Scampot

Inspiration

I was surprised to see a HACKATHON competition themed around creating applications to help elderly netizens avoid scams. So, I looked it up online, and indeed, there was data supporting it. Therefore, I wanted to contribute by helping elderly people out there reduce their chances of being deceived by the internet or media.

What it does

Problem 1: Elderly individuals are often targeted by scammers through deceptive links, making them vulnerable to online fraud. They frequently struggle to differentiate between legitimate and fraudulent links, leading to potential security risks and loss of personal information.

Solution 1: To help seniors navigate these challenges, ScamSpot provides an easy-to-use link scanner that checks the legitimacy of links they want to visit, ensuring safety before they click.

Problem 2: Many elderly individuals find it difficult to distinguish between scam attempts and real communications, leaving them susceptible to falling for phishing scams or fake offers.

Solution 2: ScamSpot also offers a quiz that helps seniors practice identifying scam attempts by testing their ability to differentiate between real and fake scenarios, empowering them with the knowledge to stay protected online.

How we built it

I identified the problem and gathered relevant data. I searched for suitable and visually comfortable design models, looked for features that would be easy for the elderly to use, and then I worked on bringing it to life.

Challenges we ran into

Since I'm new to coding, I couldn’t make the app with all the features I wanted, so I focused on designing it with Figma. I also need the ChatGPT AI API, which I can’t afford right now, to really bring my idea to life. These challenges have pushed me to be more creative, and even though the app isn't fully working yet, the design shows what I want it to be. With more development and the right tools, I believe this project could really help older people use the internet safely.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I am proud to have successfully analyzed the problem, developed a solution, and completed my first Hackathon project. What makes this achievement even more rewarding is that I was able to provide a unique and creative solution. Despite the challenges, including limited resources and technical skills, I’m proud of our ability to think outside the box and deliver a concept that stands out. This experience has not only strengthened my problem-solving skills but also deepened my passion for creating meaningful solutions that can positively impact others.

What we learned

I found out that a lot of older people online are at risk of scams, which shows we need better solutions for them. I worked on a design that’s easy to use and looks nice so seniors can navigate it without trouble. I also looked into new tech like the ChatGPT AI API to see how AI can help our app, even though I couldn't use it fully because of limited resources. Overall, this project helped me understand how to solve problems, focus on users, and use technology for good solutions.

What's next for Scampot

Next up for Scampot is making my design into a real app once I learn more coding and can afford the ChatGPT AI API. I’m really committed to bringing Scampot to life and turning it from just a concept into a working app with all the features I imagined. My goal is to give elderly users a reliable tool to help them safely navigate the internet. Once I have everything I need, I want to launch Scampot as a solid solution to protect older people from online scams.

Built With

• figma