A Malaysian entrepreneur, Dylan Tan, has developed an AI chatbot called Scammers On Hold AI (SOHAI) to counter scammers on WhatsApp.
By dragging out conversations, the chatbot wastes scammers’ time, reducing their chances of deceiving real victims.
How ‘SOHAI’ Works
Tan, who is the founder and CEO of Replyr.ai, a Singapore-based company, created the chatbot as a simple way for users to fight back against fraudsters.
Sharing how it works on the Entrepreneurs and Startups in Malaysia Facebook page, Tan explained the details.
Instead of engaging with scammers directly, users can provide them with the chatbot’s phone number.
AI Character Named “Madam Soh”
The chatbot then takes over, posing as a character named ‘Madam Soh.’ It responds with vague, unrelated answers, continuously stalling the scammer.
If the scammer stops replying, the chatbot even follows up to keep the interaction going and further wastes their time.
Multilingual and Automated
According to reports, the chatbot is capable of communicating in English, Malay, and Mandarin.
It also logs each conversation into a Google Sheets leaderboard, documenting details like the time wasted, a chat summary, and the stalling tactics used.
Disrupting Scammers’ Operations
Tan explained that every minute a scammer spends dealing with the chatbot is a minute they cannot use to target real victims. By using AI to fight back, the chatbot makes scamming a more frustrating and inefficient process.
For those who receive suspicious messages or calls, it offers an easy way to strike back—simply direct scammers to the chatbot and let it handle the rest.
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