Exclusive: Scam The Scammers With Updated Tool by Netsafe
June 17, 2024 | Fraud, Security, Technology, Business Crime
Netsafe is reintroducing ReScam.org, an AI-based system first developed in 2017, as part of a comprehensive effort to bolster the online safety of New Zealanders. This innovative tool, designed to engage scammers in endless conversations using diverse personas and an extensive vocabulary, aims to divert attention away from potential victims and disrupt fraudulent activities.
The activation process for this 'cat and mouse' AI begins when users forward suspicious emails to me@rescam.org. From there, Netsafe's specialised scam baiting intelligence system evaluates the threat level and commences interaction with the scammer.
Brent Carey, Netsafe's CEO, noted that when ReScam first launched, it sent over a million emails to scammers, effectively wasting more than five years of their time collectively. Carey highlighted the ongoing challenge of scams in New Zealand, which cost the economy roughly $2 billion annually or 0.85 percent of the nation's GDP in 2023. He emphasised that New Zealand lags behind other OECD countries in scam response, with a call for banks to upgrade their technology.
Despite the lack of government funding for incident response and victim support, recent studies by Netsafe and the Global Anti-Scam Alliance reveal that 53 percent of scam victims in New Zealand experience significant emotional distress. Only about 15 percent of victims manage to recover any lost funds.
Netsafe's helpline continues to receive increasing scam-related inquiries, handling approximately 15,000 calls each year. Following the release of the State of Scams report in late 2023, Netsafe has been deploying new tools and services monthly to combat scams. These initiatives include the Chorus-funded 'Get Set Up for Safety' toolkit for seniors, along with partnerships in banking, cryptocurrency, and telecommunications to aid victims in reclaiming their losses.
Carey stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to fighting scams, involving the entire ecosystem. Although Netsafe cannot drive regulatory or legislative changes or advance banking technology, its 25 years of experience in harm prevention education play a critical role.
Additional strategies include hosting a virtual meeting of the Global Anti Scam Alliance's Oceania chapter on July 30 during Netsafety Week, and joining forces with the international non-profit Cyber Helpline to implement cybersecurity tools, services, and programs. Carey affirmed Netsafe's commitment to helping New Zealanders safely navigate the digital world, promising the introduction of more anti-scam tools through the rest of the year and into 2025.
