, yes we can.
Our investigators analyse email addresses for connections to usernames, accounts, websites, historic information and other digital identifiers.
Not every email address can be attributed to a person, particularly where the account has been deliberately created to remain anonymous.
Yes. Most cryptocurrency transactions are recorded permanently on public blockchains and can be traced using specialist blockchain analysis tools.
The objective is generally to determine where the cryptocurrency travelled and whether it reached an identifiable exchange or other service that may hold information about the account holder.
No. Cybertrace conducts lawful investigations using information available to us through legitimate investigative methods.
We do not unlawfully hack social media accounts, access private email accounts, intercept communications or compromise devices.
Yes. Our investigative reports are regularly prepared with the understanding that findings may be provided to lawyers, law enforcement agencies or other relevant authorities.
Where a matter requires expert opinion rather than an investigation report, Cybertrace can also assess whether an expert report is appropriate.
Yes. Cyber investigations commonly involve several countries because websites, online platforms, cryptocurrency exchanges and offenders can all be located in different jurisdictions.
Cybertrace is based in Australia and conducts investigations involving clients and digital evidence internationally.
Every investigation is different.
The cost depends on factors such as the amount of evidence, number of accounts or identifiers requiring investigation, complexity of the matter and specialist tools required.
We first assess your situation and then provide a defined scope of work and fee before you decide whether to proceed.
No legitimate investigator can guarantee the result of an investigation before conducting it.
We can guarantee that we will provide an honest assessment of the available investigative opportunities and explain the limitations of the evidence.
Where we do not believe an investigation is likely to provide sufficient value, we will tell you.
Start With the Evidence You Have
You do not need to know who the offender is before contacting us.
That is often the purpose of the investigation.
A username, wallet address, website, email address, telephone number, document or anonymous profile may be enough for us to begin assessing what investigative opportunities exist.
Contact Cybertrace for a confidential assessment of your matter.
100% Confidential | Licensed Private Investigators | Australia & International