Bridging the Gap Between Behavioral Science and Digital Crime
In modern litigation, the most complex evidence isn’t found in a server log, it’s found in the psychological triggers used to bypass them. As social engineering becomes the primary vector for global cybercrime, legal teams require an expert who can translate the nuances of human manipulation, cognitive bias, and deceptive communication into clear, courtroom-ready testimony.
Christopher Hadnagy provides comprehensive expert witness services for civil and criminal cases involving social engineering, fraud, and digital exploitation. With over 20 years of experience as a practitioner and researcher, he offers the scientific depth required to analyze how attackers exploit trust to gain unauthorized access.
Areas of Expertise
- Social Engineering Frameworks: Analyzing the methodology of pretexting, elicitation, and psychological manipulation in corporate and private breaches.
- Phishing, Vishing, & Smishing: Forensic analysis of deceptive emails, voice calls, and SMS attacks to determine intent, sophistication, and source.
- Nonverbal Communication & Deception: Applying the science of micro-expressions and kinesics to evaluate intent and credibility in recorded or live interactions.
- Child Exploitation & Online Grooming: Expert analysis of grooming tactics and psychological coercion in digital environments (supported by work with the Innocent Lives Foundation).
- Insider Threat Analysis: Evaluating the behavioral indicators and social triggers that lead to internal security compromises.
- Romance Scams & Financial Fraud: Deciphering the long-term psychological “long con” used in high-value financial exploitation cases.
- Cyber Crimes of all kinds.
- Internet Crimes Against Children, Bullying, Sextortion, Grooming and trafficking.
For inquiries regarding expert witness or litigation support, please use the Contact page.
The Scientific Approach to Human Hacking
Expert testimony is only as strong as the methodology behind it. Chris utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach that combines offensive security experience with advanced behavioral science:
- Certified Nonverbal Expert: Trained under Dr. Paul Ekman to identify non-verbal cues and studied body language for over 15 years.
- Authoritative Research: Based on the frameworks established in his five best-selling books, which are used as standard texts in university cybersecurity programs.
- Industry-Leading Standards: Creator of the world’s first social engineering penetration testing framework and the first hands-on SE certification (CESE).
Services for Counsel
- Case Consultation: Early-stage review of digital evidence to identify human-based vulnerabilities or defense opportunities.
- Expert Reports: Detailed, technical-yet-accessible reports that meet the Daubert or Frye standards for scientific reliability.
- Deposition & Courtroom Testimony: Clear, authoritative communication that helps judges and juries understand complex psychological and technical concepts.
- Defense & Prosecution Support: Objective analysis for high-stakes cases involving data breaches, intellectual property theft, or criminal fraud.
Credentials at a Glance
- Global Advisor: Trained elite units including the FBI, US Secret Service, SOCOM, and the Pentagon.
- Published Authority: Author of five seminal works on social engineering, including The Science of Human Hacking.
- Mission-Driven: Founder of the Innocent Lives Foundation, leveraging OSINT and SE skills to unmask online predators.
- Proven Practitioner: Over two decades of “boots on the ground” experience conducting authorized social engineering engagements for Fortune 500 companies.
Retain an Expert Who Defines the Field
In the courtroom, clarity is as valuable as expertise. Chris Hadnagy provides the bridge between technical data and human behavior, ensuring your case is supported by the world’s leading authority on social engineering.