Idea Mapping for Investigations

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Idea Mapping for Investigations

When we learn a new skill, there is typically a lag between what we learn contextually (i.e. from school) and how we can apply that knowledge to a real-world situation. Data analytics is no different. There is no clearer example of this than the use of analytics in an investigation, especially in a proactive fraud analysis. In that spirit, let’s dig in to the process of idea mapping. Hopefully this will help your plan come together, or identify weaknesses in the plan early so they can be caught and fixed.

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A Special Agent’s Cautionary Tale: Analytics Are Crucial to Your Investigation

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A Special Agent’s Cautionary Tale: Analytics Are Crucial to Your Investigation

Presently, Erik Halvorson is assigned as part of a nationwide team that uses analytics to identify and support investigations with top federal employees. During these past nine years of learning, Halvorson has come to rely on three steps that consistently pay off. The three steps are idea mapping, visualizations and statistical analyses. They are how he generally organizes his initial review when he’s beginning a potential project.

But he didn’t always follow these three steps. Here’s the story of how he came to rely on them for his fraud investigations.

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3 Ways to Use Data and Technology Proactively

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3 Ways to Use Data and Technology Proactively

One aspect of fraud examinations that is constantly changing is the use of technology for fraud prevention and detection, with an emphasis on detection. From rules-based systems, fraud analytics and artificial intelligence-based programs, examiners look to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their work through the use of technology. However, it is critical to the management of fraud risk that examiners focus more of their efforts on the use of data and technology on the mitigation of fraud risk.

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Leveraging Data Science to Identify Fraudulent Scientific Studies

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Leveraging Data Science to Identify Fraudulent Scientific Studies

A recent article in The Atlantic discussed how a scientific researcher is leveraging new software to address the issue of fraud in scientific studies. Though typically I focus more on the application of analytics for occupational fraud, this article showcases how unstructured data (data that doesn’t fit nicely into a row/column or tabular format) can be used to identify red flags of fraud. 

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DOJ’s Healthcare Fraud Unit Launches Data Analytics Team

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DOJ’s Healthcare Fraud Unit Launches Data Analytics Team

As the two most recent Reports to the Nations have indicated, data analytics is one of the most effective anti-fraud controls an organization can use. It’s worth noting, however, that data analytics are also incredibly effective at fraud detection as well. Organizations in all industries, including government, have been implementing analytics for years. According to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) 2017 Year in Review, they are no different.

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