Match data against similar data points
Summary
Automatically match data with another internal or external source to obtain or verify relevant details or supporting evidence. This countermeasure is supported by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner's Guidelines on data matching in Australian government administration.
Why this countermeasure matters
Not matching data with similar data points may lead to:
- an inability to obtain or verify information
- false information being used to support a request or claim
- changes or information not being disclosed that would affect entitlements
- changes in circumstances being missed.
How to put this countermeasure in place
Some ways to implement this countermeasure include:
- automatically comparing claim or recipient data by comparing new data with a corresponding data file
- automatically populating claim data by using a data link
- matching program participants by sharing data files between entities
- automatically matching employment details with Tax File Number declarations held by the Australian Taxation Office
- automatically verifying recipient income through Single Touch Payroll
- a plagiarism check using a specified process and/or tool.
How to measure this countermeasure's effectiveness
Measure the effectiveness of this countermeasure by using the following methods:
- Consult subject matter experts about the data matching process.
- Review controls and policies to see if they conform to national guidelines and frameworks.
- Review reports to determine the accuracy of the data match, such as the percentage of successful matches.
- Evaluate the reliability of the data match, such as checking whether the data is consistent and trustworthy.
- Evaluate the usefulness of the data match for preventing fraud.
- Review any data quality issues and find out if these affect the usefulness of the data match for preventing fraud.
- Review a sample of completed requests/claims to confirm the data matching is working correctly.
- Review the original source of the data and see if it’s an impartial, reliable or trustworthy source.
- Review system specifications to confirm the data match is working as designed.
- Undertake testing or a process walk-through to confirm that data matching occurs and is used to support decision-making.
- Confirm data matching is always on/available.
- Confirm that someone cannot bypass data matching even when subject to pressure or coercion.
Related countermeasures
This type of countermeasure is supported by:
Collaborate with strategic partners such as other government entities, committees, working groups and taskforces. This allows you to share capability, information and intelligence and to prevent and disrupt fraud.
Legislation and policy can help prevent, detect and respond to fraud, such as by outlining clear rules, regulations and criteria, allowing entities to collect, use and disclose information and allowing entities to enforce penalties and recover fraud losses.
Develop clear instructions and guidance for activities and processes, such as instructions for collecting the right information to verify eligibility or entitlements, procedures to help staff apply consistent and correct processes and guidance to help staff make correct and ethical decisions.
Provide staff with adequate training to increase likelihood that correct and consistent processes and decisions will be applied.
Make sure requests or claims use a specific form, process or system for consistency.
Have clear and specific eligibility requirements and only approve requests or claims that meet the criteria. This can include internal requests for staff access to systems or information.
Make sure forms or system controls require mandatory information to support claims or requests.
Set up system prompts and alerts to warn users when information is inconsistent or irregular, which either requires acceptance or denies further actions.
Escalate non-standard requests or claims for further review or scrutiny. Non-standard requests or claims might include those that are late, do not meet normal conditions, include evidence that is difficult to verify (such as from overseas) or are for amounts that are higher than normal.
Have processes in place to prevent, identify and correct duplicate records, identities, requests or claims.
Put protections in place to prevent data from being manipulated or misused.
Conduct system testing to identify vulnerabilities prior to release. Untested systems can allow vulnerabilities to be released into production environments.
Coordinate disruption activities across multiple programs or entities to strengthen processes and identify serious and organised criminals targeting multiple programs. It can also include referrals to law enforcement agencies for those groups that reach the threshold for complex criminal investigations.
Related Fraudster Personas
This countermeasure helps prevent, detect or respond to the following Fraudster Personas:
