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Background

Within a pas few years, technology-based scams have become one of the most pressing issues in Vietnam. According to the Ministry of Public Security, more than 20,000 phone and online scam cases were reported in 2024 — a 65% increase from the previous year, causing losses estimated at 1.89 trillion VND (approximately 75.6 million USD).

These figures are not just numbers. They represent growing concerns about digital literacy and the urgent solutions to protect users from increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.

75.6 million USD

lost to online scams

1 in 220

phone users have been scammed

600.000

reports of spam or scam calls

26%

of users have reported fraudulent calls

95.5%

of users have reported unwanted calls

(Source: Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam, 2024)

CHALLENGE

As technology continues to shape every corner of our lives, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing faster than ever but so are digital threats. Scammers are adapting to online platforms to trick users in real time.

When deception can unfold within seconds of a phone call, how can users tell what's real and what's a trap? — This question became the foundation of our project.

We wanted to explore how technology could go beyond being just "smart" to become safe. Our solution is a mobile application powered by AI that detects suspicious patterns during live phone calls and provides instant alerts to help users stay one step ahead of scammers.

analysis

During our research, we discovered that scam calls and messages often manipulate human emotions rather than technical tactics. Scammers exploit psychological triggers such as greed, fear, and empathy to trap victims.

During our research, we discovered that scam calls and messages often manipulate human emotions rather than technical tactics. Scammers exploit psychological triggers such as greed, fear, and empathy to trap victims.

Financial Temptation

Financial Temptation

Messages or websites promising rewards, Telegram “investment” groups, or fake job offers with unusually high salaries.

Fear of Authority

Fear of Authority

Scammers impersonate police officers or government officials, threatening legal action and demanding urgent money transfers to a “safe account.”

Emotional Manipulation

Emotional Manipulation

Messages on Messenger or Zalo pretending to be relatives asking for money due to emergencies or accidents.

Scammers carefully prey on emotions to push victims into quick, irrational decisions. By using persuasive language and urgent storytelling, they create a false sense of trust and control the victim’s emotional state.

STAGE

1

CURIOSITY

At the beginning of the call, the victim is usually in a normal, balanced mental state.

Curiosity is triggered by an unusual or intriguing signal, for instance, a message about a delivery, a banking transaction, or a personal benefit.

Stage illustration

Psychological State

The victim instinctively trusts the legitimacy of the call (Trust Heuristic). Scammers take advantage of this mental openness using the “Foot-in-the-Door” technique to gradually overcome initial resistance.
By starting with small, harmless questions and using polite or professional language, they establish a fake sense of credibility and build rapport step by step.

Behavior & Outcome

The victim picks up the call and willingly answers basic questions to “verify” their information. As a result, they unknowingly allow themselves to enter the scammer’s controlled and give the scammer the upper hand in the conversation.

STAGE

2

SHOCK

The moment the threat is introduced, the victim is startled and quickly loses their sense of composure.

Curiosity quickly turns into shock when the scammer introduces alarming or threatening information, such as fake legal accusations, arrest warrants, or frozen bank accounts.

Shock stage illustration

Psychological State

This sudden shift triggers Cognitive Paralysis, a natural reaction to Emotional Overload. The victim falls into a state of panic, losing the ability to think logically, process information, or question what’s being said. Their capacity to distinguish between truth and deception becomes blurred.

Behavior & Outcome

The victim tends to go silent, speak in a trembling voice, or repeatedly ask for clarification out of desperation. At this stage, the scammer successfully takes control of the conversation, effectively trapping the victim within their manipulation.

STAGE

3

PANIC

Throughout the call, the scammer keeps constant pressure on the victim.

The victim’s entire focus narrows down to finding an immediate way out of the perceived threat.

Panic stage illustration

Psychological State

Tunnel Vision Thinking

Panic overrides all logic, causing them to accept even the most irrational instructions or “solutions.” This mental state is further reinforced by increased heart rate and biological stress responses.

Behavior & Outcome

The victim begins asking for guidance or apologizing in desperation (“What should I do?” - “I want to cooperate.”)
At this point, the victim has completely handed over decision-making power (Decision Agency) to the scammer, paving the way for the next stage — compliance and transaction.

