In a significant and innovative move in the fight against telephone fraud, British telecommunications company Virgin Media O2 has introduced an AI persona named Daisy, designed to engage scammers in extended conversations, ultimately reducing their opportunity to target potential victims.

Daisy is an AI-driven large language model designed to mimic the persona of a friendly grandmother. She engages fraudsters in lengthy discussions, often speaking about her hobbies, such as knitting, and sharing anecdotes about her grandchildren. This approach not only serves to entertain the scammers but also distracts them long enough to prevent them from pursuing actual targets. According to O2, Daisy is capable of holding calls for up to 40 minutes, allowing her to effectively occupy the time of scam callers.

Constructed with the expertise of Jim Browning, a prominent YouTuber known for his efforts in combating online scams, Daisy employs sophisticated technology to interact with fraudsters. She listens to their voice, converts their speech into text, retrieves an appropriate response from a comprehensive training database, and then "speaks" back to the scammer in real-time. This intricate process takes place almost instantaneously.

Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud at Virgin Media O2, discussed the initiative in a press release, stating, “But crucially, Daisy is also a reminder that no matter how persuasive someone on the other end of the phone may be, they aren't always who you think they are.” Daisy has been dubbed the “Head of Scammer Relations,” a title reflecting the chatbot’s unique role in combating fraudulent activity.

Daisy's effectiveness is highlighted through her interactions, with numerous scammers expressing frustration during calls. In a recorded conversation, one scammer lamented, “I think your profession is bothering people, right?” while another impatiently noted, “It's nearly been an hour!” Since her public unveiling, Daisy has reportedly managed over 1,000 calls.

The emergence of Daisy highlights the pervasive issue of spam calls, which also affects individuals in the United States, where the problem remains significant. Research indicates that Americans spent approximately 272 million hours responding to spam calls between December 1, 2023, and November 30, 2024. The average American receives about nine spam calls monthly, demonstrating the urgent need for effective countermeasures.

While Daisy currently only exists in the UK, her introduction marks a notable advancement in the application of artificial intelligence in business practices, particularly in fraud prevention and cybersecurity. Virgin Media O2's initiative could potentially set a precedent for similar strategies in other regions, as companies look to leverage emerging technologies in addressing threats from fraudsters and scammers.

Source: Noah Wire Services