As the UK Government prepares to set out its Spring Forecast next month, British tech firm Blackdot Solutions is positioning open source intelligence (OSINT) as a key tool in efforts to tackle tax and benefit fraud.
The company says investigators using its OSINT platform are reporting efficiency gains of up to 400 percent, as agencies look for new ways to address the UK’s tax gap and increase compliance.
OSINT refers to the structured collection and analysis of publicly available information. In the fraud context, this includes data drawn from social media profiles, online marketplaces, and corporate registries.
According to Blackdot, such data can reveal discrepancies between declared income and observable activity. Examples include individuals claiming minimal earnings while advertising services online, or company records showing networks of interconnected businesses registered to the same address.
“Open data is often where the first indicators of fraud appear,” said the company’s CEO, Stuart Clarke. “The challenge for government investigators isn’t whether the information exists – it’s how quickly and reliably they can identify and connect it.”
Investigators typically need to search across dozens of platforms, test multiple name variations, and cross-reference identifiers to build a coherent picture. Blackdot argues that manual methods are increasingly impractical given the scale and complexity of modern fraud.
The company’s platform, Videris, is designed to enable investigators to collect data from multiple public sources, map connections between individuals and entities, and maintain an audit trail of online research activity.
A fraud investigator at a government agency cited by Blackdot, said the technology has reduced the manual workload associated with advanced online searches.
If you liked this content…
Lack of data tools sees public sector failing to recoup fraud losses
Government not using data analytics effectively to tackle fraud
Government launches new Online Crime Centre to disrupt fraud networks
GDS publishes principles for securing data across government departments
From pay-and-chase to prevention-by-design: How government can tackle fraud
“Rather than manually running numerous queries or name variations, the tools can automate and streamline those processes. That improves speed and consistency, while maintaining evidential integrity.”
Blackdot says agencies using OSINT technology are identifying patterns including undeclared economic activity promoted online, lifestyle indicators inconsistent with benefit eligibility, and networks of companies linked through shared directors or addresses.
Spring Forecast
The focus on investigative technology comes as the Government prepares its Spring Forecast, expected to outline updated fiscal projections and revenue measures.
While official figures for the tax gap are published separately, ministers have previously committed to reducing fraud and error in the tax and welfare systems as part of broader revenue-raising efforts.
Clarke said the scale of the Government’s ambitions would require increased investigative capacity.
“The commitment to tackling fraud is clear,” he said. “But the volume of data and the complexity of online activity mean investigators need tools that allow them to operate at pace.”
Blackdot maintains that OSINT platforms are intended to support, not replace, investigators, with human oversight retained throughout the analytical process.
