PUBLIC TRACES

A WORKED INVESTIGATION

What does repeated overlap look like?

Start with one reviewer’s history. Follow nearby five-star reviews of the same products. See which reviewers appear again.

Generated example · no real accounts

ONE RESULT, EXPLAINED

Reviewer demo-161
appears in 24 distinct egos.

The search opened 100 reviewer histories and reached 164 reviewers. This reviewer has a corroboration count of 24.

An ego is the local neighborhood around one opened reviewer: people giving five stars to the same products around the same time. Each distinct opened ego adds at most one count to a reviewer, even when several products overlap.

Where the count comes from

Here are 3 supporting egos. Each row shows one shared product and the two five-star review dates, within the selected ±28-day window.

Examples supporting the selected reviewer’s computed corroboration count
Opened reviewerShared productOpened reviewer’s datedemo-161’s dateCount added
demo-129P000002019-04-112019-04-10+1 ego
demo-84P000002019-04-022019-04-10+1 ego
demo-177P000002019-04-112019-04-10+1 ego

These rows are examples from the computed result. The complete ledger below includes the remaining supporting egos and product connections.

FROM A RESULT TO A CONTRIBUTION

What would you share?

An investigation records what was observed and where it came from. See a small excerpt from this same example and how future reviewed contributions would work.

View an example contribution →
Change the search settings 100 histories · cap 5 · ±28 days

The budget limits histories opened. The cap guides which reviewer is opened next; it does not cap the count reported for that reviewer. The time window defines nearby activity.

Inspect the full result Counts, supporting egos, product bursts, and search history
Reviews in the example610Full generated panel; the search opens selected histories.
Histories opened100
Complete product windows67seed egos
Highest corroboration24distinct seed egos

COLLECTION PROGRESS

Each history adds context.

164 reviewers reached
First historyLast opened history

CORROBORATION LEDGER

Inspect the reasons.

Up to 30 reviewers

A count records appearance across distinct opened neighborhoods. Expand a row to see supporting seeds, products, and weeks.

demo-1619 products24 egos

24 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 24 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 24

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-129P00000104
demo-84P0000097
demo-84P00000104
demo-177P0000097
demo-177P00000104
demo-47P0000097
demo-47P00000104
demo-33P0000097
demo-9P0000097
demo-9P00007160
demo-96P0000097
demo-96P00000104
demo-171P0000097
demo-171P00000104
demo-171P0002355
demo-171P0002662
demo-23P0000097
demo-23P00000104
demo-206P0002355
demo-167P00007160
demo-167P0002355
demo-167P0003362
demo-167P00042104
demo-178P00000104
demo-178P00017153
demo-178P0002355
demo-178P0003362
demo-163P00007160
demo-163P00017153
demo-163P0002113
demo-163P0002355
demo-163P0002662
demo-163P0003076
demo-163P0003362
demo-163P00042104
demo-192P00007160
demo-192P0003362
demo-194P00000104
demo-194P00017153
demo-190P00007160
demo-190P0003362
demo-180P00007160
demo-187P0002113
demo-187P0002355
demo-187P0003076
demo-195P0003362
demo-195P00042104
demo-175P0002662
demo-216P00017153
demo-216P0002662
demo-164P0002113
demo-164P0002662
demo-188P00017153
demo-188P0003076
demo-210P00042104
demo-1609 products23 egos

23 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 23 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 23

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-84P0000090
demo-177P0000090
demo-177P00038160
demo-47P0000090
demo-33P0000090
demo-9P0000090
demo-151P0000090
demo-96P0000090
demo-171P0000090
demo-171P0002341
demo-171P0002655
demo-206P0002341
demo-206P00038160
demo-167P0002341
demo-167P0003362
demo-167P00042111
demo-178P00017146
demo-178P0002341
demo-178P0003362
demo-163P00017146
demo-163P0002113
demo-163P0002341
demo-163P0002655
demo-163P0003055
demo-163P0003362
demo-163P00042111
demo-192P0003362
demo-194P00017146
demo-190P0003362
demo-187P0002113
demo-187P0002341
demo-187P0003055
demo-195P0003362
demo-195P00042111
demo-175P0002655
demo-175P00038160
demo-216P00017146
demo-216P0002655
demo-164P0002113
demo-164P0002655
demo-188P00017146
demo-188P0003055
demo-210P00042111
demo-1625 products22 egos

