Image search, often called reverse image search, is a technology that analyzes an image or the person depicted in it and returns relevant results:

  • exact copies of the image
  • similar or related photos
  • more images of the person shown in the photo
  • the location depicted in the photo

Moreover, with a reliable image search tool, you can discover whether the photo has been misused and where exactly it has been published. You may also be able to check the publication date range and find altered versions of the photo.

All of this is possible using just one reverse image search tool, but you should carefully check which one you choose, as there are many scam tools that will waste your time and money without providing any useful clues for your ongoing investigation.

TOP rated reverse image search tools

What information can you find using a photo?

Basically, you can find almost anything. Of course, it depends on the photo itself, whether it is of good quality and has actually been reused or published somewhere, and on the image search tool you choose. Remember to use only reliable tools.

You can expect to find:

  • where the image was originally published
  • additional information mentioned on the page where it appeared
  • other websites, profiles, or platforms where the same image has been used
  • background information about a specific person, such as their name, surname, previous jobs, connections with other people
  • potential criminal records or references to criminal activity in publicly available sources
  • the place, landmark, or location shown in the photo
  • the approximate date range when the image was published
  • whether the image may have been stolen or used without permission
  • whether the person could be a catfish or fraudster, especially if the photo appears on scam-reporting forums or multiple dating apps
  • possible connections between the photo and other people, events, organizations, or websites

However, remember that image search results should always be treated as investigative leads rather than final proof. Verify important information using multiple reliable sources before drawing any conclusions.

How to find more information from a photo?

As mentioned above, you basically need two things: a photo and a reliable reverse image search tool. We will discuss the second part later, but for now, let’s focus on the photo(s).

Here are some pro tips that can help you during an investigation and allow you to gather as much information as possible:

  1. Use a good-quality image. Of course, one of the most common use cases involves images from CCTV cameras or other recording devices, where the quality may be limited. Still, the better the image quality, the better the chances of finding accurate results.
  2. Use multiple images of the same person, place, or object. Even different crops of the same image can provide completely different results. Do not stop after one simple search, the system may respond differently to images that have been slightly edited, cropped, or enhanced.
  3. Use multiple reverse image search tools and compare their results. Each tool has a different index and search technology, so one may find information that another tool misses.
  4. If you perform a face search, use a photo showing only the person you want to investigate. This helps the system focus on that person’s facial features. After that, you can investigate any associated people individually.
  5. Try different facial angles and photos taken at different times. A front-facing, clearly visible face will usually work best, but photos showing different angles, hairstyles, ages, or lighting conditions may uncover additional matches.
  6. Crop out unnecessary elements. If you are investigating a specific person, object, logo, or location, crop the image so that the relevant element is clearly visible.
  7. Do not overedit the photo. Basic cropping, brightening, or sharpening may help, especially with CCTV footage. However, excessive editing or AI enhancement can change important details and lead to inaccurate results.
  8. Check every original source, it is your potential lead. Identify where the image was originally published, but also examine the entire page. Check the publication date, author, page title, captions, usernames, comments, linked profiles, and related articles. Anything could provide more information.
  9. Search again using newly discovered images. If you find another version of the photo or a new photo of the same person, place, or object, run a new search. One result can lead to another and gradually uncover more information.
  10. Document your findings. Save URLs, screenshots, publication dates, and relevant details as you proceed. Pages can be edited or removed, so keeping a clear record may be essential for the investigation.

How to investigate a person from a photo?

Basically, you can follow the pro tips mentioned above. You should also focus on facial recognition tools such as lenso.ai, eyematch, or pimeyes. For a more advanced investigation, you can use Pixalytica, more details about it in the next section. These tools can provide exact face matches, which may help you uncover more information about a specific person.

You can also simply search on Google if you have more information than just an image. Try searching by the person’s name, phone number, email address, username, workplace, or any other detail you have discovered. When combined with face search results, these additional matches may help you build a more complete picture of the person you need to find or verify.

Try to avoid relying only on general image search tools, as they may provide visually similar people instead of exact face matches. This can mislead your investigation.

General image search can still be useful for finding locations, objects, logos, or context, but a dedicated facial recognition tool is usually a better choice when you need to investigate a specific person.

AI Face Search in OSINT and Investigations

Best image search tools for investigations

Here is a list of the best photo investigation tools. We recommend using at least a couple of them, if not all, as an investigator, you should gather information from as many sources as possible. These tools may provide different but equally valuable information.

1. Lenso.ai: the best image search tool

Lenso.ai is the best image search tool that can provide a lot of information. You can perform different types of image searches: look for exact or altered copies of an image, conduct a face search to discover where the person from the photo appears online, and find similar or related photos.

Besides that, it offers a complete toolkit for investigators:

  • Research Mode for deeper searches and advanced filters, including date range, title search, and domain and language inclusion/exclusion
  • Alerts for new image appearances online: whenever new matches appear, you will receive an update by email or in your lenso.ai dashboard
  • Reverse Image Search API for easy integration into your own system
  • DMCA Assist if you work in the field of copyright investigations

DMCA Assist on Lenso.ai | What is It & How to Use It?

2. Eyematch.ai

If you aim to focus solely on face search, choose eyematch. It does not offer many extra features, but thanks to its facial recognition engine, you can gather as much information as possible about where images of a specific person appear online. It can be a great addition to your investigation toolkit.

3. PimEyes

PimEyes can be used in a similar way to eyematch. It also focuses on face search but offers more advanced filters and a report option. This can help you keep all the information gathered about a specific case in one place.

4. Pixalytica

Pixalytica is not a typical image search tool: it is far more advanced. It is a perfect go-to solution for investigators and law enforcement agencies, as it provides KYC and background verification reports based only on an image. You can also add a name and surname, but this is optional.

In the report, you will find:

  • a short summary of the person
  • risk factors
  • a risk score
  • name and surname confirmation
  • face search results with URLs where the photos were originally published
  • any suspicious associations
  • PEP status
  • criminal background information

Therefore, if you are looking for an advanced tool for your investigation process, Pixalytica may be the number-one choice.

5. TinEye

Let’s move on to an oldie but a goodie. TinEye is a well-known tool in the industry, and it can still be very helpful. It can easily be used as an additional tool because it is free of charge. It works best for general image searches, but it works.

6. Copyseeker

Copyseeker is also a decent image search tool that specializes in finding exact or altered copies of the image you provide. It also offers an API, so you can integrate it into your own system.

Its platform is not as detailed, and its index is very limited compared to lenso.ai, but again, it works.

7. Yandex

Yandex is probably one of the best general search engines with reliable image search technology. You can easily check photos there, and there is a good chance that you will find a match.

You can also run searches through Google or Bing Image Search, but their results may be more generic and less relevant.

Author

Julia Mykhailiuk

Marketing Specialist