How PersonaForge Collects Intelligence
PersonaForge uses safe, legal, and publicly-available OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) sources to track synthetic identity vendors and deepfake services. We collect metadata only—never illegal content.
Public Intelligence Sources
We monitor multiple public sources to discover and track synthetic identity vendors.
1. Public Telegram Channels
Many persona kit vendors operate via public Telegram channels. We collect metadata only:
- Channel names and descriptions
- Public links and contact information
- Service descriptions and pricing (text only)
- Admin handles and forwarding patterns
✅ 100% Legal: We never access private groups or download illegal media. Only public channel metadata.
2. Open Social Networks
Reddit, YouTube, and other platforms host public discussions about fraud tools and deepfake services.
- Reddit: Public subreddits discussing scams, OSINT, and fraud-as-a-service
- YouTube: Channels marketing deepfake tools, AI voice clones, and persona generators
- Public Forums: Discussions about synthetic identity and impersonation tools
We analyze public discussions and metadata—never private content or illegal material.
3. Clearnet Marketplaces
Legal marketplaces like Fiverr, Upwork, and Etsy host services for persona kits and deepfake tools.
- Service listings and descriptions
- Seller metadata and pricing
- Categories and keywords
- Outbound links to vendor websites
✅ 100% Legal: These are public listings on legal platforms. We only collect publicly-visible metadata.
4. Hosting & Domain Records
Public domain and hosting intelligence reveals infrastructure patterns.
- Certificate Transparency: SSL certificates reveal domains and subdomains
- WHOIS Data: Domain registration information
- DNS Records: Hosting providers, CDNs, and IP addresses
- Threat Intelligence: Malware databases and abuse reports
All domain and hosting data is publicly available through legal APIs and databases.
5. Publicly-Indexed Scam Reports
Open databases of fraud and abuse reports help identify suspect domains.
- ScamAdviser and fraud databases
- AbuseIPDB and SpamHaus
- PhishStats and CheckPhish
- HaveIBeenPwned leak summaries
6. Open Dark Web Marketplaces (Optional)
Metadata Only: If enabled, we access dark web marketplaces via Tor to collect:
- Forum discussions and service menus
- Vendor profiles and pricing (text only)
- Contact handles and domain patterns
- Payment wallet addresses
⚠️ Important: We never download files, media, or executables. Only text metadata. Dark web access is disabled by default and requires explicit configuration.
Intelligence Categories
We focus on four key areas of synthetic identity fraud infrastructure.
Synthetic Identity Kit Vendors
Sellers offering AI-generated personas, fake documents, and identity packs used for fraud.
Deepfake Impersonation Tools
Services providing video, voice, and photo impersonation capabilities for scams and extortion.
Fraud Ecosystem Infrastructure
Hosting providers, CDNs, payment processors, and domains reused across multiple vendors.
Distribution Channels
Telegram channels, forums, marketplaces, and social media platforms where vendors operate.
Legal & Ethical Framework
PersonaForge follows strict legal and ethical guidelines for intelligence collection.
✅ Metadata Only
We collect text, links, timestamps, and descriptions—never illegal content, media files, or executables.
✅ Public Sources Only
All data comes from publicly-accessible sources. We never access private groups, encrypted content, or restricted areas.
✅ OSINT Best Practices
We follow open source intelligence (OSINT) methodologies used by researchers, journalists, and security professionals worldwide.
✅ Protects Victims
By mapping the infrastructure behind synthetic identity fraud, we help platforms and law enforcement identify and disrupt these operations—protecting potential victims.
Open Methodology
PersonaForge is designed for researchers, journalists, platform trust & safety teams, and law enforcement.
All data collection methods are documented, legal, and transparent. We believe in open methodology and ethical intelligence gathering.
If you have questions about our methodology or want to report a concern, please contact us.