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 19 distinct egos.

The search opened 50 reviewer histories and reached 134 reviewers. This reviewer has a corroboration count of 19.

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-161’s dateCount added
demo-129P000002019-04-112019-04-10+1 ego
demo-179P000002019-03-302019-04-10+1 ego
demo-160P000002019-04-012019-04-10+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 50 histories · cap 3 · ±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 opened50
Complete product windows40seed egos
Highest corroboration19distinct seed egos

COLLECTION PROGRESS

Each history adds context.

134 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 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-129P00000104
demo-179P0000097
demo-179P0002113
demo-179P00042104
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00017153
demo-160P0002113
demo-160P0002355
demo-160P0002662
demo-160P0003362
demo-160P00042104
demo-84P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-96P00000104
demo-171P0000097
demo-171P00000104
demo-171P0002355
demo-171P0002662
demo-104P0000097
demo-104P00000104
demo-163P00007160
demo-163P00017153
demo-163P0002113
demo-163P0002355
demo-163P0002662
demo-163P0003076
demo-163P0003362
demo-163P00042104
demo-207P0002113
demo-16P0000097
demo-9P00007160
demo-210P00042104
demo-206P0002355
demo-216P00017153
demo-216P0002662
demo-192P00007160
demo-192P0003362
demo-188P0003076
demo-189P0002355
demo-101P00000104
demo-180P00007160
demo-1625 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-179P0000097
demo-179P0002120
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00017146
demo-160P0002120
demo-160P00038160
demo-84P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-104P0000097
demo-163P00007160
demo-163P00017146
demo-163P0002120
demo-207P0002120
demo-16P0000097
demo-9P00007160
demo-206P00038160
demo-216P00017146
demo-192P00007160
demo-188P00017146
demo-189P00038160
demo-180P00007160
demo-1608 products14 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 14

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-179P0000090
demo-179P0002113
demo-84P0000090
demo-96P0000090
demo-171P0002341
demo-171P0002655
demo-163P00017146
demo-163P0002113
demo-163P0002341
demo-163P0002655
demo-163P0003362
demo-207P0002113
demo-207P0003362
demo-16P0000090
demo-210P00042111
demo-206P0002341
demo-206P00038160
demo-216P00017146
demo-216P0002655
demo-192P0003362
demo-188P00017146
demo-189P00038160
demo-1685 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-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00017146
demo-84P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-104P0000097
demo-163P00007153
demo-163P0001427
demo-16P0000097
demo-216P00017146
demo-192P00007153
demo-192P0001427
demo-188P00017146
demo-180P00007153
demo-131P00005174
demo-1693 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-129P00000104
demo-179P0000090
demo-160P0000090
demo-160P0002113
demo-160P00038160
demo-84P0000090
demo-96P0000090
demo-96P00000104
demo-171P0000090
demo-171P00000104
demo-104P00000104
demo-163P0002113
demo-207P0002113
demo-16P0000090
demo-206P00038160
demo-189P00038160
demo-101P00000104
demo-1293 products12 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-18P0000490
demo-89P0000490
demo-108P0000490
demo-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-104P0000097
demo-1P00004174
demo-112P00004174
demo-117P00035167
demo-1723 products12 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00000104
demo-160P00017146
demo-160P0003348
demo-96P00000104
demo-171P00000104
demo-104P00000104
demo-163P0003348
demo-207P0003348
demo-216P00017146
demo-192P0003348
demo-188P00017146
demo-101P00000104
demo-23P00000104
demo-2014 products12 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-160P0003348
demo-160P00038160
demo-163P0003348
demo-207P0003348
demo-206P00038160
demo-192P0003348
demo-189P00038160
demo-112P00002139
demo-42P0000020
demo-94P0000020
demo-12P0000020
demo-149P00002139
demo-35P00002139
demo-2184 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-96P0000090
demo-171P0000090
demo-171P0002655
demo-163P0002655
demo-163P0003341
demo-163P00042111
demo-207P0003341
demo-16P0000090
demo-210P00042111
demo-216P0002655
demo-192P0003341
demo-1151 products11 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 11

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-104P0000097
demo-9P0000062
demo-189P0000062
demo-1P0000062
demo-151P0000062
demo-1639 products11 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 11

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-179P0002120
demo-179P0004297
demo-160P00017160
demo-160P0002120
demo-160P0002341
demo-160P0002662
demo-160P0003355
demo-171P0002341
demo-171P0002662
demo-207P0002120
demo-207P0003355
demo-9P00007153
demo-210P0004297
demo-206P0002341
demo-216P00017160
demo-216P0002662
demo-192P00007153
demo-192P0001427
demo-192P0003355
demo-188P0003076
demo-180P00007153
demo-1675 products11 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 11

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-179P00042104
demo-160P0003348
demo-160P00042104
demo-171P0002355
demo-163P00007160
demo-163P0002355
demo-163P0003348
demo-163P00042104
demo-207P0003348
demo-9P00007160
demo-210P00042104
demo-192P00007160
demo-192P0003348
demo-189P0002355
demo-180P00007160
demo-85P0000227
demo-1744 products11 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 11

