LA Undercover – Internet Fraud

Our licensed private investigators have a wide variety of skills and diverse backgrounds. With 30+ years of experience, we have an excellent track record of providing high quality investigation services. From start to finish, our knowledgeable, discreet, and detail oriented staff goes above and beyond to manage your expectations, remain 100% confidential and update you daily as events unfold on your case. 

We rely on the best investigative technology and techniques, and comply with the industry’s leading standards for surveillance, locating, record search, and process services. 

Webster defines “fraud” as follows: intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right.

In this legal sense, fraud is a crime, subject to both criminal and civil prosecution

It comes in many forms, and, often, is detected too late by the victim, only after material harm has occurred.

At LA Undercover, we investigate internet fraud and romance (love) scams with discretion, technical expertise, and a focus on gathering court‑ready evidence. Whether you’re a victim, an attorney, or a business seeking to recover losses, our investigators combine digital forensics, open‑source intelligence, and traditional investigative techniques to identify perpetrators, document fraud, and support civil or criminal actions.

What is a romance/online love scam? Romance scams occur when a fraudster builds a fake online relationship to manipulate a victim into sending money, sharing sensitive information, or participating in schemes. Scammers often use fabricated identities, stolen photos, and elaborate stories to gain trust and exploit emotional vulnerability.

Common red flags

• Requests for money, gift cards, or wire transfers for vague emergencies.
• Rapid expressions of strong emotion or declarations of love.
• Refusal to meet in person or repeatedly postponing video calls.
• Inconsistent details in stories, sudden changes in background, or travel-related excuses.
• Pressure to move communication off the dating site to private channels (WhatsApp, email).
• Requests for sensitive documents, copies of IDs, or private photos.
• Accounts with few friends/followers, recent creation dates, or reused profile photos.

Our internet fraud & romance scam services:

• Confidential case intake & assessment — secure review of messages, profiles, and transaction history to determine next steps and urgency.
• Digital forensics & device analysis — capture and preserve evidence from phones, computers, and cloud accounts while maintaining chain of custody.
• OSINT & social media investigations — identify fake profiles, reverse‑image searches, and trace account networks and linked identities.
• Transaction tracing & recovery support — map payment flows (bank transfers, wire services, crypto, gift cards) and coordinate with financial institutions and law enforcement where possible.
• IP, email, and domain tracing — identify originating IP addresses, email headers, domain registrations, and related infrastructure.
• Asset & liability discovery — locate assets, bank accounts, and online accounts associated with the perpetrator for recovery or civil enforcement.
• Victim impact documentation — compile comprehensive reports showing deception timelines, financial loss, and communication records for legal or insurance use.
• Liaison with law enforcement & legal counsel — provide evidence packages and expert testimony to support criminal complaints or civil suits.
• Prevention auditing & staff training — for dating platforms, financial institutions, and nonprofits: scam detection reviews, policy recommendations, and staff awareness training.

How we investigate (step-by-step)

1. Secure intake — provide chat logs, emails, screenshots, transaction receipts, and profile links via our secure portal.
2. Preliminary analysis — we identify urgent steps (freeze accounts, contact banks) and preserve volatile evidence.
3. Forensic capture — image devices and collect metadata, timestamps, and network logs to preserve admissibility.
4. Identity & network tracing — use OSINT, reverse-image search, metadata analysis, and proprietary databases to connect aliases and infrastructure.
5. Transaction tracing & legal coordination — work with banks, payment processors, and legal partners to trace funds and pursue recovery options.
6. Reporting & legal support — deliver a court‑ready report, exhibits, and investigator testimony if required.

Evidence & materials that help most:

• Original messages (not just screenshots) or exported chat logs.
• Transaction records, bank statements, wire transfer receipts, and crypto wallet addresses.
• Profile links, usernames, email addresses, and any IP addresses or email headers.
• Copies of any IDs, documents, or photos the scammer provided.
• Dates, times, and details of conversations and requests.

What we cannot do:

• Guarantee full recovery of funds — many scams cross borders and use methods that make recovery difficult.
• Perform illegal activity (hacking, unauthorized access, doxxing). We operate within the law and coordinate with authorities for legal measures.

Prevention tips (for individuals)

• Never send money or gift cards to someone you’ve never met in person.
• Verify profiles with reverse-image searches and look for duplicate photos across multiple accounts.
• Keep conversations on the dating site until you verify identity and exercise caution sharing personal info.
• Use secure payment methods and avoid direct bank transfers to unknown parties.
• Report suspicious accounts to the dating platform and preserve all communication for investigators.

Prevention tips (for businesses & platforms)

• Implement automated photo and metadata checks to spot reused or suspicious images.
• Monitor for rapid account creation patterns and unusual messaging volume.
• Educate users with clear warnings and streamlined reporting options.
• Partner with investigators and financial institutions to expedite evidence preservation and fraud reporting.

Why choose LA Undercover

• Specialist investigators with digital forensics and OSINT expertise.
• Fast preservation of volatile evidence and secure handling for legal use.
• Discreet, victim‑centered approach and coordination with law enforcement and financial partners.
• Court‑ready reports and willingness to testify if needed.

Typical timelines & costs

• Initial intake and preservation steps: 24–72 hours for urgent cases.
• Full investigations vary by complexity and jurisdiction: typically 1–6+ weeks.
• Costs depend on scope: forensic imaging, tracing efforts, third‑party fees, and potential multi‑jurisdiction work. We provide an estimate after case review.

Get help / Contact LA Undercover If you suspect you’ve been targeted by a romance scam, act quickly. Contact LA Undercover for a confidential consultation:

LA Undercover is a private investigative agency and not law enforcement. We work within applicable laws to document fraud, assist with recovery efforts, and support prosecutions or civil actions. Immediate reporting to local law enforcement and your financial institutions is recommended for ongoing fraud.

Where to Begin 

We are here to assist you in answering questions you may have during this difficult time in you life.  To begin please call, email or submit a request form below.

Serving Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Ventura County, Sacramento County, and others upon request