Inspiration

ScamSpot was inspired by the experiences of our family, friends, and teammates who have fallen victim to scams. With a diverse team hailing mostly from China and Africa, we have witnessed firsthand the impact of social engineering scams and the urgent need for robust digital protection.

What it does

ScamSpot offers an extra layer of protection by not only checking for faulty links but also by understanding social engineering scams. It analyzes conversations in real time, explaining why a particular interaction might be a scam. As a Chrome extension, it enhances accessibility while safeguarding users against deceptive tactics.

How we built it

Our solution is built using React, JavaScript, and TypeScript. The URL and sentiment checkers are powered by Azure API and OpenAI API, respectively, enabling us to assess the underlying reasoning behind potential scam activities. This integration ensures that ScamSpot can quickly and accurately detect fraudulent behavior.

Challenges we ran into

Integration: Combining multiple APIs (Azure and OpenAI) while maintaining real-time performance was a significant technical challenge.
Accuracy vs. False Positives: Fine-tuning our AI models to distinguish between legitimate and scam communications required extensive testing and iteration.
Resource Management: Ensuring the extension remains lightweight and efficient without compromising on security features.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Successfully developing an extension that provides real-time scam interception.
Achieving a high level of accuracy in detecting social engineering scams.
Creating a user-friendly interface that makes advanced fraud detection accessible to everyone.

What we learned

We gained valuable insights into extension development, effective teamwork, and the intricacies of tuning AI models. Working with various APIs deepened our understanding of integrating external services to enhance security solutions.

What's next for ScamSpot

Looking ahead, we plan to improve the accuracy of our social engineering scam analysis and further enhance the overall accessibility of our tool. We are committed to continuous improvement, ensuring that ScamSpot evolves alongside emerging digital threats.