Goa Police to launch 'SpotTheScam' Tool with BITS Pilani to Combat Cybercrime

Panaji: With a rise in cybercrime cases, Goa police, in collaboration with BITS Pilani, Goa campus, has created a digital solution to detect counterfeit websites of hotels, resorts, and other establishments. This newly developed tool aims to protect the public from online fraud by enabling them to verify the authenticity of websites before making any financial transactions.
Superintendent of Police (SP) crime branch Rahul Gupta said that the tool will identify fake APK files being circulated on Telegram and WhatsApp, which are used to hack into the phones of innocent citizens. “Goa Police has developed a tool ‘SpotTheScam’ for cyber safety, along with BITS Pilani, Goa campus. The link to this tool will be posted on the Goa Police website as well as the tourism website where people can check the authenticity of the website,” Gupta said.
Gupta said that this artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) powered system is designed to combat cyber fraud and cybercrime against women and children by identifying and categorising fraudulent websites, mobile applications, and APK files. “The tool analyses domain information, SSL certificates, and employs natural language processing (NLP) and image recognition to screen online advertisements for suspicious content. It cross-references customer care details with a verified fraud database and enhances fraud detection capabilities through machine learning,” Gupta said.
“The tool is being used to identify fake websites that discreetly promote escort services in Goa and indecent representation of women. During the testing phase, more than 70 websites were listed as fake, and information was sent to DoT to block the same,” he said. Goa police will soon launch the tool, Gupta said.
Goa police, in collaboration with BITS Pilani Goa, developed a radical content analyser to monitor online and offline content, including videos lasting up to 25 minutes. This partnership is set to make Goa police one of the few law enforcement agencies in the country with the capability to monitor radicalisation content—both online and offline—to prevent extremism propaganda.
Goa police conducted tests on over 170 videos from various social media platforms and offline sources. They started using more electronic tools like Cyber Yoddha, AI-ML Lab, QuickPass, TRACK (Traffic Response and Congestion Control Center), Radical Content Analyser, Spot The Scam (fake website and APK file detection), Tenant-Servant verification app, cloud-based 1930 cyber crime helpline centre, and QR code-based public feedback, among others, to connect with people and improve their operational capabilities.