Who We Are
Skull Games operates on a global scale to identify predators, working tirelessly to protect the vulnerable and break the cycle of abuse for future generations. The Skull Games Task Force utilizes Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) to identify sexual predators and their victims, creating actionable leads that law enforcement can use to interdict the cycle of abuse. Our mission empowers survivors, providing them with the opportunity for a life of hope, healing, and freedom.
Throughout the year, the Task Force offers direct support to law enforcement through small, specialized teams. During periodic events, the Task Force surges, bringing together the collective expertise of vetted volunteers from across the United States. This comprehensive counter-sexual exploitation offensive leverages the experience, capabilities, and resources of our team, working in collaboration with our trusted partners to fight back against human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Task Force Operations in December 2024
- Predators & Victims Identified: 27
- Predators Arrested: 12
- Victims Recovered: 6
- Hunters Trained: 31
Recent Operation Summary:
- Skull Games supported a recent operation in Mississippi where five buyers were interdicted for solicitation and one trafficker was arrested for promotion of prostitution.
- Skull Games supported an ICAC case out of Fountain, CO where the POI was arrested, and 2,000 images were found. He was charged with sexual exploitation of children.
News & Events
New Task Force Cohort
In December, SGTF welcomed a fresh cohort of recruits. Throughout the month, these newcomers began their initial training, which included studying media, honing analytical skills, and engaging with peers and training leaders. Training leaders serve as mentors, answering questions and conducting practice briefings in preparation for the all-important Fusion Cell Briefings. Successfully completing the Fusion Cell requirements not only certifies a recruit as a Task Force (TF) member but also awards them the rank of White Belt within the organization. The top performers from each Fusion Cell then face off in the highly anticipated Fusion Cell Competition.
This cohort’s Fusion Cell Competition winner is Emily Preciado. Emily credits her success in Person of Interest (POI) development to “obsessive googling” and deep dives into corporate records. Her brief on her findings was exemplary, offering a concise summary of each connection between the POI and the victim. Emily says she’s “very excited to join a team with such a direct impact on the counter-trafficking space. In just a few weeks of onboarding, it’s been amazing to see so many people from different backgrounds and skill sets coming together for one mission.” Congratulations to Emily and all the new recruits who made the cut—welcome to Skull Games Task Force!
Skully University
On December 10th, TF member Kirsten delivered a presentation at Skully University titled “Digital Signature Management: A Holistic Review of How to Manage Your Digital Footprint.” Skully U, a monthly series of expert-led classes, aims to educate the Task Force and offer fresh perspectives. Kirsten’s class, which attracted 30 attendees, taught practical tradecraft for safeguarding one’s digital identity and protecting home networks. A portion of the lecture focused on tips for network security, offering actionable insights for all.
As a professional OSINT community, our mission is to challenge each other in the pursuit of continued education and practical application. Skully U is an excellent opportunity to tap into a rich library, network, and expert instructors, all dedicated to elevating our OSINT capabilities. Task Force members have full access to Skully U lectures, case studies, and a variety of media. A few standout series include:
- The 360 Series: Live sessions featuring powerhouses from the OSINT industry.
- The Applied Series: A hub for professional development tailored to OSINT analysts.
- The Expanding Horizon Series: A space for TF members to share topics outside the strict realm of OSINT.
Skully U exemplifies how the Skull Games Task Force fosters a supportive community that’s dedicated to growing each member’s skills and expanding the horizons of OSINT practice.
OSINT Tradecraft
Recently, Task Force members were asked: If you had to choose just one OSINT tool, with no budget, what would it be? The team pooled their collective knowledge and shared the free tools they’ve found indispensable in their investigations. The consensus? The best OSINT tool often depends on the type of investigation you’re conducting and the specific digital footprint you’re targeting. And sure, there are plenty of free OSINT tool compendiums a la OSINT Combine, Bellingcat, Start.me, etc. But what are the professionals coming back to most? Below are some Skull Games-approved tools that are both useful and free.
1. Google
Surprise, surprise! When it comes to OSINT, Google is the weapon of first resort. It’s a free and universal tool for uncovering a wealth of information. Google allows us to perform a wide range of tasks, including:
- Keyword searches for specific information.
- Google Dorks to uncover hidden data, such as login pages, file directories, and more.
