VSI GLOBAL // ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE

OSINT-019-asset-trace-and-discovery-report-collection

14 min read

[SUBJECT ENTITY / INDIVIDUAL] - Collection Map

OSINT-019 Asset Trace & Discovery Report - collection workspace. Central topic = the subject whose asset base is being traced. Branches = data-point categories mapped to the deliverable’s sections. Drop each collected value as a child node; expand it with where it was found and how it was attributed. Paste raw tool output into the node’s Notes. → feeds deliverable OSINT-019.

00 · Collection Plan - PIRs & EEIs

The questions this collection must answer + essential elements of information (EEI) for each. Tick as satisfied. → drives §3 Key Judgments, §4 PIRs, §16 Verified Findings Summary, §20 Collection Gaps & RFIs.

PIR-1 - Asset inventory: complete or best-available inventory of identifiable assets belonging to or controlled by the subject?

  • EEI: real property located and title-holder confirmed in each jurisdiction searched
  • EEI: financial accounts / investment instruments identified through lawful channels
  • EEI: corporate equity and business interests resolved in public registries
  • EEI: registrable chattels (vehicles / vessels / aircraft) identified by registration search
  • EEI: IP, intangible, and digital assets (non-crypto) located through registry and OSINT
  • EEI: high-value personal property indicators (art / collectibles / luxury goods) documented

PIR-2 - Jurisdictional footprint: in which jurisdictions are subject’s assets located?

  • EEI: all jurisdictions where subject has known residence, citizenship, or business connection identified
  • EEI: cross-border and offshore indicators mapped against known asset classes
  • EEI: non-cooperative or secrecy-jurisdiction flags noted with coverage limitation

PIR-3 - Control & title: are assets held in subject’s name, through corporate structures, nominees, or trusts?

  • EEI: direct-ownership records vs. corporate / nominee / trust-titled assets distinguished
  • EEI: third-party control indicators (shared address, shared representative, financial linkage) documented
  • EEI: attribution confidence level (Confirmed / Probable / Possible / Unresolved) assigned to each asset

PIR-4 - Value aggregate: estimated aggregate value and distribution across asset classes?

  • EEI: per-asset value basis captured (registry consideration / tax assessment / comparable / qualified inference)
  • EEI: aggregate value bracket assembled from per-class estimates
  • EEI: single highest-value asset identified and value-basis stated

PIR-5 - Concealment indicators: evidence of deliberate asset concealment, layering, or transfer?

  • EEI: recently transferred / dissipated assets flagged with timing relative to mandate trigger
  • EEI: nominee / shell / offshore-structure indicators documented
  • EEI: ACH applied - discovered-base-substantially-complete vs. meaningful-concealment vs. recent-dissipation

Collection gaps / RFIs (running)

  • [gap - jurisdiction not searchable via open/licensed access] → escalate to §20
  • [gap - corporate beneficial-ownership register non-public] → escalate to §20
  • [gap - crypto holdings: indicators only - route to OSINT-022]
  • [gap - deliberate concealment depth exceeding discovery scope - route to OSINT-021]

01 · Target Identity (Holder)

Anchor the asset trace to a uniquely resolved subject. Every asset in §§6–14 is attributed only against these resolved identifiers - namesake confusion is the primary failure mode. → feeds §5 Subject Asset Profile Overview, Annex B Appendix A.

Legal name & identifiers

  • Full legal name:
  • Trading name / corporate name (if entity):
  • Aliases / AKAs:
  • Date of birth / date of incorporation:
  • Nationality / jurisdiction of incorporation:
  • National ID / passport number (partial/redacted):
  • Tax identification number(s) (partial/redacted):
  • LEI / company registration number:

Subject type

  • Individual / Entity / Both (holding structure with individual UBO):
  • Engagement mandate: [Litigation / Enforcement / Divorce / Insolvency / DD / Other]:
  • Subject cooperation level: [Full / Partial / None]:

Identity resolution confidence

  • Corroborating identifiers matched:
  • Same-name candidates identified & excluded:
  • Identity-resolution confidence: [Confirmed / Probable / Possible / Unresolved]:
  • Notes / tool output:

Known advisers & professional nexus

  • [adviser / CSP / law firm / accountant]
    • Role:
    • Jurisdiction:
    • Significance to asset trace:
    • Source:

02 · Real Property & Land Holdings

Search public land/property registers, tax-assessment records, title databases, and beneficial-ownership registers per jurisdiction. One block per property - clone as needed. → feeds §6 Real Property & Land Holdings.

