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-47
appears in 16 distinct egos.

The search opened 50 reviewer histories and reached 153 reviewers. This reviewer has a corroboration count of 16.

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-47’s dateCount added
demo-129P000002019-04-112019-04-25+1 ego
demo-9P000002019-03-172019-02-24+1 ego
demo-160P000002019-04-012019-04-25+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 · ±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 opened50
Complete product windows39seed egos
Highest corroboration16distinct seed egos

COLLECTION PROGRESS

Each history adds context.

153 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-471 products16 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 16

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00000111
demo-9P0000048
demo-160P00000111
demo-151P0000048
demo-215P00000111
demo-96P00000111
demo-178P00000111
demo-178P00000153
demo-23P00000111
demo-112P0000048
demo-113P00000153
demo-103P0000048
demo-94P0000048
demo-139P00000153
demo-159P00000111
demo-159P00000153
demo-158P00000153
demo-146P00000153
demo-1619 products15 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 15

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000097
demo-129P00000104
demo-192P00007160
demo-192P0003362
demo-9P0000097
demo-9P00007160
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00000104
demo-160P00017153
demo-160P0002113
demo-160P0002355
demo-160P0002662
demo-160P0003076
demo-160P0003362
demo-160P00042104
demo-215P0000097
demo-215P00000104
demo-215P0002662
demo-96P0000097
demo-96P00000104
demo-167P00007160
demo-167P0002355
demo-167P0003362
demo-167P00042104
demo-178P00000104
demo-178P00017153
demo-178P0002355
demo-178P0003362
demo-23P0000097
demo-23P00000104
demo-180P00007160
demo-187P0002113
demo-187P0002355
demo-187P0003076
demo-164P0002113
demo-164P0002662
demo-188P00017153
demo-188P0003076
demo-175P0002662
demo-210P00042104
demo-1625 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-192P00007160
demo-9P0000097
demo-9P00007160
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00017146
demo-160P0002120
demo-160P00038160
demo-215P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-167P00007160
demo-178P00017146
demo-23P0000097
demo-180P00007160
demo-187P0002120
demo-164P0002120
demo-188P00017146
demo-175P00038160
demo-1609 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-192P0003362
demo-9P0000090
demo-151P0000090
demo-215P0000090
demo-215P0002655
demo-96P0000090
demo-167P0002341
demo-167P0003362
demo-167P00042111
demo-178P00017146
demo-178P0002341
demo-178P0003362
demo-187P0002113
demo-187P0002341
demo-187P0003055
demo-164P0002113
demo-164P0002655
demo-188P00017146
demo-188P0003055
demo-175P0002655
demo-175P00038160
demo-210P00042111
demo-1639 products13 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 13

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-192P00007153
demo-192P0001427
demo-192P0003355
demo-9P00007153
demo-160P00017160
demo-160P0002120
demo-160P0002341
demo-160P0002662
demo-160P0003076
demo-160P0003355
demo-160P0004297
demo-215P0002662
demo-167P00007153
demo-167P0002341
demo-167P0003355
demo-167P0004297
demo-178P0001427
demo-178P00017160
demo-178P0002341
demo-178P0003355
demo-180P00007153
demo-187P0002120
demo-187P0002341
demo-187P0003076
demo-164P0002120
demo-164P0002662
demo-188P00017160
demo-188P0003076
demo-175P0002662
demo-186P0001427
demo-210P0004297
demo-1812 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-9P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00038174
demo-215P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-178P00000153
demo-23P0000097
demo-175P00038174
demo-113P00000153
demo-139P00000153
demo-159P00000153
demo-158P00000153
demo-146P00000153
demo-1684 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-192P00007153
demo-192P0001427
demo-9P0000097
demo-9P00007153
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00017146
demo-215P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-167P00007153
demo-178P0001427
demo-178P00017146
demo-23P0000097
demo-180P00007153
demo-188P00017146
demo-186P0001427
demo-1794 products12 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000083
demo-9P0000083
demo-160P0000083
demo-160P0002127
demo-160P0004297
demo-151P0000083
demo-215P0000083
demo-96P0000083
demo-167P0000255
demo-167P0004297
demo-187P0002127
demo-164P0002127
demo-103P0000255
demo-85P0000255
demo-210P0004297
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-192P0003341
demo-9P0000090
demo-160P0000090
demo-160P0002655
demo-160P0003341
demo-160P00042111
demo-215P0000090
demo-215P0002655
demo-96P0000090
demo-167P0003341
demo-167P00042111
demo-178P0003341
demo-23P0000090
demo-164P0002655
demo-175P0002655
demo-210P00042111
demo-822 products12 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 12

