SafeSphere
research datas
How might we ?
Why SafeSphere
How it works?
Scam Detection!?
Gamification!
Our vision

Inspiration

In 2024, Australians lost $13.7 million to job-hunting scams, with young people aged 18–34 being the most affected. As recent graduates and first-time job seekers ourselves, we realized how easy it is to fall for promises of “too good to be true” jobs. We wanted to create something that not only protects rookies from scams but also teaches them how to recognize and avoid them in the future.

What it does

SafeSphere is a digital companion that helps users spot fraudulent job listings and online scams. It uses Detective Pal assistants that activate when risky messages appear, warning users about: Financial scams (upfront fees, fake payments). Identity/privacy scams (requests to move to unofficial channels, oversharing). Manipulative language (complex promises, pyramid schemes). In addition, SafeSphere includes a gamified feature called “Hire or Fire?”, where users practice detecting scams in an interactive, playful way.

How we built it

We started with user research to understand pain points faced by young job seekers. Based on these insights, we designed personas and journey maps, then prototyped features using UI/UX design tools. We tested multiple interaction flows, focusing on creating an engaging and seamless safety experience. Gamification elements were added to make digital literacy more fun and accessible.

Challenges we ran into

Designing scam alerts that are clear but not overwhelming. Balancing simplicity with depth—users needed straightforward warnings, but also opportunities to learn more if they wanted. Creating engagement in a context that is usually stressful (job hunting + scams).

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Developing a unique multi-layered safety system with different Detective Pals for different scam types. Incorporating gamification not just to block scams, but to actively build digital literacy. Receiving positive feedback from user testing, with over 60% noting that features could even apply beyond job hunting (e.g., Facebook Marketplace).

What we learned

Safety solutions are not one-size-fits-all—personalisation is key. Young users value education as much as protection; they want to understand why something is suspicious. Gamification can transform a serious problem into a more approachable learning experience. What's next for SafeSphere – Bianca, Emily, Phoebe, Xiamo, Xingli

We plan to:

Expand SafeSphere beyond job hunting into online marketplaces and gig platforms. Strengthen AI-powered scam detection to cover more fraud scenarios. Partner with universities, job boards, and career centres to bring SafeSphere to more young job seekers. Continue testing and refining gamified elements to make digital safety engaging rather than intimidating.