22 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 22 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 22

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-177P0000097
demo-177P00038160
demo-47P0000097
demo-33P0000097
demo-9P0000097
demo-9P00007160
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-23P0000097
demo-206P00038160
demo-167P00007160
demo-178P00017146
demo-163P00007160
demo-163P00017146
demo-163P0002120
demo-192P00007160
demo-194P00017146
demo-190P00007160
demo-180P00007160
demo-187P0002120
demo-175P00038160
demo-216P00017146
demo-164P0002120
demo-188P00017146
demo-1685 products20 egos

20 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 20 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 20

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-177P0000097
demo-47P0000097
demo-33P0000097
demo-33P00005174
demo-9P0000097
demo-9P00007153
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-23P0000097
demo-167P00007153
demo-178P0001427
demo-178P00017146
demo-163P00007153
demo-163P0001427
demo-163P00017146
demo-192P00007153
demo-192P0001427
demo-194P00017146
demo-190P00007153
demo-180P00007153
demo-216P00017146
demo-188P00017146
demo-131P00005174
demo-186P0001427
demo-471 products20 egos

20 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 20 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 20

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00000111
demo-42P0000048
demo-84P0000048
demo-84P00000111
demo-177P00000111
demo-33P0000048
demo-9P0000048
demo-151P0000048
demo-112P0000048
demo-94P0000048
demo-72P00000153
demo-96P00000111
demo-171P00000111
demo-23P00000111
demo-3P00000153
demo-178P00000111
demo-178P00000153
demo-194P00000111
demo-194P00000153
demo-74P00000153
demo-159P00000111
demo-159P00000153
demo-113P00000153
demo-158P00000153
demo-1812 products19 egos

19 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 19 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 19

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-177P0000097
demo-177P00038174
demo-47P0000097
demo-47P00000153
demo-33P0000097
demo-9P0000097
demo-72P00000153
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-23P0000097
demo-206P00038174
demo-3P00000153
demo-178P00000153
demo-194P00000153
demo-74P00000153
demo-159P00000153
demo-113P00000153
demo-158P00000153
demo-175P00038174
demo-2014 products19 egos

19 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 19 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 19

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-42P0000020
demo-42P00002139
demo-84P0000020
demo-177P00038160
demo-112P0000020
demo-112P00002139
demo-94P0000020
demo-72P0000020
demo-206P0000020
demo-206P00038160
demo-3P0000020
demo-167P0003348
demo-178P0003348
demo-163P0003348
demo-192P0003348
demo-113P00002139
demo-190P0003348
demo-195P0003348
demo-145P00002139
demo-63P00002139
demo-149P00002139
demo-175P00038160
demo-2184 products19 egos

19 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 19 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 19

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-84P0000090
demo-177P0000090
demo-47P0000090
demo-33P0000090
demo-9P0000090
demo-96P0000090
demo-171P0000090
demo-171P0002655
demo-23P0000090
demo-167P0003341
demo-167P00042111
demo-178P0003341
demo-163P0002655
demo-163P0003341
demo-163P00042111
demo-192P0003341
demo-190P0003341
demo-195P0003341
demo-195P00042111
demo-175P0002655
demo-216P0002655
demo-164P0002655
demo-210P00042111
demo-1639 products17 egos

17 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 17 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 17

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-9P00007153
demo-171P0002341
demo-171P0002662
demo-206P0002341
demo-167P00007153
demo-167P0002341
demo-167P0003355
demo-167P0004297
demo-178P0001427
demo-178P00017160
demo-178P0002341
demo-178P0003355
demo-192P00007153
demo-192P0001427
demo-192P0003355
demo-194P00017160
demo-190P00007153
demo-190P0003355
demo-180P00007153
demo-187P0002120
demo-187P0002341
demo-187P0003076
demo-195P0003355
demo-195P0004297
demo-175P0002662
demo-216P00017160
demo-216P0002662
demo-164P0002120
demo-164P0002662
demo-188P00017160
demo-188P0003076
demo-210P0004297
demo-186P0001427
demo-1723 products17 egos