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000083
demo-9P0000083
demo-160P0000083
demo-151P0000083
demo-215P0000083
demo-96P0000083
demo-11P0000134
demo-68P0000134
demo-158P0000134
demo-45P0000134
demo-117P0000134
demo-46P0000134
demo-1294 products11 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 11

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-18P0000490
demo-89P0000490
demo-108P0000490
demo-9P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-151P0000583
demo-215P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-23P0000097
demo-112P00004174
demo-117P00035167
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-9P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00017139
demo-160P0002113
demo-160P0002662
demo-215P0000097
demo-215P0002662
demo-96P0000097
demo-178P00017139
demo-23P0000097
demo-187P0002113
demo-164P0002113
demo-164P0002662
demo-188P00017139
demo-175P0002662
demo-2003 products11 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 11

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-192P00007153
demo-9P00007153
demo-160P0002355
demo-96P00000132
demo-167P00007153
demo-167P0002355
demo-178P00000132
demo-178P0002355
demo-23P00000132
demo-180P00007153
demo-187P0002355
demo-139P00000132
demo-159P00000132
demo-2014 products11 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 11

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-192P0003348
demo-160P0003348
demo-160P00038160
demo-167P0003348
demo-178P0003348
demo-175P00038160
demo-112P0000020
demo-112P00002139
demo-113P00002139
demo-103P0000020
demo-103P00002139
demo-94P0000020
demo-149P00002139
demo-12P0000020
demo-12 products10 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P00004160
demo-9P0000062
demo-160P0000062
demo-151P0000062
demo-215P0000062
demo-178P00000132
demo-23P00000132
demo-112P0000062
demo-112P00004160
demo-139P00000132
demo-159P00000132
demo-1655 products10 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-192P0001427
demo-192P0003348
demo-160P0002120
demo-160P0003069
demo-160P0003348
demo-167P0003348
demo-178P0001427
demo-178P0003348
demo-187P0002120
demo-187P0003069
demo-164P0002120
demo-188P0003069
demo-186P0001427
demo-94P00001167
demo-99P00001167
demo-1664 products10 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-192P00007160
demo-192P0001427
demo-192P0003355
demo-9P00007160
demo-160P0002655
demo-160P0003355
demo-215P0002655
demo-167P00007160
demo-167P0003355
demo-178P0001427
demo-178P0003355
demo-180P00007160
demo-164P0002655
demo-175P0002655
demo-186P0001427
demo-1693 products10 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-129P00000104
demo-9P0000090
demo-160P0000090
demo-160P00000104
demo-160P0002113
demo-160P00038160
demo-215P0000090
demo-215P00000104
demo-96P0000090
demo-96P00000104
demo-178P00000104
demo-23P0000090
demo-23P00000104
demo-187P0002113
demo-164P0002113
demo-175P00038160
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-160P00000104
demo-160P0002348
demo-160P0002655
demo-215P00000104
demo-215P0002655
demo-96P00000104
demo-167P0002348
demo-178P00000104
demo-178P0002348
demo-23P00000104
demo-187P0002348
demo-164P0002655
demo-175P0002655
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-192P0003348
demo-160P00000104
demo-160P00017146
demo-160P0003348
demo-215P00000104
demo-96P00000104
demo-167P0003348
demo-178P00000104
demo-178P00017146
demo-178P0003348
demo-23P00000104
demo-188P00017146
demo-159P00000104
demo-1843 products10 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-192P0003348
demo-160P0002120
demo-160P0003348
demo-167P0003348
demo-178P0003348
demo-187P0002120
demo-164P0002120
demo-149P00001125
demo-88P00001125
demo-12P00001125
demo-99P00001125
demo-2093 products10 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-192P00007153
demo-192P0001427
demo-9P00007153
demo-160P0002662
demo-215P0002662
demo-167P00007153
demo-178P0001427
demo-180P00007153
demo-164P0002662
demo-175P0002662
demo-186P0001427
demo-841 products10 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 10

