ScamShield Lite

Inspiration

Online scams such as phishing messages, fake bank alerts, and OTP fraud are increasing rapidly. Many people panic when they receive urgent messages and act without understanding the risks. I was inspired to build ScamShield Lite after noticing that scam victims often lack clear guidance, not intelligence. I wanted to create a tool that helps users pause, understand, and make safer decisions instead of reacting out of fear.

What it does

ScamShield Lite is a privacy-first web application that helps users identify potential online scams. Users can paste a suspicious message and instantly see a scam risk level (low, medium, or high), along with detected red flags, an explanation of why the message is risky, and clear do and don’t safety guidance. The app also supports multiple languages and voice read-out for accessibility.

How we built it

ScamShield Lite was built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as a lightweight, fully client-side application. The scam detection logic is rule-based and transparent, identifying common scam indicators such as urgency, suspicious links, and requests for sensitive information. A multilingual content system dynamically updates the entire result based on the user’s selected language. All analysis happens locally in the browser, ensuring strong privacy and safety.

Challenges we ran into

One major challenge was implementing full multilingual support without using external translation APIs. Another challenge was ensuring that language switching updated not just headings but all explanations, red flags, and guidance dynamically. Balancing simplicity, accessibility, and meaningful cybersecurity education without overwhelming users was also a key challenge.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of building a tool that is not only functional but also empathetic and inclusive. Full local-language support, voice accessibility, and a strict privacy-first approach make ScamShield Lite usable by a wide range of users. The app doesn’t just warn users—it educates them, which we believe creates real-world impact.

What we learned

Through this project, we learned how important thoughtful design and accessibility are in cybersecurity solutions. We also learned how to balance innovation with responsibility, ensuring that the tool provides guidance without making unsafe guarantees. Building ScamShield Lite reinforced the idea that small, well-designed tools can make a meaningful difference.

What's next for ScamShield Lite

With more time, ScamShield Lite could be expanded to support additional Indian languages, include a browser extension version, and explore machine-learning-based scam detection. Voice-based input and deeper educational modules could further improve accessibility and awareness.

Built With

• api
• browser
• css
• github
• html
• javascript
• speech
• synthesis