17 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 17 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 17

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00000104
demo-84P00000104
demo-177P00000104
demo-47P00000104
demo-96P00000104
demo-171P00000104
demo-23P00000104
demo-167P0003348
demo-178P00000104
demo-178P00017146
demo-178P0003348
demo-163P00017146
demo-163P0003348
demo-192P0003348
demo-194P00000104
demo-194P00017146
demo-159P00000104
demo-190P0003348
demo-195P0003348
demo-216P00017146
demo-188P00017146
demo-1744 products17 egos

17 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 17 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 17

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-177P0000097
demo-47P0000097
demo-33P0000097
demo-9P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-171P0002662
demo-23P0000097
demo-178P00017139
demo-163P00017139
demo-163P0002113
demo-163P0002662
demo-194P00017139
demo-187P0002113
demo-175P0002662
demo-216P00017139
demo-216P0002662
demo-164P0002113
demo-164P0002662
demo-188P00017139
demo-1694 products16 egos

16 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 16 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 16

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-129P00000104
demo-84P0000090
demo-84P00000104
demo-177P0000090
demo-177P00000104
demo-177P00038160
demo-47P0000090
demo-47P00000104
demo-33P0000090
demo-9P0000090
demo-96P0000090
demo-96P00000104
demo-171P0000090
demo-171P00000104
demo-23P0000090
demo-23P00000104
demo-206P00038160
demo-3P00003174
demo-178P00000104
demo-163P0002113
demo-187P0002113
demo-175P00038160
demo-164P0002113
demo-1785 products16 egos

16 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 16 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 16

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-47P00000132
demo-171P00000132
demo-171P0002348
demo-23P00000132
demo-206P0002348
demo-167P0002348
demo-167P0003355
demo-163P0001420
demo-163P00017160
demo-163P0002348
demo-163P0003355
demo-192P0001420
demo-192P0003355
demo-194P00000132
demo-194P00017160
demo-74P00000132
demo-159P00000132
demo-190P0003355
demo-187P0002348
demo-195P0003355
demo-216P00017160
demo-188P00017160
demo-186P0001420
demo-1794 products16 egos

16 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 16 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 16

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000083
demo-84P0000083
demo-177P0000083
demo-47P0000083
demo-33P0000083
demo-9P0000083
demo-151P0000083
demo-96P0000083
demo-171P0000083
demo-167P0000255
demo-167P0004297
demo-163P0002127
demo-163P0004297
demo-187P0002127
demo-195P0004297
demo-164P0002127
demo-85P0000255
demo-210P0004297
demo-2003 products16 egos

16 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 16 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 16

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-47P00000132
demo-9P00007153
demo-96P00000132
demo-171P00000132
demo-171P0002355
demo-23P00000132
demo-206P0002355
demo-167P00007153
demo-167P0002355
demo-178P00000132
demo-178P0002355
demo-163P00007153
demo-163P0002355
demo-192P00007153
demo-194P00000132
demo-74P00000132
demo-159P00000132
demo-190P00007153
demo-180P00007153
demo-187P0002355
demo-423 products16 egos

16 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 16 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 16

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-18P00004111
demo-89P00004111
demo-129P00004111
demo-108P00004111
demo-84P0000027
demo-177P00002-1
demo-47P0000027
demo-112P0000027
demo-112P00002111
demo-94P0000027
demo-72P0000027
demo-206P0000027
demo-3P0000027
demo-145P00002111
demo-63P00002111
demo-149P00002111
demo-142P00002111
demo-822 products16 egos

16 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 16 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 16

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000083
demo-84P0000083
demo-177P0000083
demo-33P0000083
demo-9P0000083
demo-151P0000083
demo-96P0000083
demo-171P0000083
demo-158P0000134
demo-52P0000134
demo-11P0000134
demo-68P0000134
demo-45P0000134
demo-117P0000134
demo-46P0000134
demo-105P0000134
demo-1294 products15 egos

