Data visualization and visual analytics as support for the investigation of document and identity fraud in the public sector

Verifying citizens' identities and the authenticity of documents has become a critical step in the delivery of public services, especially with the expansion of digital government and the growth of identity fraud attempts in Brazil. Much of this verification still depends on the comparison of images and records by human analysts, a task that cognitive psychology research shows to be subject to relevant error rates. This article analyzes the role of data visualization and visual analytics tools as support for the investigation of document and identity fraud in the public sector. It is a qualitative and exploratory study, based on bibliographic and documentary research, combining work on information visualization, unfamiliar face matching, cognitive load theory, visual analytics applied to fraud detection and the interaction between humans and automated systems in public administration. The analysis indicates that interfaces able to gather evidence in a single environment, support side-by-side comparison and reduce switching between systems tend to lower cognitive effort and may favor more consistent decisions. The literature also shows that combining a trained specialist with a highperforming algorithm outperforms the combination of two specialists, while warning about algorithmic bias, automation bias and harms already observed in public anti-fraud programs. The study concludes that visualization should be conceived as an instrument that amplifies human judgment, with traceable decisions and safeguards for citizens' rights.