ReducING False Positives & Increasing the Accuracy of Found Hits in DPS/rps


When you use a software to screen your trade partners it is quite natural to see positive hits that are listed but not much related to the company or person you are screening. On the other hand, it is also possible that true positive results sometimes may not be shown to the user. A critical task that exporters face daily is reducing false positive matches in denied party screening.

In order to reduce false hits and increase the chance of true and correct matches there are a few adjustments that can be done. If the screening software that you use allows you to do search adjustments, then they should be used appropriately.

Let’s focus for a moment on ways of increasing the chance of finding correct matches. You can start by tuning your search criteria. In some cases, screening software will support phonetic and/or fuzzy logic screening in addition to exact name and address match. Phonetic, or in other words “sound similar’ search will generally use algorithms such as Soundex, Metaphone or Double Metaphone.

Phonetic search feature works by computing code words for each searched word and then compare these code words with the existing code words of the denied entities. Phonetic algorithms are especially useful to find and detect the variations between the names when they are written in different alphabet. For instance, when the name of “viktor” is translated from Cyrillic alphabet into latin alphabet it could be spelled as v-i-k-t-o-r in comparison with the English version of the same name which would be spelled as v-i-c-t-o-r.

Fuzzy search function, on the other hand, would employ certain algorithms where number of different characters in the searched names and the matching names are computed. So, typically accidentally mistyped names can be caught when using the fuzzy search algorithms. 

You can also consider searching the entity name and address separately to increase the chance of finding a true match.

Reducing the rate of false positive hits when you are using software to screen trade partners is important. Some of the actions that you can take to reduce the number of false positive hits include the following:

 

Adjusting Search Sensitivity: 

Some software providers offer a slider bar on the search screen where you can actually select a match rate somewhere between 50% and 100% match. Slider bars generally adjust the sensitivity of the used phonetic and fuzzy logic algorithm. So, if the software you are using provides this feature you might try selecting a higher rate than 50%. Increasing the match rate all the way up to 100% would certainly decrease the rate of the false positive hits. However, the flip side of it, this can also cause missing some of potentially correct matches, especially when the searched name has different variations and if you searched and know only one variation of those.

 

Excluding common words:

 Common words generally occur in the name or title of the entity/individual, such as (group, corporation, technology, bank, community, INC, incorporated, hospital, international, LLC, Ltd). If your try adding these words to excluded word tables, they would be automatically removed from all screened entities going forward. Possibility of false results can be greatly reduced by excluding these words. Similar to adjustment of search sensitivity, there is a disadvantage of excluding common word as well. For example, in countries like China, it is quite common to see sanctioned entity names containing such common names. So, exclusion of those words would also mean your search can miss finding some of the sanctioned entities. We suggest caution when selecting excluded words.

 

Readjustment of what exact lists need to be used:

It is highly recommended that a risk analysis should be done to determine which lists are needed to be used. Type of the business transactions and geographical factors would impose consideration of several other lists. For example, organizations exporting to or doing business in another country should also include that country’s government issued watch lists as well.

Companies that are involved in specific business activities should also use the lists that are issued by the agency regulating those transactions. For instance,

  • General Services Administration (GSA) Excluded Parties List would be added to screening lists if you are involved with the U.S. Government procurement and contracts.
  • FBI and Interpol wanted lists if your business involves the law enforcement or background search.
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) banned and prohibited practitioners list if you are in medical, pharmaceutical and other healthcare related sectors.
  • World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank lists if you operate in financial sector.



Download White Paper – Best Practices in Denied Party Screening


HOW CAN WE HELP YOU 

Hosted and web-based Linqs SPS  software effectively screens your customers, suppliers, consultants, employees, visitors and other trade partners

  • No need for purchase and installation of software, hardware and other IT services
  • More than 240 Government and International agency issued denied and restricted party lists
  • Country Sanctions warnings
  • Accurate results only in seconds
  • Variable Screening Functionality; Exact Match, Phonetic Match and Fuzzy Logic Match
  • Single and Batch Screening of Trade Partners
  • Create your own Excluded Names/Words
  • Select only the lists you want to screen against
  • Automatically and Dynamically screen all entities at your own pace!
  • Ignore found hits if you don’t want to see them again
  • Archiving, Retention and Reporting of Screening Records
  • Secure connection to fully hosted web-based solution
  • Connect with your CRM and ERP systems as well as other proprietary software through our API
  • Sanctioned Party Lists for SAP GTS and Oracle GTM systems
  • Seamlessly integrate with our Business Partner Compliance Software for full compliance experience
  • At your option, Linqs compliance experts may fully manage your screening process

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Reliable and Effective Watch List Screening Software

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Reliable and efficient

Reliable, fast and efficient denied party screening is a necessity. Day-to-day operations require modular and flexible searching capabilities with high accuracy of the results.

From the customer setup to the hire of foreign national employee Linqs streamlines your compliance.



Extensive watch lists

 

We support more than 240 global watch lists and country warning lists to ensure your business operations stay compliant with the domestic and foreign regulations which are in force.




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Variable screening functionality

Real-time single party screening with quick and enhanced screening functionality.

Real-time self-service multiple party/bulk screening.

Comprehensive set of selectable regulatory watch lists.

Country specific warnings and risk assessment independent of the entity searched.

Security and scalability

Hosted, fully web-based architecture to improve the costs and user efficiency.

Industry-standard secure access and encrypted communication.

Highly scalable architecture, with optional download access you can easily extend your screening capability and integrate the Restricted Party lists with your own IT platforms such as SAP, Oracle, and other ERP systems

Why Choosing Linqs for SPS/RPS?

SINGLE ENTITY SEARCH & INSTANT BULK SCREENING
minimIZED false positives
dynamical screening
ERP AND WEB SERVICE SUPPORT
role based workflows
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Customer Case Studies

ISTech

California based defense manufacturer ISTech has offices in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. ISTech lacked the comprehensive approach in complying with the U.S. EAR and ITAR. Thanks to ongoing support from Linqs, ISTech now can easily process the controlled technology globally. Access control processes are streamlined, and customer/vendor vetting process is fully automated with Linqs solutions. The company also maintains cloud based secure file sharing platform to enable collaborative product development.



FBX, Inc.

 Subsidiary of a Dutch Holding, North Carolina based industrial drive manufacturer FBX receives, processes, and handles EAR (600 series) and ITAR controlled technology in its facilities. Linqs assisted FBX to develop its compliance policy and procedures, and classified products while training employees. Company now has successfully segregated and isolated the design and production sites for specially designed defense articles, and maintains secure file sharing platform to enable collaborative product development with proper access controls.


TCraft Aerospace

With offices in the U.S. and France, Texas based TCraft’s product line includes jet engine components which are extensively used by the commercial aircraft manufacturers. Interested in undertaking defense article production, TCraft turned to Linqs for an assistance. Started with a development of a robust compliance program and employee training, our experts also classified hundreds of company products and technology. Linqs provides a continued support in document marking and access management to TCraft.


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