“Put it on a chart”

The key to effective fraud investigation is efficient organisation of data and information and the ability truly to analyse and understand the meaning hidden within it. In this article, Steve Cullis, analytical specialist at i2 Ltd, explores how you can get the most out of your inquiries by using investigative analysis software.

For further information about the i2 product range please contact: i2 Ltd, Breaks House, Mill Court, Great Shelford, Cambridge CB2 5LD; tel +44 (0)1223 728600; fax. +44 (0)1223 728601; email. sales@i2.co.uk.

Today’s computers offer the investigator impressive hardware on which to store the wealth of data and information generated during a fraud investigation. There is no doubt that they are invaluable tools, but (and it is a very big “but”) storing and indexing your material on hard disk is only half the battle. Gigabytes of inaccessible, unused data are as useless as tons of unread paper documents. Once you have captured the material you need to “get inside it”.