In an age where scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, a group of enterprising students from Fairfax High School is taking a stand against fraud. Their project, ScamCops, is designed to help people avoid falling victim to scams using artificial intelligence.
The inspiration behind ScamCops comes from a personal experience of founder Advik Atyam. While in eighth grade, Atyam was duped while selling computer parts online. After agreeing to a sale over PayPal, he never received the payment, as PayPal held the funds. This frustrating experience motivated him to create ScamCops, a website dedicated to scam prevention.
Starting as a simple blog, ScamCops has evolved into a comprehensive platform that includes a 25-question quiz and an AI tool to identify potential scams. The AI analyzes user descriptions of suspicious activities to determine if they might be fraudulent. The quiz and tools are regularly updated to stay ahead of new scam tactics.
David Nam, ScamCops' outreach and social media manager, joined the team after a similar scam left his family financially impacted. He recalls the stress and confusion of dealing with the aftermath of the scam, which fuels his passion for helping others avoid the same fate.
The website features a scam awareness guide that educates users on common scam tactics, emphasizing the importance of skepticism: “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is,” Atyam advises. The guide includes tips like avoiding unsolicited investment offers on social media and not paying taxes via credit cards or gift cards.
Since its launch, ScamCops has attracted around 2,000 visitors, with notable traffic from countries like India, East Asia, and Canada. The project gained further recognition by winning first place at the 2024 Fairfax Area Student Shark Tank Technology Challenge.
Beyond the website, Atyam and a team of around 30 volunteers are reaching out to local communities. They have begun offering educational sessions at senior living facilities, where they help older adults—who may not be as tech-savvy—understand and avoid scams. Volunteers are also planning to set up informational booths at local banks to raise awareness about banking-related fraud.
As Atyam and his team continue their mission, their work is making a significant impact, providing valuable tools and education to protect people from the growing threat of scams.
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Photo: Getty