Data Scientist - Fraud & Survey Optimisation Location: Hybrid (2 days/week in London) Rate: £500-£550/day (Outside IR35) Length: 3-6 months Start: Within 2 weeks (max 4-week notice period) About the Role We're working with a leading research and insights business that is tackling fraudulent data submissions across large-scale survey platforms. As part of a dedicated Fraud and Optimisation team, they're looking to bring in a contract Data Scientist to build and automate models that enhance the integrity and quality of survey data delivered to clients. You'll be joining at a pivotal time, with the team focused on identifying response anomalies and developing scalable tools to filter out invalid data - ensuring higher-quality insights across their client base. Key Fraud Challenges You'll help detect and eliminate these common types of fraud: 1. Out-of-Country Fraud: Participants misreporting location to qualify for region-specific surveys. 1. Identity Simulation: Individuals creating multiple profiles to access more surveys. 1. Status Inflation: Users falsely qualifying for more surveys by over-claiming attributes. Your Contribution • Work with fraud analysts to understand patterns in historic and real-time data. • Build and automate anomaly detection models and a fraud scorecard to flag invalid responses. • Improve survey yield, efficiency, and data quality using statistical and machine learning techniques. • Attend whiteboarding and strategic sessions twice weekly (on-site in Reading or London). Required Experience • Previous experience working in data science or advanced analytics roles in fast-moving or ambiguous environments. • Strong understanding of fraud detection, classification modelling, and data optimisation. • Experience working with financial, survey, or behavioural data (e.g. trading data, yield models, customer profiling). Desired Skills and Experience