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-129
appears in 15 distinct egos.

The search opened 20 reviewer histories and reached 93 reviewers. This reviewer has a corroboration count of 15.

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 ±14-day window.

Examples supporting the selected reviewer’s computed corroboration count
Opened reviewerShared productOpened reviewer’s datedemo-129’s dateCount added
demo-18P000042019-04-072019-04-03+1 ego
demo-89P000042019-03-272019-04-03+1 ego
demo-108P000042019-04-062019-04-03+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 20 histories · cap 10 · ±14 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 opened20
Complete product windows17seed egos
Highest corroboration15distinct seed egos

COLLECTION PROGRESS

Each history adds context.

93 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-1292 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-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-218P0000097
demo-169P0000097
demo-168P0000097
demo-181P0000097
demo-24P0000097
demo-150P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-1151 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-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-218P0000097
demo-169P0000097
demo-168P0000097
demo-181P0000097
demo-24P0000097
demo-150P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-1161 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-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-218P0000097
demo-169P0000097
demo-168P0000097
demo-181P0000097
demo-24P0000097
demo-150P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-1261 products13 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 13

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-179P0000090
demo-160P0000090
demo-84P0000090
demo-215P0000090
demo-218P0000090
demo-169P0000090
demo-168P0000090
demo-181P0000090
demo-24P0000090
demo-150P0000090
demo-96P0000090
demo-171P0000090
demo-1619 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-129P00000104
demo-179P0000097
demo-179P0002113
demo-179P00042104
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00017153
demo-160P0002113
demo-160P0002355
demo-160P0002662
demo-160P0003362
demo-160P00042104
demo-84P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-215P00000104
demo-215P0002662
demo-218P0000097
demo-218P00000104
demo-218P0002662
demo-218P00042104
demo-169P0000097
demo-169P00000104
demo-169P0002113
demo-169P00027125
demo-168P0000097
demo-168P00000104
demo-168P00007160
demo-168P00017153
demo-181P0000097
demo-181P00000104
demo-24P0000097
demo-24P00000104
demo-150P0000097
demo-150P00000104
demo-96P0000097
demo-96P00000104
demo-171P0000097
demo-171P00000104
demo-171P0002355
demo-171P0002662
demo-1626 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-179P0000097
demo-179P0002120
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00017146
demo-160P0002120
demo-160P00038160
demo-84P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-218P0000097
demo-169P0000097
demo-169P0002120
demo-169P00027132
demo-169P00038160
demo-168P0000097
demo-168P00007160
demo-168P00017146
demo-181P0000097
demo-181P00038160
demo-24P0000097
demo-150P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-1744 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-179P0000097
demo-179P0002113
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00017139
demo-160P0002113
demo-160P0002662
demo-84P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-215P0002662
demo-218P0000097
demo-218P0002662
demo-169P0000097
demo-169P0002113
demo-168P0000097
demo-168P00017139
demo-181P0000097
demo-24P0000097
demo-150P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-171P0002662
demo-1772 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-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00038167
demo-84P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-218P0000097
demo-169P0000097
demo-169P00038167
demo-168P0000097
demo-181P0000097
demo-181P00038167
demo-24P0000097
demo-150P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-1972 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-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-218P0000097
demo-169P0000097
demo-168P0000097
demo-168P00007160
demo-181P0000097
demo-24P0000097
demo-150P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-1982 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-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-218P0000097
demo-169P0000097
demo-169P00027132
demo-168P0000097
demo-181P0000097
demo-24P0000097
demo-150P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-1501 products12 egos

12 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 12 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-218P0000097
demo-169P0000097
demo-168P0000097
demo-181P0000097
demo-24P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-1607 products12 egos

12 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 12 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-179P0000090
demo-179P0002113
demo-84P0000090
demo-215P0000090
demo-215P0002655
demo-218P0000090
demo-218P0002655
demo-218P00042111
demo-169P0000090
demo-169P0002113
demo-169P00038160
demo-168P0000090
demo-168P00017146
demo-181P0000090
demo-181P00038160
demo-24P0000090
demo-150P0000090
demo-96P0000090
demo-171P0002341
demo-171P0002655
demo-1682 products12 egos

12 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 12 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00017146
demo-84P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-218P0000097
demo-169P0000097
demo-181P0000097
demo-24P0000097
demo-150P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-1693 products12 egos

12 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 12 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-129P00000104
demo-179P0000090
demo-160P0000090
demo-160P0002113
demo-160P00038160
demo-84P0000090
demo-215P0000090
demo-215P00000104
demo-218P0000090
demo-218P00000104
demo-168P0000090
demo-168P00000104
demo-181P0000090
demo-181P00000104
demo-181P00038160
demo-24P0000090
demo-24P00000104
demo-150P0000090
demo-150P00000104
demo-96P0000090
demo-96P00000104
demo-171P0000090
demo-171P00000104
demo-1812 products12 egos

12 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 12 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00038174
demo-84P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-218P0000097
demo-169P0000097
demo-169P00038174
demo-168P0000097
demo-24P0000097
demo-150P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-2021 products12 egos