STAGE

4

SUBMISSION

The victim transfers money or provides personal information.

Psychological State

Unconditional Obedience and Emotional Fatigue

At this stage, the victim has accepted their role as someone seeking help and begins to follow instructions without question. They experience a brief sense of relief from taking action — a false belief that compliance will solve the problem.

Behavior & Outcome

The victim proceeds to log in to banking apps, transfer money, or reveal sensitive verification codes. This marks the moment of asset loss — the most tangible and devastating consequence of technology-enabled fraud.

Having already invested significant time and emotion (Commitment), the victim feels compelled to stay consistent (Consistency Bias) with their previous actions.

Submission stage illustration

STAGE

5

REGRET

The scammer ends the call and run away.

Once the call ends, the psychological pressure lifts, allowing rational thinking to return. This is the moment when the victim confronts the reality and consequences of what just happened.

Regret stage illustration

Psychological State

Restoring Reason and Emotional Collapse

When they realize they’ve been manipulated and lost control, they experience an emotional breakdown marked by panic, shame, guilt, and deep regret.
The false sense of safety they once felt disappears, replaced by overwhelming emotional pain and the awareness of what has truly occurred.

Behavior & Outcome

The victim often enters a short phase of psychological paralysis, unable to take action or seek help immediately. Some try to hide what happened out of embarrassment or fear of being judged, while others attempt to recover their losses — usually when it’s already too late.

How might we

To avoid harm, it’s crucial to disrupt at least one step in the victim’s psychological spiral. Humans often recognize the danger too late, but AI can detect it early — right as the call is happening.

Our app is designed to do exactly that: intervene at the right moment to block scam behavior before emotion overrides logic.

CURIOSITY
SHOCK
PANIC
SUBMISSION
REGRET

BEFORE THE CALL

How might we block scam calls before they reach the user?

DURING THE CALL

How might we deliver continuous real-time scam alerts during the conversation?

AFTER THE CALL

How might we immediately comfort and guide victims?

solution

Before the call

Before call illustration

1. Automatic Number Verification: The system automatically checks the caller’s identity by comparing it against the National Verified Number Database.

2. Early Warning System: If the incoming call meets any of the following conditions, an alert instantly appears on the screen:

• The number is not verified in the national database.

• The number’s data does not match existing verified records.

This helps users quickly recognize potential risks and decide whether to answer or ignore the call.

During the call

1. Real-time AI Conversation Analysis: An AI Detection engine runs continuously during the call, analyzing both voice tone and transcribed text (Speech-to-Text). It interprets language meaning, sentiment, and emotional cues to detect suspicious patterns.

2. Risk Scoring System: The system assigns a risk level score in real time, displayed visually through color and vibration feedback:

•Safe (0–20%): No suspicious activity detected.

•Caution (30–60%): Signs of potential manipulation — device vibrates and shows a yellow warning screen.

•High Risk (70–100%): Strong evidence of scam behavior — red screen appears with urgent vibration and alert signals.

During call scenario
During call scenario
During call scenario

After the call

After call illustration

1. AI-powered Call Analysis: The post-call screen provides a comprehensive summary that helps users  recognize potential threats and take immediate action.
• Information Summary: The system records and analyzes all call data in real time.
• Risk Assessment: AI calculates a risk level score (e.g., potential scam) based on voice tone and conversation content.
• Guidance & Protection: The system instantly provides safety recommendations and verified next steps to help users protect their personal and financial information.
2. Report Suspicious Numbers: Users can submit details of the suspicious call — including the phone number, time, and AI analysis result — to the National Database and community reporting system.

This collective reporting network helps expand national scam prevention efforts, protecting millions of users from similar fraudulent tactics.

Prototype

Prototype screen
Prototype screen
Prototype screen

DESIGN SYSTEM

Display - Roboto
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!@#$%^&*()

Body - Inter
A a B b C c
123

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
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Design System Visual

OUR TEAM

TUONG VI
Team Member
Vi Lam
Graphic Designer
TUONG VI — Team Member
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