15 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 15 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 15

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-18P0000490
demo-89P0000490
demo-108P0000490
demo-42P0000490
demo-84P0000097
demo-177P0000097
demo-47P0000097
demo-33P0000097
demo-9P0000097
demo-151P0000583
demo-112P00004174
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-23P0000097
demo-117P00035167
demo-1713 products15 egos

15 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 15 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 15

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00000104
demo-84P00000104
demo-177P00000104
demo-47P00000104
demo-96P00000104
demo-23P00000104
demo-206P0002348
demo-167P0002348
demo-178P00000104
demo-178P0002348
demo-163P0002348
demo-163P0002655
demo-194P00000104
demo-187P0002348
demo-175P0002655
demo-216P0002655
demo-164P0002655
demo-1032 products14 egos

14 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 14 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 14

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-42P0000034
demo-42P00002125
demo-84P0000034
demo-47P0000034
demo-151P0000034
demo-112P0000034
demo-112P00002125
demo-94P0000034
demo-72P0000034
demo-206P0000034
demo-3P0000034
demo-113P00002125
demo-145P00002125
demo-63P00002125
demo-149P00002125
demo-142P0000276
demo-1655 products14 egos

14 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 14 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 14

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-94P00001167
demo-167P0003348
demo-178P0001427
demo-178P0003348
demo-163P0001427
demo-163P0002120
demo-163P0003069
demo-163P0003348
demo-192P0001427
demo-192P0003348
demo-190P0003348
demo-187P0002120
demo-187P0003069
demo-195P0003348
demo-164P0002120
demo-188P0003069
demo-99P00001167
demo-52P00001167
demo-107P00001167
demo-186P0001427
demo-1893 products14 egos

14 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 14 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 14

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-84P0000069
demo-177P00038160
demo-47P0000069
demo-33P0000069
demo-9P0000069
demo-151P0000069
demo-112P0000069
demo-171P0002362
demo-206P0002362
demo-206P00038160
demo-167P0002362
demo-178P0002362
demo-163P0002362
demo-187P0002362
demo-175P00038160
demo-1972 products14 egos

14 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 14 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 14

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-177P0000097
demo-47P0000097
demo-33P0000097
demo-9P0000097
demo-9P00007160
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-23P0000097
demo-167P00007160
demo-163P00007160
demo-192P00007160
demo-190P00007160
demo-180P00007160
demo-233 products14 egos

14 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 14 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 14

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00000118
demo-177P00000118
demo-47P00000118
demo-96P00000118
demo-171P00000118
demo-178P00000118
demo-194P00000118
demo-74P00000118
demo-159P00000118
demo-145P0000883
demo-88P00006125
demo-11P00006125
demo-68P00006125
demo-140P0000883
demo-242 products14 egos

14 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 14 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 14

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-177P0000097
demo-47P0000097
demo-33P0000097
demo-9P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-23P0000097
demo-68P0000113
demo-45P0000113
demo-117P0000113
demo-105P0000113
demo-157P0000113
demo-12 products13 egos

13 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 13 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 13

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00004160
demo-84P0000062
demo-47P0000062
demo-47P00000132
demo-33P0000062
demo-9P0000062
demo-151P0000062
demo-112P0000062
demo-112P00004160
demo-171P00000132
demo-23P00000132
demo-178P00000132
demo-194P00000132
demo-74P00000132
demo-159P00000132
demo-1392 products13 egos

13 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 13 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 13

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-47P00000153
demo-72P00000153
demo-3P00000153
demo-178P00000153
demo-194P00000153
demo-74P00000153
demo-159P00000153
demo-113P00000153
demo-158P00000153
demo-158P0000176
demo-149P0000176
demo-85P0000176
demo-131P0000176
demo-11P0000176
demo-1664 products13 egos

13 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 13 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 13