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-179P0000097
demo-179P0002113
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00017139
demo-160P0002113
demo-160P0002662
demo-84P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-171P0002662
demo-104P0000097
demo-163P0002113
demo-163P0002662
demo-207P0002113
demo-216P00017139
demo-216P0002662
demo-188P00017139
demo-1972 products11 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 11

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-104P0000097
demo-163P00007160
demo-9P00007160
demo-192P00007160
demo-180P00007160
demo-1773 products10 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00038167
demo-84P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-104P0000097
demo-206P00038167
demo-189P00038167
demo-85P0000220
demo-1812 products10 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00038174
demo-84P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-104P0000097
demo-16P0000097
demo-206P00038174
demo-189P00038174
demo-2003 products10 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-160P0002355
demo-171P0002355
demo-163P00007153
demo-163P0002355
demo-206P0002355
demo-192P00007153
demo-189P0002355
demo-1P00000132
demo-101P00000132
demo-23P00000132
demo-180P00007153
demo-471 products10 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00000111
demo-84P0000048
demo-96P00000111
demo-171P00000111
demo-104P00000111
demo-1P0000048
demo-112P0000048
demo-101P00000111
demo-23P00000111
demo-151P0000048
demo-1123 products9 egos

9 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 9 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 9

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00004160
demo-84P0000041
demo-1P00004160
demo-42P0000041
demo-94P0000041
demo-65P00002125
demo-65P00002132
demo-145P00002125
demo-149P00002125
demo-149P00002132
demo-35P00002125
demo-35P00002132
demo-1785 products9 egos

9 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 9 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 9

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-160P00017160
demo-160P0002348
demo-160P0003355
demo-171P0002348
demo-163P0001420
demo-163P00017160
demo-163P0002348
demo-163P0003355
demo-207P0003355
demo-206P0002348
demo-216P00017160
demo-192P0001420
demo-192P0003355
demo-1P00000132
demo-23P00000132
demo-2152 products9 egos

9 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 9 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 9

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-179P0000090
demo-160P0000090
demo-160P0002648
demo-84P0000090
demo-96P0000090
demo-171P0000090
demo-171P0002648
demo-163P0002648
demo-16P0000090
demo-216P0002648
demo-242 products9 egos

9 distinct product-window-complete seed egos; 9 observed seed egos.

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 9

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-104P0000097
demo-16P0000097
demo-117P0000113
demo-1032 products8 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 8

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-84P0000034
demo-112P0000034
demo-112P00002125
demo-42P0000034
demo-94P0000034
demo-65P00002125
demo-145P00002125
demo-149P00002125
demo-35P00002125
demo-1492 products8 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 8

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-112P00002125
demo-65P00002125
demo-145P00002125
demo-35P00002125
demo-88P0000197
demo-131P0000197
demo-118P0000197
demo-85P0000197
demo-1501 products8 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 8

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-179P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-84P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-171P0000097
demo-104P0000097
demo-16P0000097
demo-1664 products8 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 8

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-160P0002655
demo-160P0003355
demo-171P0002655
demo-163P00007160
demo-163P0001427
demo-163P0002655
demo-163P0003355
demo-207P0003355
demo-9P00007160
demo-216P0002655
demo-192P00007160
demo-192P0001427
demo-192P0003355
demo-180P00007160
demo-1713 products8 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 8

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00000104
demo-160P0002348
demo-160P0002655
demo-96P00000104
demo-104P00000104
demo-163P0002348
demo-163P0002655
demo-206P0002348
demo-216P0002655
demo-101P00000104
demo-1793 products8 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 8

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000083
demo-160P0000083
demo-160P0002127
demo-84P0000083
demo-163P0002127
demo-163P0004297
demo-207P0002127
demo-16P0000083
demo-9P0000083
demo-210P0004297
demo-1843 products8 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 8

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-179P0002120
demo-160P0002120
demo-160P0003348
demo-163P0002120
demo-163P0003348
demo-207P0002120
demo-207P0003348
demo-192P0003348
demo-12P00001125
demo-88P00001125
demo-118P00001125
demo-1873 products8 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 8

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-179P0002127
demo-160P0002127
demo-160P0002355
demo-171P0002355
demo-163P0002127
demo-163P0002355
demo-163P0003069
demo-207P0002127
demo-206P0002355
demo-188P0003069
demo-189P0002355

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 days164
P00000141414 days142
P00007151511 days132
P00026141414 days122
P00021111114 days116
P00033131314 days111
P000389913 days94
P0001710109 days91
P000238814 days86
P000277711 days70
P000427713 days70
P00002111014 days62

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. 40 of the 50 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-962572
11demo-1713672
12demo-1042174
13demo-1634479
14demo-176079
15demo-2072179
16demo-161981
17demo-92385
18demo-210885
19demo-2062191
20demo-2162391
21demo-1922692
22demo-1881492
23demo-204092
24demo-173092
25demo-1892192
26demo-12399
27demo-11218107
28demo-10110107
29demo-2310108
30demo-18016109
31demo-60109
32demo-15111109
33demo-170109
34demo-4211111
35demo-9411114
36demo-6516114
37demo-1212115
38demo-312119
39demo-1458120
40demo-14916123
41demo-3512125
42demo-1200125
43demo-1370125
44demo-886125
45demo-13110126
46demo-360126
47demo-1186127
48demo-1560127
49demo-856128
50demo-1179134

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 →