Link analysis for fraud detection

Insurance fraud detection is a matter of understanding connections.

To uncover scams, investigators look for unusual links between people, events, locations and times. They scour huge, noisy, complex, and often incomplete, datasets to understand which connections are genuine, and which could indicate fraud.

Network visualization – or ‘link analysis’ as it is more commonly called by fraud teams – has long been a vital part of the fraud investigator’s arsenal. Powerful and well-designed link analysis functionality embedded into your fraud detection tool is the ideal way to overcome data challenges and investigate fraud in an interactive and intuitive way.

Reviewing insurance claims with link analysis

Most insurance fraud detection systems work in a similar way. Data is collated, rule-scored and sorted into three categories: fraud, not fraud and unsure.

A team of analysts then manually reviews the ‘unsures’ – a careful balancing act between keeping genuine customers happy with fast, accurate decisions and preventing real frauds from getting through.

Link analysis is a great way to view these complex scenarios in a simple format, directly embedded in the investigation workflow.

The fraud detection visual data model

In a real-world fraud detection tool, an investigator would be interested in a large number of data points.

The data model would depend on their business processes, structures, and operations, but some typical elements include:

  • Policy – policy car registration, policyholder email, policyholder address, policyholder phone
  • Third party – third party car registration, third party address, third party email, third party phone

This model places claims and policies at the top of a hierarchy, with the third party and policyholder information on the next level.

For the purposes of this example, however, we’ll simplify the visual data model:

link analysis for fraud detection: simplified data model insurance fraud
A simpler visual model
  • Claim – being investigated
  • Vehicle – involved in the claim
  • Claimant – associated with the vehicle (and claim)
  • Address – at which the claimant lives

Step 1: Load a claim

this claim folder involves two vehicles and three claimants, associated with three separate addresses.
This claim folder involves two vehicles and three claimants, associated with three separate addresses.

Our first step is to load the disputed claim in a link analysis chart, using the sequential layout to simplify the view.

In this example, we have two people (Stephen Porter and Julia Rodriguez) claiming for damage to their vehicles. A third person, Everett Page, is named in the claim as a witness.

Step 2: Find matches

After loading a claim, the user can ‘find matches’. This runs a query back to the database to find all other claims sharing any similar attributes:

here we can see claims with shared attributes side-by-side
Here we can see claims with shared attributes side-by-side

Doing so returns two other claims – 2015-06-07 and 2015-03-16 – which show matches on the vehicle and address of a claimant in the original case being investigated.

Step 3: Combine matches

To emphasize unusual connections, we can use our toolkits’ combo feature to combine identical nodes:

link analysis for fraud detection
Combining identical / duplicate nodes will remove chart clutter and make anomalies easier to detect

This adjusts the layout of our network so we can see unusual connections more easily.

link analysis for fraud detection: screenshot
The sequential layout reveals relationships between nodes, highlighting unusual connections

Here we see our original claimant’s address in Colnbrook Street is associated with an earlier claim. Given they share a surname it’s not really suspicious.

Link analysis for fraud management

Our white paper contains more in-depth examples and best practice advice.

Download the White Paper

Step 4: Escalate or accept

Here’s an example of a more suspicious match.

link analysis for fraud detection: image 4
A suspicious connection – why does Page Everett (witness) share an address with Walter Stweart (claimant)?

Our witness, Everett Page, shares an address with a man named Walter Stewart, who has previously made a claim relating to one of the vehicles involved in this incident.

At this point, a fraud analyst would probably want to escalate this case for further investigation. We can use a context menu to help our analyst progress this through the workflow:

link analysis for fraud detection: accept or investigate
Link analysis tools should be embedded directly into the fraud analyst’s workflow

Representing data as a network offers an engaging way for analysts to rapidly understand events. Adding link analysis to your to existing claims management workflow makes the process simple and intuitive.

Link analysis + timeline visualization

We could take this visual approach further with timeline visualization. This lets analysts explore the sequence in which events took place, as well as how they are connected. KronoGraph, our timeline visualization toolkit integrates seamlessly with our link analysis tools, providing a completely unique view of your connected fraud data.

link analysis for fraud detection: timeline visualization and link analysis
Combining timeline visualization with link analysis for a clear view of your fraud investigation data

Read more about timeline visualization for fraud management.

Find fraud in your own data

This is a simple example, using synthesized data, of how our link analysis toolkits can make a complex and high-risk exercise simpler and more intuitive.

If you want to try our toolkits on your own data, just request a trial account.

This post was originally published some time ago. It’s still popular, so we’ve updated it with new example visualizations to keep it useful and relevant.

How can we help you?

Request trial

Ready to start?

Request a free trial

Learn more

Want to learn more?

Read our white papers

“case

Looking for success stories?

Browse our case studies

Registered in England and Wales with Company Number 07625370 | VAT Number 113 1740 61
6-8 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 1JP. All material © Cambridge Intelligence 2024.
Read our Privacy Policy.