Published on: September 19, 2024
In a recent interview with SafetyDetectives, Mohammad Jorjandi, CEO and Founder of ScamMinder, shared his unique journey from being one of Iran’s first hackers to becoming a renowned expert in cybercrime. Born on November 21, 1980, Jorjandi has had an eventful career, including his time as the director of the Shabgard security group and a period spent in Evin Prison after a high-profile hacking incident in Iran. Following his release and immigration to the U.S. in 2015, Jorjandi shifted his focus to investigating cybercrimes and raising public awareness through his platform Webamooz. Now, with ScamMinder, he is leveraging AI to combat online scams and fraud, using his extensive cybersecurity expertise to protect users worldwide.
What inspired you to start ScamMinder, and how has the company evolved since its inception?
ScamMinder was inspired by my extensive experience in cybersecurity, where I identified a growing need for public awareness around online scams. Over the past eight years, I have researched and documented thousands of scams on Webamooz, exposing fraudulent activities to help protect people. With the rise of artificial intelligence, I saw an opportunity to integrate AI into ScamMinder to scale my efforts. By leveraging AI, we’ve developed advanced tools that can quickly detect red flags in websites, making scam detection more accessible to users.
What differentiates ScamMinder from other online scam detection tools available today?
Many scam detection tools rely on basic factors like domain age, SSL certification, or website traffic, which are insufficient to fully assess whether a website is fraudulent. ScamMinder stands out because we use AI to analyze the actual content of websites. This allows us to detect subtle warning signs, such as misleading language or too-good-to-be-true promises. AI’s ability to process and interpret website content sets ScamMinder apart, offering users a deeper analysis of potential scams.
What role does machine learning play in ScamMinder’s ability to stay ahead of emerging scam tactics?
Machine learning is at the core of ScamMinder’s ability to stay ahead of evolving scam techniques. AI models are trained to recognize patterns commonly found in scam websites, like investment fraud ,Ponzi schemes or Cryptocurrency payment. For instance, if a website promises unrealistically high returns, the AI flags this as a major risk factor. The AI continually learns from new data, improving its ability to detect scams and adapt to new types of fraud as they emerge.
What are the most common types of scams you encounter, and how does ScamMinder address these threats?
Investment scams are particularly prevalent, where cybercriminals set up websites promising high returns on investments or encourage victims to refer others to make money. ScamMinder addresses these by looking for key warning signs, such as exaggerated profit claims and referral schemes that mimic Ponzi structures. We also analyze websites that facilitate scams like pig butchering, where victims are manipulated into investing large amounts of money. By detecting these patterns, ScamMinder helps users avoid falling into these traps.
With the rise of social engineering attacks, how does ScamMinder identify phishing or fraudulent websites that use sophisticated techniques?
ScamMinder’s AI is designed to detect fraudulent content, but certain scams, like phishing websites with minimal visible content or login-only pages, can be harder to spot. To address this, ScamMinder relies on both AI analysis and community reporting. Users can report suspicious websites, and our team of experts manually reviews these reports to identify fraudulent sites that might slip through AI’s initial detection. This hybrid approach ensures that even sophisticated phishing schemes are identified and addressed.
Can you share how businesses can integrate ScamMinder into their online security strategies?
Businesses can integrate ScamMinder through our verification service, which helps establish their legitimacy by verifying identity and business registration documents. This process offers peace of mind to customers who may be wary of potential scams. Additionally, ScamMinder provides tools to monitor for fraudulent websites that may impersonate legitimate businesses. By incorporating ScamMinder into their security strategy, businesses can enhance customer trust and reduce the risk of being associated with scam-related activities.