DB1K Research

Our Mission

Greater corporate transparency is essential to a fairer, more prosperous and sustainable society. We believe open access to public data is the foundation of accountability.

— Adapted from OpenCorporates Public Benefit Statement

DB1K Research is a technology-driven investigative research operation that detects fraud, waste, and abuse in government programs using exclusively public data sources. We support whistleblowers, regulatory agencies, and investigative journalists with data analysis, case documentation, and technical expertise.

All of our work is built on publicly available data. We do not access non-public systems, hack databases, or engage in any activity outside the terms of service of the data platforms we use.

Impact to Date

Figures based on detected anomalies in CMS Medicare data, DOL H-1B filings, and SBA PPP loan records across target states.

Fraud Vectors Under Investigation

1. H-1B Wage Suppression

Cross-referencing DOL OFLC wage data with USCIS H-1B petitions to identify employers systematically underpaying foreign workers relative to prevailing wages — in violation of H-1B program requirements. 22 active cases detected.

2. Medicare/Healthcare Billing Fraud

Analyzing CMS Medicare billing data against Open Payments records to detect upcoding patterns and kickback correlations where providers increased billing after receiving pharmaceutical payments. 69 provider-level anomaly patterns detected.

3. PPP Loan Fraud

Identifying shell companies and newly-formed entities that received suspicious PPP loans based on incorporation date, loan amount relative to business type, and correlation with H-1B filings. 48 high-risk entities identified.

4. Child Care Subsidy Fraud

State-level analysis of CCDF (Child Care Development Fund) program vulnerabilities, targeting states with weak oversight ratings and high estimated fraud rates including Minnesota, Kentucky, Ohio, and Maine.

Data Sources Used

All data sources below are publicly and freely available. We apply for at-scale access to improve coverage and reduce query latency for ongoing monitoring.

OpenCorporates — The world's largest open database of company data, used under the ODbL license. API access begins July 1, 2026.

Why We Need At-Scale Data Access

Our current methodology relies on bulk-downloadable datasets and individual API queries. At-scale access to corporate registry data (via OpenCorporates) and other aggregated databases would allow us to:

• Entity resolution across states: Connect LLC formations in Delaware to operational addresses in Texas to identify shell company networks that span jurisdictions.
• Director/officer network mapping: Identify common registered agents, directors, and beneficial owners across multiple suspicious entities.
• Real-time monitoring: Detect new entity formations by known shell incorporators as they happen rather than months after the fact.
• Reduced query latency: Current per-query rate limits make large-scale correlation analysis impractically slow.

Public Benefit Alignment

Our work directly supports the public benefit missions of open data platforms:

• Fraud deterrence: Publicly documenting fraud patterns discourages future abuse of government programs.
• Taxpayer protection: Every dollar recovered through False Claims Act actions returns funds to the Treasury.
• Regulatory accountability: Data-driven analysis identifies gaps in agency oversight that can be addressed through policy recommendations.
• Journalistic support: We provide data and analysis to investigative journalists covering government fraud and corporate accountability.