I should also mention legal aspects—what to do if someone buys a fake, reporting it, or disputing sales. Maybe contact information for relevant art organizations or her representatives.
| Step | What to do | Why it matters | |------|------------|----------------| | | Look for the original uploader. Is it an official account, a reputable news outlet, or an anonymous user? | Official accounts are more likely to post accurate material. | | Analyze metadata | Use tools (e.g., ExifTool) to read image metadata for timestamps, camera information, or editing history. | Metadata can reveal whether a photo has been altered or when it was created. | | Reverse‑image search | Use services like Google Images, TinEye, or Yandex to find earlier versions of the picture. | If the same picture appears elsewhere with a different context, it may be reused or misattributed. | | Look for visual signs of manipulation | Check for inconsistent lighting, mismatched shadows, distorted edges, or pixelation around objects. | Simple edits (e.g., Photoshop) often leave subtle clues. | | Cross‑reference with reliable coverage | See if reputable news outlets have reported on the image and whether they have performed independent verification. | Established media usually conduct fact‑checking before publishing. |
