Scam Detection — FamAI
Your parent receives a suspicious WhatsApp message. They forward it to FamAI. Within seconds: a verdict, a reason, and what to do — in Hindi or English. FamAI does not scan chats; only messages your parent chooses to forward.
What it does
FamAI checks suspicious messages, links, and news forwards that elderly Indian parents receive on WhatsApp. It returns a clear verdict — safe, suspicious, or likely a scam — along with a one-line explanation and specific advice. The check happens in seconds, in whatever language the parent prefers.
Who it's for
Parents: Anyone 50+ who receives forwards, urgent links, or unexpected messages and wants a quick second opinion before clicking or responding.
Adult children: Those who want their parents to have a safety check available 24/7, without having to call every time something looks suspicious.
How it works
- Your parent receives a suspicious message — a link, a forward, or an urgent claim.
- They forward it to FamAI, exactly as they'd forward anything in WhatsApp.
- FamAI replies within seconds with: verdict, reason, and what to do.
- Your parent acts on the advice — or calls you if they want to discuss further.
What FamAI checks for
- KYC expiry links (fake bank/telecom requests)
- Lottery and prize win notifications
- OTP and verification code requests
- Fake electricity, gas, or water bill notices
- Digital arrest threats (fake police/CBI/ED calls)
- Investment scheme and high-return promises
- Aadhaar/PAN urgency messages
- Fake news and misleading health claims
- Job offers asking for advance payments
Example conversations
Example 1 — KYC scam
Parent forwards a message: "Your HDFC KYC is expiring today. Click here to update: [link]"
FamAI: 🚨 Yeh scam lagta hai. Banks kabhi WhatsApp pe KYC links nahi bhejte. Is link pe bilkul mat click karo. Apne bank ko directly call karo — number unki official website ya passbook mein milega.
Example 2 — Digital arrest threat
Parent: "Ek call aaya, bola Supreme Court se hoon, mujhe arrest karenge"
FamAI: 🚨 Yeh digital arrest scam hai. Supreme Court ya police kabhi phone pe arrest nahi karte. Phone rakh do, family ko batao, aur local police ko 100 pe call karo. Koi paisa mat bhejo.
Example 3 — Safe message
Parent forwards: A WhatsApp forward about drinking warm water in the morning for health.
FamAI: ✅ Yeh safe lagta hai. Warm water pine ke fayde widely accepted hain. Koi link ya urgency nahi hai is message mein — no action required.
Languages supported
Hindi, English, Hinglish. Your parent can forward the message in whatever language it arrived — FamAI will handle it.
Privacy and data handling
FamAI only sees messages your parent chooses to forward. It has no access to other chats, contacts, or call history. Forwarded messages are used to generate the verdict and are not shared with third parties or used for advertising.
What it costs
Free during the founding-families launch.
Read the full story of how we designed this feature: Why we built scam detection on WhatsApp instead of as a separate app →
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FamAI scan all my WhatsApp messages?
No. FamAI only checks messages your parent explicitly forwards to it. FamAI has no access to your parent's other chats, contacts, or messages.
What types of scams does FamAI detect?
KYC links, fake bank notices, lottery wins, OTP requests, digital arrest threats, electricity scams, investment schemes, job offers, Aadhaar/PAN urgency messages, and misleading health news.
Does it work for messages in Hindi?
Yes. Forward the message in whatever language it arrived — Hindi, English, or Hinglish. FamAI replies in the language your parent uses.
What if FamAI says it's safe but I'm still suspicious?
Trust your instinct. Don't click any links and call the relevant authority directly using the number on their official website — not the number in the suspicious message.
Can FamAI check suspicious phone calls?
Your parent can describe the call to FamAI via text or voice note, and FamAI will assess whether it matches known scam patterns.