Data mining helps unscramble complexities of fraud

Investigating fraud depends on data – but, in a digital business, the useful data for an investigation will almost certainly be submerged in a vast pool of irrelevant material. Companies need the skills and tools to handle huge quantities of unstructured data in order to keep one step ahead of the criminal threat

Almost certainly, a modern bank already possesses most or all of the clues it needs to uncover continuing fraud – the challenge is finding them. Matthew Rees, an assistant director in Ernst & Young's fraud investigation and dispute services department, says the place to start is in the business process itself.

"If you are undertaking a fraud investigation, you need first to understand how the