12 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 12 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-179P0000090
demo-160P0000090
demo-84P0000090
demo-215P0000090
demo-218P0000090
demo-169P0000090
demo-168P0000090
demo-181P0000090
demo-24P0000090
demo-150P0000090
demo-96P0000090
demo-2152 products12 egos

12 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 12 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-179P0000090
demo-160P0000090
demo-160P0002648
demo-84P0000090
demo-218P0000090
demo-218P0002648
demo-169P0000090
demo-168P0000090
demo-181P0000090
demo-24P0000090
demo-150P0000090
demo-96P0000090
demo-171P0000090
demo-171P0002648
demo-2183 products12 egos

12 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 12 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-179P0000090
demo-179P00042111
demo-160P0000090
demo-160P0002655
demo-160P00042111
demo-84P0000090
demo-215P0000090
demo-215P0002655
demo-169P0000090
demo-168P0000090
demo-181P0000090
demo-24P0000090
demo-150P0000090
demo-96P0000090
demo-171P0000090
demo-171P0002655
demo-241 products12 egos

12 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 12 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-218P0000097
demo-169P0000097
demo-168P0000097
demo-181P0000097
demo-150P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-841 products11 egos

11 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 11 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 11

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-179P0000090
demo-160P0000090
demo-215P0000090
demo-218P0000090
demo-169P0000090
demo-168P0000090
demo-181P0000090
demo-24P0000090
demo-150P0000090
demo-96P0000090
demo-961 products11 egos

11 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 11 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 11

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00000104
demo-160P00000104
demo-84P00000104
demo-215P00000104
demo-218P00000104
demo-169P00000104
demo-168P00000104
demo-181P00000104
demo-24P00000104
demo-150P00000104
demo-171P00000104
demo-161 products10 egos

10 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 10 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-179P0000083
demo-160P0000083
demo-84P0000083
demo-215P0000083
demo-218P0000083
demo-169P0000083
demo-168P0000083
demo-181P0000083
demo-24P0000083
demo-150P0000083
demo-1713 products10 egos

10 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 10 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00000104
demo-160P0002348
demo-160P0002655
demo-215P00000104
demo-215P0002655
demo-218P00000104
demo-218P0002655
demo-169P00000104
demo-168P00000104
demo-181P00000104
demo-24P00000104
demo-150P00000104
demo-96P00000104
demo-1723 products10 egos

10 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 10 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00000104
demo-160P00017146
demo-160P0003348
demo-218P00000104
demo-218P0003348
demo-169P00000104
demo-168P00000104
demo-168P00017146
demo-181P00000104
demo-24P00000104
demo-150P00000104
demo-96P00000104
demo-171P00000104
demo-1793 products10 egos

10 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 10 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000083
demo-160P0000083
demo-160P0002127
demo-84P0000083
demo-215P0000083
demo-218P0000083
demo-218P0004297
demo-169P0000083
demo-168P0000083
demo-181P0000083
demo-24P0000083
demo-150P0000083
demo-821 products10 egos

10 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 10 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-179P0000083
demo-160P0000083
demo-84P0000083
demo-215P0000083
demo-218P0000083
demo-169P0000083
demo-168P0000083
demo-181P0000083
demo-24P0000083
demo-150P0000083
demo-1041 products8 egos

8 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 8 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 8

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00000111
demo-169P00000111
demo-168P00000111
demo-181P00000111
demo-24P00000111
demo-150P00000111
demo-96P00000111
demo-171P00000111
demo-1638 products7 egos

7 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 7 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 7

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-179P0002120
demo-179P0004297
demo-160P00017160
demo-160P0002120
demo-160P0002341
demo-160P0002662
demo-160P0003355
demo-215P0002662
demo-218P0002662
demo-218P0003355
demo-218P0004297
demo-169P0002120
demo-168P00007153
demo-168P0001427
demo-171P0002341
demo-171P0002662
demo-1752 products6 egos

6 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 6 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 6

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-160P0002662
demo-160P00038167
demo-215P0002662
demo-218P0002662
demo-169P00038167
demo-181P00038167
demo-171P0002662
demo-471 products6 egos

6 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 6 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 6

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00000111
demo-84P0000048
demo-169P00000111
demo-181P00000153
demo-96P00000111
demo-171P00000111

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
P00000161614 days188
P00000141414 days163
P00026141414 days113
P00021111114 days90
P00007151511 days88
P000389913 days79
P0001710109 days74
P00033131314 days69
P000238814 days58
P000277711 days58
P000427713 days53
P00014555 days34

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. 17 of the 20 opened histories produced eligible egos with complete product-window coverage in this generated example.

StepOpened historyNeighborsReviewers reached
1demo-1856
2demo-2516
3demo-8946
4demo-1293234
5demo-106034
6demo-108535
7demo-1793348
8demo-1605467
9demo-842971
10demo-202071
11demo-2153473
12demo-126073
13demo-2184373
14demo-1694378
15demo-1684782
16demo-1813990
17demo-243193
18demo-1502693
19demo-962593
20demo-1713693

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 →