In a novel approach to combating phone scams, British telecommunications company Virgin Media O2 has developed an AI powered tool that aims to turn the tables on fraudsters. The system, affectionately named ‘Daisy’, takes on the persona of a grandmother and is designed to engage scammers in lengthy, time-wasting conversations.
Daisy is the brainchild of Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud at Virgin Media O2. Mackenzie describes the project as a form of ‘sweet revenge’ against scammers who often target vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly. The AI system employs sophisticated technology to create a convincing interaction with callers.
Complex AI made seamless
The technology behind Daisy is complex, involving four distinct Artificial Intelligence components working in tandem. The first component receives the voice input, the second converts this voice into text, the third formulates an appropriate response, and the fourth generates a voice response mimicking an elderly woman. This intricate process happens seamlessly, allowing for natural-sounding conversations that can last for extended periods.
To put Daisy into action, the developers strategically leaked her phone numbers into the cyber underworld, placing them in the same locations where scammers typically source potential victims’ contact information. This clever tactic ensures that Daisy receives calls from actual scammers, allowing her to fulfill her primary function of wasting their time.
AI turns the tables on scammers
The conversations between Daisy and the scammers can be both amusing and revealing. In one instance, a frustrated scammer accused Daisy of intentionally wasting time, to which the AI responded with characteristic innocence, claiming confusion about technology. This interaction highlights the effectiveness of Daisy’s persona in maintaining lengthy calls.
Mackenzie notes that Daisy has reached ‘peak effectiveness’ in her role. Scammers have begun to recognize her voice and quickly hang up, indicating that word about the AI granny is spreading within scammer networks. This development suggests that Daisy is not only wasting scammers’ time but potentially deterring them from making future calls.
The choice of a grandmother persona was strategic. Mackenzie explains that slight delays in responses, which are inevitable with AI systems, are less likely to arouse suspicion when coming from an elderly individual. This clever design choice enhances the believability of the interactions.
Scaling the AI solution
Looking to the future, Virgin Media O2 is exploring ways to scale up this technology. The goal is to create a diverse range of personas that could be installed on individual phones, providing personalized protection against scam calls. However, Mackenzie acknowledges the significant challenges in achieving this, including the need to develop thousands of unique personas across various demographics.
The development of Daisy represents an innovative approach to tackling the persistent problem of phone scams. By actively engaging scammers and wasting their resources, this technology has the potential to reduce the overall number of successful scams. It also provides a satisfying form of counter-action for those who have been targeted by such fraudulent activities in the past.
Why it matters
As phone scams continue to evolve and adapt, tools like Daisy demonstrate the potential for AI to play a crucial role in consumer protection. While not a complete solution to the problem of phone fraud, this technology represents a creative step forward in the ongoing battle against scammers.
