The nightmare for scammers: a cyber-grandma single-handedly protects thousands of seniors from fraudsters.

The mobile network operator in the UK, Virgin Media O2, has introduced an innovative and entertaining approach to combat phone scams through an AI chatbot named "Daisy," who presents herself as a grandmother. By taking on the persona of a confused elderly woman, Daisy aims to waste scammers' time with nonsensical chatter that is unrelated to the matter at hand, reports The Byte.

This initiative, supported by the ideas of renowned scam hunter Jim Browning, marks a new era in utilizing artificial intelligence to curb fraudulent activities targeting vulnerable individuals. Virgin Media introduced Daisy as the "Head of Scam Relations," emphasizing that her role is to engage scammers, capture their attention, and limit their ability to harm real people, such as elderly citizens who often fall victim to fraud.

Daisy employs advanced conversational AI to mimic human interaction, including tangents about hobbies like knitting and anecdotes about family life. When asked for confidential information, she generates absurd responses to confuse the caller. According to Virgin Media O2, this approach successfully keeps some scammers engaged for up to 40 minutes— a significant delay that prevents them from moving on to actual victims.

Fraud Prevention Director Murray Mackenzie highlighted Daisy's secondary role in educating people to critically assess the identity of callers, reminding them that the voice on the other end may not always be trustworthy. The creation of the chatbot comes amid growing concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence for malicious purposes, including the generation of fraudulent calls and phishing attempts. Virgin Media’s response to this trend underscores the potential of AI as a protective tool.

By leveraging common stereotypes that scammers have about the elderly, Daisy adds a unique layer of deterrence in the fight against fraud. This initiative aligns with broader efforts by companies and governments worldwide to combat the increasing threat of cybercrime, which is rapidly evolving and becoming more sophisticated. Statistics show that phone scams remain a significant global issue, with billions of dollars lost each year due to such schemes.

Tools like Daisy could prove effective in reducing these losses, not only by disrupting scammers' operations but also by raising public awareness, according to her creators. Virgin Media O2’s approach demonstrates how companies can creatively utilize technology to address social issues while also benefiting from positive public relations and scientific advancement.

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