Research standard

A repeatable OSINT method, not a trust score.

SERCH records what can be verified, what remains unverified and where public sources conflict. A missing record is a question to investigate, not automatic proof of wrongdoing.

01

01 — Identify the subject

We begin with the exact brand, domain, country claim and legal operator. Similar names are separated before research begins, because a brand name alone may refer to unrelated services.

  • Brand and aliases
  • Current and historical domains
  • Named operator
  • Claimed jurisdiction
02

02 — Collect primary material

Priority is given to records closest to the underlying fact: company registers, regulator databases, official warnings, RDAP data and the platform’s own legal documents. Screenshots and archived copies are dated and contextualised.

03

03 — Compare claims

We compare statements across the website, terms, privacy notice, marketing pages and external records. A statement made by the subject is labelled as a claim until another source supports it.

04

04 — Classify the evidence

Findings are marked Verified, Unverified, Conflicting or Not enough evidence. These labels describe evidence coverage; they are not financial ratings and do not predict future conduct.

05

05 — Review and update

A publication shows its review date, source list and unresolved questions. New evidence can trigger an update, correction note or full re-review. The subject is offered a documented route to reply.

Last reviewed: 2 August 2026