Verify Genuine Clients Online

I want a straightforward framework I can follow each time a new enquiry lands in my inbox so I can quickly confirm whether the prospect is legitimate. My preferred yardstick is the client’s online presence, so the method should revolve around publicly available digital footprints—company website signals, domain age and WHOIS data, LinkedIn consistency, press mentions, social channels, review sites, and any other verifiable touchpoints you consider useful.

Here’s what I need from you:
• A concise written guide that walks me step-by-step through the checks, explains why each matters, and shows how to interpret the findings.
• A one-page quick-reference checklist I can keep on my desk.
• Real-world examples (scrubbed of sensitive data) demonstrating the process with both genuine and suspicious clients.

Acceptance criteria
• Every verification step must be actionable with free or low-cost online tools.
• The checklist must fit on a single A4/Letter page without tiny fonts.
• Explanations are clear enough for someone with no OSINT background to apply immediately.

If you have experience in due-diligence, OSINT, or fraud prevention, let me know how you can adapt proven techniques to this use case and roughly how long it will take you to deliver the guide and checklist.