Property record

Clone this block per identified property. Tool hints: national cadastral registers; land registry (UK Land Registry, Grundbuch, USPS/county recorders); tax-assessment portals; OpenSanctions property flags; ORCA / PEPS property indices.

  • [property address / description - e.g. 12 Quay St, Dublin 2, residential flat]
    • Jurisdiction / register reference:
    • Title holder (as registered):
    • Subject’s connection: [Direct / Corporate / Nominee / Trust / Occupancy]:
    • Property type: [Residential / Commercial / Industrial / Land / Other]:
    • Value bracket (basis):
    • Encumbrances / liens:
    • Purchase date / recorded consideration:
    • Attribution confidence: [Confirmed / Probable / Possible]:
    • Notes / tool output:
  • [property 2]

03 · Corporate Holdings & Business Interests

Equity interests in companies, partnerships, LLCs, foundations, and other business vehicles - including wholly-owned, controlling, minority, and beneficial-ownership positions. One block per entity. → feeds §8 Business & Corporate Asset Holdings.

Corporate entity / business interest

Clone per entity. Tool hints: OpenCorporates; national company registries (Companies House UK, EDGAR, Handelsregister, ASIC, MCA); OpenOwnership beneficial-ownership data; GLEIF LEI; Orbis/Bureau van Dijk; jurisdiction-specific filing portals.

  • [entity name - e.g. Hartwell Trading Ltd]
    • Jurisdiction / company number:
    • Subject’s interest / role: [Owner / Beneficial owner / Director / Shareholder / Partner / Other]:
    • Percentage stake:
    • Capital / share structure:
    • Known entity assets (property, accounts, IP held by this entity):
    • Dividend / distribution history:
    • Date of discovery source:
    • Attribution confidence: [Confirmed / Probable / Possible]:
    • Source grade:
    • Notes / tool output: ← OpenCorporates, Companies House, OpenOwnership
  • [entity 2]

UBO / beneficial-ownership register check

  • [register searched - e.g. UK PSC Register]
    • Date searched:
    • Result: [Listed / Not listed / Non-public]:
    • Notes:

04 · Financial Accounts & Instruments

Bank accounts, investment/brokerage accounts, pension/retirement funds, insurance (cash/surrender value), and other liquid instruments - identified through credit-header inquiry, adverse filings, disclosed financial statements, open-source spending indicators, or lawful cross-check. → feeds §7 Financial Accounts & Liquid Assets.

Bank / financial account

Clone per account or instrument. Tool hints: OFAC / FATF typologies; adverse-filing databases (PACER, judgments, garnishments, tax liens); public insolvency records; FCA/SEC financial promotions; PEP/sanctions screening; political donations (FEC/ECA).

  • [account type / institution - e.g. Private banking account - Julius Baer, Geneva]
    • Institution:
    • Jurisdiction:
    • Account holder (subject / entity / nominee):
    • Balance / value bracket:
    • Basis for identification: [Adverse filing / Disclosed / Credit-header / Open-source footprint / Leaked pointer]:
    • Secrecy / offshore jurisdiction flag: [Yes / No]:
    • Attribution confidence: [Confirmed / Probable / Possible]:
    • Source grade:
    • Notes / tool output:
  • [account / instrument 2]

Investment / securities holdings

  • [holding - e.g. equity portfolio, brokerage account]
    • Basis:
    • Value bracket:
    • Attribution confidence:

Pension / retirement interests

  • [scheme / fund]:
    • Jurisdiction:
    • Approximate value:

05 · Movable Assets - Vehicles, Vessels, Aircraft, Registrable Chattels

Motor-vehicle registries, vessel registries (commercial and pleasure craft), aircraft registries (CAA / FAA / national equivalents), and registrable chattels in relevant jurisdictions. → feeds §9 Vehicles, Vessels, Aircraft & Registrable Chattels.