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-9P00007160
demo-171P0002655
demo-167P00007160
demo-167P0003355
demo-178P0001427
demo-178P0003355
demo-163P00007160
demo-163P0001427
demo-163P0002655
demo-163P0003355
demo-192P00007160
demo-192P0001427
demo-192P0003355
demo-190P00007160
demo-190P0003355
demo-180P00007160
demo-195P0003355
demo-175P0002655
demo-216P0002655
demo-164P0002655
demo-186P0001427
demo-1675 products13 egos

13 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 13 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 13

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-177P0000227
demo-9P00007160
demo-171P0002355
demo-206P0002355
demo-178P0002355
demo-178P0003348
demo-163P00007160
demo-163P0002355
demo-163P0003348
demo-163P00042104
demo-192P00007160
demo-192P0003348
demo-190P00007160
demo-190P0003348
demo-180P00007160
demo-187P0002355
demo-195P0003348
demo-195P00042104
demo-85P0000227
demo-210P00042104
demo-1773 products13 egos

13 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 13 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 13

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-42P0000220
demo-84P0000097
demo-47P0000097
demo-33P0000097
demo-9P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-23P0000097
demo-206P00038167
demo-167P0000220
demo-175P00038167
demo-85P0000220

Complete means product windows covered for captured five-star seed reviews. Seed histories may be truncated. Counts are public-trace evidence, not fraud probabilities.

PRODUCT-TIME STRUCTURE

Observed product bursts

ProductReviewsReviewersWindow spanCorroboration mass
P00000212028 days276
P00033171720 days238
P00000171728 days226
P00007161617 days208
P00017151521 days206
P00021131318 days185
P00026141414 days180
P00000141426 days161
P00023101021 days156
P000389913 days143
P00000131328 days138
P000428817 days121

Mass sums corroboration counts within an observed cluster. It is not a probability.

Search history

A history with no eligible ego can still be opened. 67 of the 100 opened histories produced eligible egos with complete product-window coverage in this generated example.

StepOpened historyNeighborsReviewers reached
1demo-1867
2demo-2517
3demo-8968
4demo-1294144
5demo-106044
6demo-108645
7demo-423369
8demo-844774
9demo-1774277
10demo-475891
11demo-333593
12demo-943101
13demo-15122101
14demo-1160101
15demo-11229102
16demo-9423107
17demo-7225107
18demo-530107
19demo-1370107
20demo-9631107
21demo-17146112
22demo-2338116
23demo-20626116
24demo-323118
25demo-570118
26demo-16737124
27demo-17847128
28demo-16347129
29demo-19229129
30demo-19431129
31demo-7419129
32demo-15919130
33demo-11323131
34demo-15821136
35demo-19026136
36demo-18017138
37demo-18720138
38demo-19518138
39demo-14514139
40demo-6314139
41demo-14921141
42demo-17520141
43demo-21623141
44demo-16421141
45demo-800141
46demo-1830141
47demo-18817141
48demo-2040141
49demo-1730141
50demo-690141
51demo-1470141
52demo-130141
53demo-8514141
54demo-13118142
55demo-8811142
56demo-550142
57demo-1440142
58demo-360142
59demo-11810144
60demo-9910144
61demo-736145
62demo-200145
63demo-5216147
64demo-1113147
65demo-6812148
66demo-4514149
67demo-210149
68demo-11712151
69demo-469151
70demo-2110151
71demo-10510151
72demo-1230151
73demo-1075151
74demo-2108151
75demo-1869152
76demo-1760152
77demo-15713155
78demo-50155
79demo-1560155
80demo-959155
81demo-769156
82demo-1219156
83demo-407156
84demo-900156
85demo-810157
86demo-1008158
87demo-442158
88demo-770158
89demo-750158
90demo-1428164
91demo-1100164
92demo-1402164
93demo-610164
94demo-810164
95demo-910164
96demo-1540164
97demo-432164
98demo-1110164
99demo-140164
100demo-1190164

Each example was computed with the paper’s existing Python implementation on generated records, using fixed random seed 42. Choosing settings opens the matching precomputed result. No real accounts are included. Explore the completed Amazon 2023 findings →