So, you\u2019re probably here because you\u2019re at least a little curious about what this internet sleuth craze is all about. Let\u2019s dive into what being a web sleuth means today, how web sleuthing came about, and how you might use today\u2019s technologies to become one yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is a Web Sleuth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
YourDictionary.com<\/a> provides two options for definitions of a web sleuth, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c(1) A person who searches the Internet for information about a company, both positive and negative, to keep abreast of public opinion. All Internet facilities are used, including the Web, newsgroups, and chat rooms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c(2) A person who does any kind of detective work using the Internet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s break it down: web sleuths rely on the power of the internet \u2013 coupled with their own prowess and dedication to mystery-solving \u2013 to dig deep into unsolved trenches and find information that might help uncover answers to meaningful questions. When it comes to true crime, those meaningful questions become especially spooky and turn into details about unsolved disappearances, and even murders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the first known web sleuths, according to an article on Oxygen<\/a>, was a man named Todd Matthews who did most of his self-directed investigative work in the 1980s, and ultimately successfully solved a missing woman\u2019s case in late 1990.\u00a0 Back in the 80s, when Matthews first got his start as a citizen sleuth, he had to conduct investigations without the help of the internet.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthews would spend hours on end scouring library resources and databases, making phone calls and numerous site visits, which took an incredible amount of time over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eventually, Matthews cracked the code with the help of the internet and a blossoming online community. He created a website dedicated to the woman\u2019s case, conducted research on his computer, and eventually located an online classifieds site, where he found a suspect match. <\/p>\n\n\n\n From there, Matthews was able to bring the missing woman\u2019s family closure \u2013 and earned himself the title of one of the original trailblazing internet sleuth pioneers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthews\u2019s success was acknowledged by many, and professional law enforcement particularly noted the importance of his feat, as \u201cin a time when the internet was not commonly used by the masses, [Matthews] recognized his obsession, and focused that energy in a positive direction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only do documentaries today follow true-crime stories, but they also explore the online enthusiasts who work against the clock to solve these mysteries themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The crime doc They Called Him Mostl<\/em><\/a>y<\/a><\/em> Harmless<\/em><\/a> follows a web sleuth community as they crack the case of a mysterious hiker whose body was found in a tent in Florida.\u00a0 When discovered, his identity remained completely unknown, with nothing on him to identify him by.\u00a0 While out on the trail, he would introduce himself as \u201cmostly harmless\u201d to strangers, rather than giving his real name away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But those internet sleuth groups online turned to some inventive solutions. In the \u201cMostly Harmless\u201d case, a Facebook group worked with the company Othram to run a DNA analysis on the hiker. The group even raised the money for the analysis with crowdfunding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With the DNA test showing that the hiker was likely from South Louisiana, they then spread the news via local Facebook groups in the area. When people from the area recognized his photos via a group, they contacted the local sheriff with his name: Vance John Rodriguez. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, internet sleuth groups don\u2019t just work together sharing information via social media platforms like Facebook. They can also collaborate with local law enforcement and professional detectives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the birth of websites like Facebook<\/a> and Reddit<\/a>, specialist groups have always swapped information.\u00a0 When it comes to criminal investigations, it\u2019s no different.\u00a0 You can find thousands of groups online designed for users who want to discuss theories about a case, or share prized information.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, TikTok<\/a> is now center stage when it comes to social media sleuthing.\u00a0 Take for example the case of Gabby Petito, as reported in The New York Times<\/a>.\u00a0 When vlogger Gabrielle Petito went missing while traveling with her fiance Brian Laundrie, users shared missing person posters via TikTok, and some users posted regular videos analyzing the case.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to the social media hype, another couple who were making a series on YouTube about their travels started to pay attention. Eventually, they were alerted to the fact that Petito and Laundrie were in the same area as them earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Combing over old footage, they eventually found the van Petito and Laundrie were traveling in, as well as its location. They alerted the FBI to the location and via \u201cthe power of social media\u201d a search began for the missing woman in the area. Local law enforcement and the FBI then found Petito\u2019s body nearby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Social media sleuths can help a case, as we\u2019ve seen above.\u00a0 But, as the University of Denver<\/a> explains on their podcast, it can raise a lot of questions.\u00a0 When investigations go viral, it has a huge impact on the privacy of the victim\u2019s family.\u00a0 They may even become targets of accusations themselves.\u00a0 What\u2019s more, some cases might be seen as more important than others, especially if people can relate to the victim themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are some downsides to web sleuthing though, as we\u2019ll explain in our next section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As an amateur, trying to solve a crime can come with its dangers.\u00a0 As the Davis Political Review<\/a> found, a flurry of speculation online from web sleuths can mean a spread of misinformation about a case.\u00a0 With four students murdered near the University of Idaho\u2019s campus, law enforcement struggled to keep the narrative on social media under control.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the University of Idaho case, local police had to set up a \u201cRumor Control\u201d page on their website to control misinformation. One web sleuth even went as far as accusing an Idaho professor of the murder based on tarot readings. For people falsely accused of a crime, this can be dangerous if web sleuths start spreading their address and other personal information online \u2013 also known online as \u201cdoxing\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, if you still want to be a web sleuth, it\u2019s best to err on the side of caution. Try not to rely too much on rumors and use the facts instead to aid your case. At worst, you could interfere with police efforts to solve a case. And remember: using databases and people search tools can aid you in your search for missing persons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still think you\u2019re ready to start sleuthing? Our steps below can help you get started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, modern web sleuths can use the help of many advanced internet databases<\/a> to help them crack unsolved cases and get to the bottom of long-lost mysteries.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n When considering all the internet tools you might use, there are a few good-to-know practices and skills to make sure you have a handle on.\u00a0 In an article written for Time<\/a>, true crime author Deborah Halber recommends taking the following five steps when using the internet to solve the trickiest of crimes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019re prepared to embrace your knack for solving mysteries, using a tool like Spokeo will help ensure you leave no digital stone unturned. Spokeo offers a variety of services and features that organize billions of records to paint the picture of the story behind a name, address, or property in question. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also use Spokeo to gather insights on potential culprits: the platform gives web sleuths plenty of data about criminal records (for an additional fee), crime rates in neighborhoods, and safety statistics. Even the smallest digital detail can lead you to solve a decades-long mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"what](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/image\/mediamodifier-yx17UuZw1Ck-unsplash.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow Did the First Web Sleuths Start?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Internet Sleuths Work Together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social Media\u2019s Impact on Web Sleuthing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"understanding](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/image\/emily-morter-8xAA0f9yQnE-unsplash.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Downsides and Dangers of Being a Web Sleuth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Become a Web Sleuth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How Spokeo Can Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n