Multi-Wave Tracker Recovery from Fraudulent Panels

How DataDiggers Leveraged Correlix to Clean and Re-Score Previously Corrupted Survey Waves

The Challenge: A Trusted Tracker Gone Rogue

A global FMCG client approached DataDiggers after discovering inconsistencies and performance drops in their long-running brand health tracker. Over several consecutive waves, the client noticed unusual respondent behavior—sharp shifts in brand favorability metrics, erratic open-end feedback, and unusually short completion times. Despite working with an external panel vendor, the data had become unreliable.

Further diagnostics revealed that multiple waves had been populated by fraudulent or poor-quality respondents, including bots, duplicate entries, and panelists with inconsistent profiling. These issues rendered nearly 40% of the last three waves unusable, threatening the continuity of an 18-month brand tracking effort and risking significant strategic missteps if left unaddressed.

The Solution: Correlix to the Rescue

To prevent the loss of both time and money, DataDiggers recommended an immediate data recovery and quality recalibration process using Correlix — its in-house, ML-powered synthetic data solution for bias correction, augmentation, and simulation.

Correlix applied a three-tiered approach:

1. Anomaly Detection: Statistical patterns were analyzed to identify fraudulent responses based on speed, repetition, incoherence, and digital fingerprint mismatches.
2. Synthetic Data Generation: Correlix filled the data gaps with high-integrity synthetic records generated through machine learning models trained on prior clean tracker waves. These models preserved core population traits and behavioral consistency without introducing artificial skew.
3. Re-Scoring and Calibration: Once corrupted respondents were removed, Correlix re-weighted and re-scored each wave to align with historical baselines, correcting biases introduced by previously undetected fraud.

The Outcome: Integrity Restored, Confidence Reclaimed

• Recovery Rate: Over 93% of insights from the past three tracker waves were restored to statistical usability.
• Cost Avoidance: Instead of re-fielding three waves across eight markets, the client saved an estimated €120,000 in operational expenses.
• Data Continuity: Thanks to Correlix, the client maintained trendline integrity across a now-clean 18-month timeline — ensuring reliable data-driven decision-making without interruption.
• Panel Transition: DataDiggers seamlessly onboarded the client into its MyVoice proprietary panel ecosystem, supported by 70+ profiling variables and best-in-class fraud prevention tools including IPQS, reCAPTCHA, GeoIP, and Research Defender integration via Brainactive.

Why It Matters: Data Integrity is Non-Negotiable

In an era of increasing fraud sophistication, traditional panel checks are no longer enough. What set this recovery apart was the ability to diagnose, clean, and reconstruct data scientifically — without compromising accuracy or introducing bias. Correlix not only salvaged the tracker but elevated the client’s future research setup with enhanced protection and transparency.

About Correlix

Correlix is part of DataDiggers’ suite of advanced research technologies. It uses statistical and machine learning models to deliver high-integrity synthetic data for bias correction, augmentation, and simulation at scale. Whether you're correcting skewed datasets, replacing missing values, or forecasting underrepresented behaviors, Correlix ensures that your insights reflect real-world patterns — without compromising privacy or quality.

Learn more about Correlix!

About DataDiggers

Founded in 2015, DataDiggers is a global, technology-driven market research agency offering fast, reliable, and high-quality insights through proprietary panels, AI-powered tools, and an advanced DIY platform, Brainactive. Our solutions — including Syntheo, Modeliq, and Correlix — serve clients looking to enhance research speed, scale, and data trustworthiness. We’re ISO 20252:2019 certified, GDPR-compliant, and proud members of ESOMAR.

🌍 Operating in 65+ countries with 2 million+ proprietary panelists and access to 50 million+ verified global respondents.