Re:Scam is Back!
In continued efforts to disrupt the scammer network, Netsafe has brought back ReScam.org, our cutting-edge AI tool designed to waste scammers time so they can’t target their next victims. This innovative technology leverages the latest artificial intelligence measures to disrupt potential scams. It also educates users on the tactics used by cybercriminals in email scams. By forwarding your suspicious emails…
In continued efforts to disrupt the scammer network, Netsafe has brought back ReScam.org, our cutting-edge AI tool designed to waste scammers time so they can’t target their next victims.
This innovative technology leverages the latest artificial intelligence measures to disrupt potential scams. It also educates users on the tactics used by cybercriminals in email scams.
By forwarding your suspicious emails to [email protected], the system identifies scams and begins a never-ending conversation, wasting scammers’ time. With multiple personalities and an ever-growing vocabulary, there’s no way for scammers to know they’re talking to Netsafe’s specialist scam baiting intelligence system.
Re:Scam was first developed back in 2017, when the game of cat and mouse sent more than a million emails to scammers, wasting a total of more than 5 years of their time.
Scams are a growing problem in New Zealand and costs to the economy are estimated to be NZD$2 billion annually, equating to 0.85% of NZ’s GDP in 2023. New Zealand’s response to scams lags behind other OECD regions and there are government-backed calls on the banks to invest in technological upgrades.
Crucially, there is no government funding for incident response and victim remediation. Yet in recent research by Netsafe and the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, 53% of New Zealand respondents admitted to a significant emotional impact post-scam. (You can read the State of Scams report 2023 here).
Unsurprisingly, only a fraction of scams and fraud are reported to law enforcement and police resources are too stretched to prioritise cybercrime unless it occurs within the context of syndicated organised crime.
Netsafe’s award-winning online harms and scams helpline is a well-known and trusted clear pathway for consumer reporting of scams, as evidenced by the substantial – and growing – number of scams reports we receive. (You can read about Netsafe’s reports here).
Netsafe isn’t yet funded for this work.
Netsafe’s other tools to help prevent scam harms include:
- Using the CheckNetsafe website before you shop
- Our Little Black Book of Scams
- Our Romance Scams booklet
- The Get Set Up for Safety suite of resources for Seniors (supported by Chorus)
- Our Sextortion hub for young people and parents
- Checking our Latest Scams webpage