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-129P0000090
demo-9P0000090
demo-160P0000090
demo-151P0000034
demo-215P0000090
demo-96P0000090
demo-112P0000034
demo-103P0000034
demo-94P0000034
demo-12P0000034
demo-1773 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-9P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-160P00038167
demo-215P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-167P0000220
demo-23P0000097
demo-175P00038167
demo-85P0000220
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-192P0001420
demo-192P0003355
demo-160P00017160
demo-160P0002348
demo-160P0003355
demo-167P0002348
demo-167P0003355
demo-23P00000132
demo-187P0002348
demo-188P00017160
demo-186P0001420
demo-139P00000132
demo-159P00000132
demo-1893 products9 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 9

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-9P0000069
demo-160P0000069
demo-160P0002362
demo-160P00038160
demo-151P0000069
demo-215P0000069
demo-167P0002362
demo-178P0002362
demo-187P0002362
demo-175P00038160
demo-112P0000069
demo-1972 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-192P00007160
demo-9P0000097
demo-9P00007160
demo-160P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-167P00007160
demo-23P0000097
demo-180P00007160
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-9P0000097
demo-160P0000097
demo-215P0000097
demo-96P0000097
demo-23P0000097
demo-68P0000113
demo-45P0000113
demo-117P0000113
demo-423 products9 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 9

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-18P00004111
demo-89P00004111
demo-129P00004111
demo-108P00004111
demo-112P0000027
demo-112P00002111
demo-103P0000027
demo-103P00002111
demo-94P0000027
demo-149P00002111
demo-12P0000027
demo-482 products9 egos

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

Observed count, including incomplete coverage: 9

Source seedProductWeek (day index)
demo-178P00000153
demo-113P00000153
demo-139P00000153
demo-139P0000162
demo-159P00000153
demo-11P0000162
demo-158P00000153
demo-158P0000162
demo-146P00000153
demo-45P0000162
demo-46P0000162

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 days182
P00033171720 days157
P00000171728 days151
P00007161617 days140
P00017151521 days129
P00021131318 days126
P00026141414 days121
P00000141426 days115
P00023101021 days101
P000389913 days90
P000428817 days80
P00000131328 days80

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. 39 of the 50 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-1922965
8demo-94370
9demo-1606483
10demo-1512288
11demo-202088
12demo-2154590
13demo-963190
14demo-1673794
15demo-17847102
16demo-2338107
17demo-18017109
18demo-18720109
19demo-16421109
20demo-1760109
21demo-18817109
22demo-17520109
23demo-2040109
24demo-1730109
25demo-11229119
26demo-60119
27demo-1869121
28demo-11323125
29demo-10332132
30demo-9423136
31demo-530136
32demo-1370136
33demo-14921141
34demo-13927142
35demo-8514142
36demo-15919143
37demo-8811143
38demo-1113145
39demo-6812148
40demo-15821148
41demo-14615150
42demo-1218150
43demo-570150
44demo-9910150
45demo-4514151
46demo-11712153
47demo-469153
48demo-2108153
49demo-1470153
50demo-130153

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 →