Vehicle / vessel / aircraft record

Clone per asset. Tool hints: national vehicle registries (DVLA UK, FMCSA US, national transport authorities); FAA Aircraft Registry; IMO number search; Lloyd’s Register; national maritime databases; ADSB-Exchange (aircraft); Vessel Finder / MarineTraffic.

  • [asset type + description - e.g. Vessel - M/Y Seraphina, 42m, Cayman Islands]
    • Registration / IMO / VIN / tail-number:
    • Make / model / year:
    • Registered owner:
    • Subject connection: [Direct / Corporate / Nominee / Operator / Beneficial user]:
    • Jurisdiction of registration:
    • Value bracket:
    • Encumbrances / mortgages on asset:
    • Attribution confidence: [Confirmed / Probable / Possible]:
    • Source grade:
    • Notes / tool output: ← DVLA, FAA, IMO/Lloyd’s, MarineTraffic
  • [asset 2]

06 · Cryptocurrency & Digital Assets (Indicator Layer)

Indicator-level only for this product. Flag wallet addresses, exchange relationships, and on-chain indicators discovered through OSINT. Do NOT perform blockchain-forensic attribution here - escalate to OSINT-022. Non-crypto digital assets (domains, online businesses) go to §07. → feeds §12 Digital Assets (Excluding Cryptocurrency) indicator column and §20 escalation to OSINT-022.

Cryptocurrency wallet / exchange indicator

Clone per indicator. Tool hints (indicator discovery only, not full tracing): open blockchain explorers (Etherscan, Blockchain.info, Blockchair); domain-to-wallet linkage; forum / exchange usernames; public donation/payment addresses; data-broker leaks listing wallet addresses. Full attribution → OSINT-022.

  • [indicator - e.g. BTC address 1A2b3C… found in public donation page]
    • Network / chain: [BTC / ETH / XMR / other]:
    • Address or exchange account (if publicly visible):
    • Source of discovery:
    • Approximate balance / transaction volume (if visible on-chain):
    • Attribution confidence: [Confirmed / Probable / Possible / Unresolved]:
    • Escalation to OSINT-022: [Yes / Not yet]:
    • Notes / tool output: ← Etherscan, Blockchair, Blockchain.info
  • [indicator 2]

Monero / privacy-coin indicators

  • [indicator]:
    • Notes:

07 · Income & Source of Wealth / Funds (Indicators)

OSINT-visible indicators only - not a forensic SoW substantiation (that is OSINT-023). Document observable income streams, disclosed compensation, public financial filings, business dividends, inheritance records, and luxury-spend signals that corroborate or contradict the asset base. → feeds §15 Asset Value Estimates & Standing, §17 Red Flags.

Employment / directorship income indicators

  • [employer / role - e.g. CEO, listed FTSE250 company]
    • Disclosed remuneration:
    • Source (annual report / proxy statement / public disclosure):
    • Period:

Business income / dividends

  • [entity]:
    • Dividend history / declared distributions:
    • Source:

Inheritance / estate indicators

  • [probate / estate notice reference]:
    • Jurisdiction:
    • Approximate value:

Political donations / public filings revealing income

  • [filing ref]:
    • Amount / period:

Luxury spend / lifestyle indicators (open-source)

  • [indicator - social media / press / event appearance]:
    • Asset class implied:
    • Significance:

08 · Liabilities & Encumbrances

Liens, judgments, mortgages, bankruptcies, and other encumbrances on identified assets - from public adverse-filing databases, court records, and registry searches. Liabilities reduce net recoverable value and may indicate financial stress or asset-dissipation activity. → feeds §6–§9 (encumbrances column), §17 Red Flags, §21 Assessment.

Lien / judgment / encumbrance

Clone per item. Tool hints: PACER (US); court judgment search engines; land registry lien / charge records; PPSR (AU); CICA / CAIS credit registers where lawfully accessible; insolvency registers (Companies House beta, EDGAR bankruptcy).

