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Framing the problem

The increase in scam calls and phishing texts is causing significant financial and emotional harm, particularly to vulnerable groups in the Netherlands.

Context of the Problem: The Rise of Scam Calls and Phishing Texts in the Netherlands

The severity of this issue is clear when we consider the case of the elderly community in Amsterdam. In 2023, a coordinated scam campaign led to over €1 million in losses within just a few weeks. Similar cases have been reported in cities like Rotterdam and Utrecht, which proves this is a nationwide crisis. Furthermore, the Netherlands has seen a 15% higher rate of scam calls per capita than neighboring countries like Germany and Belgium. This suggests that its advanced digital infrastructure is making it an attractive target for cybercriminals.

Figure 1: Phishing hotspots (Source: https://www.findmysoft.com/cybersecurity/phishing-statistics/)

The rise of smartphones and the growing reliance on digital communication for personal and professional interactions has created an ideal environment for these types of scams to flourish. Criminals have co-opted the convenience of instant communication to impersonate trusted entities such as banks, delivery services, and government agencies using sophisticated techniques. The Netherlands is a prime target for these activities due to its high level of digital infrastructure and connectivity.

There is no doubt that the number of scam calls and phishing texts in the Netherlands is growing annually. In 2022, there were over 500,000 reports of scam communications. This number rose by 24% in 2023, reaching 620,000. These scams have a devastating financial impact, with damages reaching millions of euros each year. For example, in 2023 alone, fraudulent calls resulted in losses of approximately 4.5 million EUR from just 11,000 reported cases. It is clear that we need effective solutions to protect citizens and maintain trust in digital communication channels, especially in light of the sharp increase in scam communications.

Analysis of the Issues: The Impact on People

The surge in scam calls and phishing texts has far-reaching implications, particularly for vulnerable groups in the Netherlands, including the elderly, immigrants, and those who are not technologically savvy. These groups are disproportionately targeted by scammers who exploit their lack of familiarity with digital technologies and their trust in official communications.

Figure 2: Smishing awareness (Source: https://techreport.com/statistics/cybersecurity/smishing-statistics/)

Let’s be clear: when people fall victim to a scam, it’s not just their finances that suffer. Many victims experience significant emotional distress, including feelings of shame, loss of control, and despair. These emotional impacts are just as damaging as the financial consequences, leading to long-term psychological trauma. It is clear from the evidence that one in seven people who fall victim to scams experience such psychological effects. These effects can erode trust in all forms of digital communication, not just those used by scammers.

This issue also affects businesses and public institutions. Scam communications often involve impersonating legitimate organizations, which irreparably damages the reputations of these institutions and leads to a loss of trust among consumers. When people receive fraudulent messages claiming to be from their bank, for example, they will inevitably become suspicious of all communications from that institution. This makes it much more difficult for businesses to engage with their customers. This erosion of trust in digital communication channels is a significant problem, particularly in a country like the Netherlands, where digital services are integral to everyday life.

Furthermore, the rise in scam communications is placing an increasing burden on law enforcement and regulatory bodies. These organizations must devote significant resources to investigating and combating fraud, which diverts attention from other critical areas. The net result of these problems is a digital communication ecosystem where users are increasingly wary, which is leading to a decrease in the effectiveness of digital communication overall.

Analysis of the Necessity Behind the Solution

Experts in cybersecurity have made it clear that while AI-based call screening has potential, it currently fails to meet expectations, especially in differentiating between legitimate and scam communications. A 2023 survey of mobile phone users in the Netherlands found that 35% had missed critical calls from healthcare providers or family members due to overzealous spam filters. This is a significant pain point that current technologies have yet to resolve.

Luna addresses these issues head-on with a more adaptive and user-centered approach. Its ability to learn from user interactions and adjust its screening process guarantees that critical communications are not lost, making it a crucial advancement over existing solutions.

Furthermore, the dynamic nature of scam tactics means that static or reactive solutions are insufficient. Criminals are constantly evolving their methods to bypass existing protections, so we need a solution that can adapt and stay ahead of them. We need a proactive, adaptive approach that will stay ahead of scammers and give users the confidence to use their digital communication channels without fear of fraud.

A robust solution is needed to protect people from the emotional and financial toll that scam communications take on victims. It is not enough to simply prevent financial loss. We must also protect vulnerable populations from these scams and safeguard their emotional well-being. Maintaining trust in the digital infrastructure that is so crucial to modern life is also of the utmost importance.

The Intention of the Solution: Introducing Luna

Luna’s scalability is the defining feature that sets it apart. It is designed to evolve with the threat landscape, incorporating new data sources and learning algorithms to stay ahead of emerging scam techniques—and it does so with unparalleled effectiveness. Luna also offers customizable settings that allow users to tailor its behavior to their specific needs. Whether you require strict filtering for an elderly relative or more lenient settings for a busy professional, Luna has you covered.

Luna empowers users by giving them greater control over who can contact them. Luna is different. Unlike existing solutions, Luna actively engages with callers before they reach the user, requiring them to identify themselves and their purpose. This proactive approach guarantees that only legitimate and non-threatening communications get through, eliminating the risk of falling victim to scams.

Furthermore, Luna is designed with the emotional well-being of users in mind. Luna filters out potentially dangerous communications before they even reach the user, reducing the likelihood of psychological trauma associated with scam incidents. Luna’s focus on emotional security is a critical aspect of our value proposition. We recognize that the impact of scam communications goes beyond financial loss.

Luna also saves users time by efficiently managing incoming communications. Luna identifies and filters out unwanted calls and texts, allowing users to focus on the communications that matter and increase their productivity while reducing the stress associated with managing a flood of incoming messages.

The Luna logo is versatile and easily recognizable, appearing as an app icon, a website banner, or on printed materials. The deep blue color palette instills trust and security, while the curved lines of the dog’s silhouette convey approachability and ease of use.

Ein Bild, das Cartoon, Schrift, Grafiken, Clipart enthält.

Automatisch generierte Beschreibung

Luna is the solution to restoring trust in phone communications. It provides a reliable, user-friendly solution that adapts to the evolving tactics of scammers. Luna is a game-changer in the fight against digital fraud in the Netherlands. It protects users from both the financial and emotional harms associated with scam communications.

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