OSINT tools speed up probes into tax & benefit fraud

Blackdot Solutions has highlighted open-source intelligence as a growing tool for identifying tax and benefit fraud, as investigators increasingly use publicly available online data to verify claims about income and eligibility.

Investigators are finding that online activity can expose inconsistencies that do not appear in traditional checks. Examples include people declaring minimal income while social media posts suggest higher spending, or company registry records showing complex networks of businesses linked to a single address.

Open Data Trails

Open source intelligence (OSINT) uses publicly available information, such as social media posts, online marketplace listings, and corporate filings. Investigators compare this material with statements made in tax returns and benefit applications.

OSINT can provide a different type of evidence from financial records or interviews. It can also reveal patterns, such as online advertising for undeclared work or frequent high-value purchases shared on social platforms. Corporate records may show clusters of linked directors, repeated addresses and webs of entities that can warrant further examination.

As online data spreads across more platforms, investigations often require searching multiple sources, cross-referencing names and identifiers, and mapping connections between people and entities. Done manually, this can be time-consuming, especially when accounts include misspellings, aliases, and address changes over time.

Automation Claims

Specialist tools can reduce repetitive online searches by automating parts of data collection and cross-referencing. Blackdot cited reports from investigators claiming efficiency gains of up to 400% compared with manual approaches.

A fraud investigator at a government agency described how OSINT tools are used in day-to-day work.

"OSINT tools primarily ensure integrity, efficiency, and evidential reliability. They remove much of the manual burden associated with advanced search techniques - rather than manually running numerous queries or variations of names, tools can automate and streamline these processes, cycling through multiple parameters quickly and accurately. In short, OSINT tools increase speed, consistency, and evidential integrity throughout the online research process," said the investigator.

Investigators still need to assess relevance and context. Open data can be incomplete, outdated, or misleading, and teams must verify that the information relates to the correct person or organisation. This can involve corroborating dates, locations, images, usernames and associated contact details.

Videris Platform

Blackdot develops a product called Videris that aggregates data from multiple sources and maps connections between entities. The platform is designed to help investigators examine networks and identify links that may be missed when reviewing platforms individually.

According to Blackdot, investigators have used OSINT to identify undeclared online economic activity, potential networks of connected companies, and signs of a lifestyle that does not align with reported income or benefit eligibility. The company did not specify how the reported efficiency gains were measured or which teams produced the results.

Stuart Clarke, chief executive officer of Blackdot Solutions, said the scale of enforcement is changing: "The Government's commitment to tackling tax and benefit fraud is clear, but the scale of investigation required demands smarter tools. OSINT technology empowers investigators to connect dots across dozens of platforms in minutes rather than days. This isn't about replacing investigators' expertise and skills - it's about giving them the capability to work at the pace modern fraud demands."

Policy Context

Blackdot linked growing interest in OSINT to political and operational pressure to narrow the tax gap and reduce losses from fraudulent claims. It argued that modern fraud often leaves traces across open data sources outside standard reporting channels.

Greater focus on tax and benefit fraud has also raised questions about how teams handle online data, including collection and retention, and the standards required for evidence. OSINT practitioners often use documented workflows and clear audit trails, particularly when information is subject to challenge. Investigators also need to take care with identity resolution, given shared names and reused images across platforms.

Clarke said early detection can change the economics of enforcement. "Tax and benefit fraud doesn't just cost the Treasury. Every pound lost to fraudsters is a pound that could have been invested in public services," he said. "By identifying fraud patterns and networks early, investigators can disrupt operations before losses escalate, supporting a shift from reactive enforcement to proactive prevention."

Blackdot works with government agencies, law enforcement, financial institutions and large companies. Clarke said the company expects more investigative teams to adopt OSINT tools as online data continues to expand across social platforms, marketplaces and corporate registries.