  • [lien / judgment / mortgage ref - e.g. County Court Judgment, Bristol, 2023-07-14]
    • Type: [Mortgage / Judgment / Tax lien / Charging order / Bankruptcy order / Other]:
    • Creditor / court:
    • Amount:
    • Asset encumbered:
    • Status: [Active / Satisfied / Appealed]:
    • Source grade:
    • Notes / tool output:
  • [encumbrance 2]

Insolvency / bankruptcy indicators

  • [record]:
    • Jurisdiction:
    • Status:
    • Implications for asset discovery:

09 · Hidden / Nominee Structures & Offshore Indicators

Structures where title is held by a third party but subject retains beneficial ownership or effective control - nominees, trusts, foundations, shell companies, custodial entities, family members acting as fronts. Also maps cross-border/offshore indicators. → feeds §13 Cross-Border & Offshore Indicator Mapping, §14 Nominee, Trust & Third-Party Control Indicators.

Nominee / trust / shell structure

Clone per structure. Tool hints: ICIJ Offshore Leaks database; OpenOwnership; national UBO/PSC registers; leaked-CSP data (Panama Papers, Pandora Papers, FinCEN files) - flag as low-reliability pointers only; corporate-service-provider registries in offshore jurisdictions (BVI, Cayman, Seychelles, Samoa); trust deed registries where public.

  • [structure name / description - e.g. Quorum Holdings Ltd, BVI - nominee shareholder: Jane Doe]
    • Structure type: [Nominee / Trust / Foundation / Shell / CSP-held / Family-front / Other]:
    • Title holder (registered):
    • Relationship to subject:
    • Control basis: [Documented / Corroborated / Inferred]:
    • Control confidence: [Confirmed / Probable / Possible]:
    • Underlying asset(s):
    • Jurisdiction / opacity level: [Low / Moderate / High / Secrecy jurisdiction]:
    • Source and grade:
    • Notes / tool output: ← ICIJ Offshore Leaks, OpenOwnership, CSP registries
  • [structure 2]

Cross-border / offshore jurisdiction indicator

  • [jurisdiction - e.g. Cayman Islands / BVI / Panama / Cyprus]
    • Asset class connected:
    • Nature of nexus (subject travel / corporate filing / adviser nexus / bank relationship):
    • Opacity level: [Low / Moderate / High / Secrecy jurisdiction]:
    • Escalation needed: [Yes / No]:

10 · Network & Facilitators

Associates, family members, professional advisers, and corporate-service providers who may hold assets on the subject’s behalf or who create the nominee/trust structures through which assets are channeled. → feeds §14 Nominee, Trust & Third-Party Control Indicators, §21 Recommendations.

Associate / family member as asset holder

Clone per person. Tool hints: Persons of interest cross-check against §01 corroborating identifiers; electoral roll / voter registration; people-search (Pipl, Spokeo, TruePeopleSearch); social media for family / business relationship signals.

  • [name - e.g. Maria Alves (spouse)]
    • Relationship to subject:
    • Assets held on subject’s behalf (suspected):
    • Basis for inference:
    • Attribution confidence: [Confirmed / Probable / Possible]:
    • Source grade:
    • Notes / tool output: ← people-search, electoral roll, social media
  • [associate 2]

Professional adviser / CSP

  • [firm / individual - e.g. Meridian Trust (Gibraltar)]
    • Role: [Law firm / Accountant / Trust company / CSP / Registered agent / Other]:
    • Jurisdiction:
    • Known structures administered:
    • Significance:
    • Source:
    • Notes:

11 · Intellectual Property & Intangible Assets

Patent, trademark, copyright, domain-name registries for filings by the subject, their entities, or known aliases; assignments/transfers indicating concealed ownership. → feeds §10 Intellectual Property & Intangible Assets.

IP / domain record

Clone per registration. Tool hints: USPTO / EUIPO / WIPO patent and trademark search; national IP offices; WHOIS / domaintools / DomainIQ domain history; Wayback Machine / crt.sh for historical domains; Google Patents; copyright deposit registries.

