One of the UK’s largest mobile operators, O2, has unveiled a unique solution to tackle phone scammers. Traditional methods like blocking numbers are ineffective, as scammers frequently switch to new ones. To address this, O2 has developed a chatbot named Daisy—or dAIsy—which mimics the voice of an elderly, trusting grandmother to engage scammers and waste their time.
Protecting Vulnerable Targets
Daisy’s design focuses on elderly individuals, who are often the primary targets of phone scammers. These fraudsters exploit trust and vulnerability, frequently pretending to be a grandchild or other close relative in distress to convince their victims to transfer money. O2’s chatbot aims to divert such calls, keeping scammers occupied and away from real victims.
The initiative follows an O2 survey revealing that 71% of Britons would like to retaliate against scammers who targeted them or their loved ones. However, 53% of respondents admitted they wouldn’t do so themselves due to time constraints. Daisy automates this ‘scambaiting’ practice, enabling people to take action without wasting their own time.
How Daisy Works
Daisy engages scammers in lengthy conversations, leading them to believe they might extract sensitive information like bank details. When asked for such details, Daisy provides fake responses, frustrating scammers further. According to O2, Daisy’s number will be added to ‘soft target’ lists used by scammers, increasing the likelihood of them contacting the bot instead of actual victims.
In real-life examples shared by O2, Daisy kept scammers on the phone for over 40 minutes. The AI processes conversations in real time and adapts to the slower speech patterns typical of older individuals, making it highly convincing.
Despite its promise, concerns arise about the misuse of similar technology, notes NIX Solutions. Scammers have previously impersonated individuals, such as company executives, to steal millions. While Daisy’s purpose is noble, the potential for reverse misuse highlights the need for cautious development and oversight.
O2’s chatbot marks a significant step in fighting fraud and protecting vulnerable individuals. We’ll keep you updated as such technologies continue to evolve.