- Image search to trace the origins of images or find similar pictures.
- News and social media monitoring to track trends and mentions.
The challenge? Sponsored results are everywhere. To cut through the clutter, OSINT pros turn to Google’s advanced search operators, such as:
- “site:linkedin.com skull+games” to search only within LinkedIn.
- “intitle:skull+games” to find keywords in webpage titles.
- “inurl:skull+games” to search for keywords in URLs.
- “filetype:pdf skull+games” to target specific file types, like PDFs or Word docs.
To make your life easier, tools like Dorksearch.com simplify complex Google Dorks, helping you get more specific search results. Mastering Google search techniques is essential for every OSINT investigator.
2. USPhonebook.com
One of the few “free” people searches that is actually free. While it’s known for providing phone number details, you can use it for more than just that.
- Reverse Phone Lookup: Input a phone number to find out who owns it and their location.
- Address and Name Lookup: Search by address or name to identify related phone numbers or details.
While it offers paid services for more in-depth information, you can still perform basic lookups for free, making it useful for gathering public information. There are many comparable resources that may provide slightly varying results. However, many of those options have a paywall.
3. WhatsMyName
WhatsMyName.app is a free tool that helps identify social media profiles linked to a specific username. By simply inputting a username, you can trace which social platforms that user might have accounts on. This tool is especially helpful for:
- Identifying social media profiles across multiple platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.).
- Discovering connections between usernames.
- Investigating anonymous or pseudonymous online personas.
WhatsMyName is provided by OSINT Combine, a well-regarded OSINT technology provider. They even provide an API docker in GitHub for those looking to automate username searches. Using WhatsMyName can save time when searching for someone’s online presence across different social media platforms, making it a vital tool in your OSINT toolkit.
https://github.com/kodamaChameleon/wmn-docker
4. Lenso.ai Free Image Search
When it comes to reverse image searching, Lenso.ai stands out as a top-tier option. Unlike many free alternatives, Lenso.ai offers powerful image recognition and is known for its ability to identify the origins of images with greater accuracy. It also provides valuable metadata that can assist in tracing the image’s source. Lenso.ai outperforms other free image search tools in speed and accuracy, making it an excellent choice for OSINT practitioners.
That said, other free image search options still have their merits. Google Image Search is widely accessible and good for basic reverse image lookups. Similarly, TinEye is a reliable tool with a solid database for finding image sources, though its results can sometimes be less comprehensive than Lenso.ai’s. Still, when it comes to simplicity and ease of use, these free tools provide a solid foundation.
5. Free OSINT Automation
With the some time and a little know-how you can automate OSINT research to handle more date and reduce time consuming or repetitive tasks associated with manual browsing. Don’t know how to code? No problem! AI tools like ChatGPT can help you write Python scripts for common OSINT tasks, such:
- Scraping Websites: Use Python libraries like BeautifulSoup or Scrapy to gather data from websites.
- API Interaction: Automate interactions with public OSINT APIs (e.g., WhatsMyName, VirusTotal, Shodan, or Have I Been Pwned) to fetch information programmatically.
- File Metadata Extraction: Write scripts to extract metadata from documents and images to uncover hidden data (e.g., EXIF data from images).
Use ChatGPT, Gemini, or CoPilot to code whatever you need then run the code in any IDE like Visual Studio Code.
A resident TF computer genius swears by Bruno, an API client that offers pre-configured workflows to make API interactions easier and more user-friendly. It simplifies the process of automating OSINT tasks without requiring deep coding knowledge. Whether you’re an experienced analyst or just starting, Bruno helps save time and improve accuracy by automating key steps in the investigative process.
In the next Skullery blog, we’ll discuss the top ways to automate your OSINT investigations even further, so stay tuned!
These go to tools are part of a healthy and effective OSINT diet. We don’t guarantee these few examples will take you to the next level, but hey! — they don’t cost a dime. So, start integrating these tools into your tradecraft and Skully On. Happy hunting!
Upcoming Events
- TF Expedition XIV, Summit Point, WV: January 2025
- TF Expedition XV, NTS Ybor City, Tampa, FL: May 2025
Skull Games Links
- Social Media: Follow Us linkedin facebook insta twitter
- Donations: Support Us
- Law Enforcement: Partner With Us
- Volunteer: Join Us
About the Author