  • [IP type + description - e.g. EU trademark, “Hartwell”, EUTM 018xxxxxx]
    • Registration / application number:
    • Jurisdiction:
    • Registrant / assignee (as filed):
    • Subject’s connection: [Direct / Entity / Nominee / Assignment]:
    • Commercial value / revenue indicator:
    • Attribution confidence: [Confirmed / Probable / Possible]:
    • Source grade:
    • Notes / tool output: ← USPTO, EUIPO, WIPO, DomainTools
  • [IP / domain 2]

12 · Digital Assets (Excluding Cryptocurrency)

Domain names, websites/online businesses, e-commerce storefronts, digital-content monetization (YouTube/subscriber platforms/paid newsletters), digital-media libraries. → feeds §12 Digital Assets (Excluding Cryptocurrency). Crypto indicators → §06 above.

Digital asset record

Clone per asset. Tool hints: WHOIS / domaintools / RDAP for domain ownership; Wayback Machine; SimilarWeb / SEMrush for traffic/revenue signals; Flippa / Empire Flippers marketplace listings; YouTube channel valuation tools; AppFollow / Sensor Tower for app revenues.

  • [asset type / identifier - e.g. domain portfolio: hartwell-group.com, 12 TLDs]
    • Platform / registry:
    • Registrant / operator:
    • Subject connection:
    • Value / revenue bracket:
    • Attribution confidence: [Confirmed / Probable / Possible]:
    • Source grade:
    • Notes / tool output: ← DomainTools, WHOIS, Wayback Machine
  • [digital asset 2]

13 · High-Value Personal Property & Collectibles

Art, jewelry/watches, wine/cellar, racehorses, luxury vehicles (marque evidence beyond registry), and other collectibles - identified through auction records, gallery representation, museum loans/exhibitions, insurance-schedule disclosures, social-media / press indicators. Absence of a central register makes this section necessarily incomplete. → feeds §11 High-Value Personal Property & Collectibles.

High-value personal property item

Clone per item. Tool hints: Artnet / ArtPrice auction records; Sotheby’s / Christie’s / Bonhams sale catalogues; museum/gallery loan credits; social-media image analysis; press coverage; horse-racing registries (Weatherbys, Jockey Club); watch/jewelry insurance disclosures (very rare - social/press indicators only).

  • [item description - e.g. Lot 42, Warhol silkscreen, Christie’s London, Nov 2021]
    • Property class: [Art / Jewelry/Watch / Wine / Racehorse / Luxury vehicle / Other]:
    • Evidence source:
    • Owner / custodian named: [Subject / Family / Corporate / Other]:
    • Estimated value bracket:
    • Attribution confidence: [Confirmed / Probable / Possible]:
    • Source grade:
    • Notes / tool output: ← Artnet, ArtPrice, auction house archives
  • [item 2]

99 · Collection Admin

Working register - audit trail and quality-control layer. Not a deliverable section but the evidentiary backbone of Annex A - Sources & Methodology and Annex B Appendices.

Source register

Every material datum traceable to a graded source using the Admiralty two-axis code (A–F reliability / 1–6 credibility). → feeds §22 Annex A.

  • [S-1 - source name / description]
    • Type: [Primary / Secondary / Tertiary]:
    • Reliability (A–F):
    • Credibility (1–6):
    • Date accessed:
    • URL / reference:
    • Coverage limitation / lawful-access note:
  • [S-2]

Jurisdiction coverage log

  • [jurisdiction - e.g. England & Wales]
    • Registers searched:
    • Date searched:
    • Coverage gaps / non-public registers:

Evidence archive

  • [screenshot / capture ref + hash + URL + timestamp]:

Red flag / notable indicator log

  • [flag]:
    • Severity: [Critical / High / Medium / Low]:
    • Asset dimension (§):
    • Disposition: [Open / Escalated / Mitigable]:

Open gaps / RFIs - verification pending

  • [item - jurisdiction not covered, non-public register, awaiting response]
  • [item - identity disambiguation pending for Possible-attributed asset]

Escalation tracker

  • [item] → [OSINT-020 Net Worth Profile / OSINT-021 Hidden Asset Investigation / OSINT-022 Crypto Tracing / OSINT-023 SoW Report / OSINT-024 Pre-Litigation Asset Report / OSINT-025 Continuous Asset Monitoring]
    • Reason for escalation:
    • Routed by / date:

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