How Research Defender is Tackling the Latest Fraud Trends

Fraud tactics in market research are always changing, and at Rep Data, we’re committed to staying one step ahead. 

Earlier this year, we observed a concerning rise in fraud activity. Our Chief Technology Officer, Vignesh Krishnan, and the Rep Data Research Defender team found that fraudsters were combining different IP addresses and device types to "mix and match" their entry patterns, making it harder to detect fraudulent behavior. This new form of fraud, though sophisticated, became particularly noticeable because the perpetrators produced suspicious patterns in their survey responses. Although this behavior represents less than 0.5% of current traffic, these patterns were increasing and it was time to take action.

Combating New Types of Fraud

In order to tackle this specific new fraud pattern, we rolled out a crucial update to Research Defender. The new feature helps block these manipulative combinations by analyzing both the IP address and the device model in more dynamic ways. Research Defender blocks fraudsters attempting multiple entries in rapid succession—and now looks actively for those using slight variations in the IP address or device type. By blocking these attempts, we make it significantly harder for fraudsters to bypass the system. Our checks have become even more dynamic, enhancing our ability to detect and block the latest tactics fraudsters are using.

Why This Matters to You

Fraud prevention is an ongoing battle and we’re seeing that fraudsters are getting increasingly creative in their attempts to bypass our defenses. While this new type of fraud is just a small share of survey traffic, small problems can become major problems if left unaddressed.

This Research Defender update not only keeps fraudulent activity in check, but also ensures that you can continue to trust the quality of your insights. Because Research Defender processes a larger volume of activity than other fraud prevention tools (2.9 billion survey respondent scans in 2024 alone), the platform is uniquely positioned to detect fraud signals earlier—giving you the security you need to make data-driven decisions with confidence.

What’s Next?

This update is just one piece of the puzzle. Our team is continuously working on new ways to protect your data and strengthen survey security. We’re excited about these enhancements, and as always, we’ll keep innovating to ensure you can always trust the data you receive. If you’d like to learn more about how these changes improve fraud detection or want a deeper dive into our fraud prevention tools, feel free to reach out for a quick call or demo.