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[FEATURED NEWS] Beating hi-tech scams with hi-tech systems

Find out how HTX is helping the SPF tackle scam websites swiftly


The scams of today have gotten so sophisticated that it can at times be almost impossible to tell fact from fiction. But thanks to the Scam Analytics and Tactical Intervention System (SATIS), the chances of us getting fooled by scam websites has dropped.

Developed by HTX and GovTech for the Singapore Police Force (SPF), SATIS allows the police to triage, assess and disrupt scam websites expeditiously.

Just how effective is SATIS? Since its launch in 2023, thousands of scam-related websites have been identified and disrupted.

HTX and GovTech are currently working to enhance SATIS using artificial intelligence (AI) tools, namely GovTech’s rMSE (recursive Machine-Learning Site Evaluator) and HTX’s LinkEval (Link Evaluator). These AI tools will further strengthen SATIS’ ability to automatically scan and identify malicious websites.

HTX’s LinkEval team: Chan Zhen Yi, Ronald Toh, Audrey Ang, Tan Wei Lin, Terence Tan, Toh You Sheng, and Tsay En Zhan (Photo: HTX)

LinkEval uses advanced machine learning algorithms to detect malicious features, improving the ability to assess whether a website is fraudulent. It also addresses the issue of resurrected websites that were previously taken down by authorities, further streamlining the process of determining if a suspicious site is indeed malicious. This approach reduces the time and effort needed for investigations, enabling quicker and more accurate detection.

“In a world where scams are ever-present, every effort to remove phishing websites means a potential victim is spared. I am proud and pleased to be part of this team, where our work directly impacts everyone’s daily life,” said Chan Zhen Yi, one of the engineers from HTX’s Q Team.

“This work we do at HTX - we're not just combating scams, we’re also making Singapore a safer place, one step at a time.”

HTX’s BRS team. From left to right: Annie Sng, Adeline Tan, Kelvin Teo and Louis Leow. (Photo: HTX)

Developed by HTX, the Blacklist Reference System (BRS), too, is being used to block scam websites. Before the BRS was put into operation, the process of blocking scam websites was largely manual and resource intensive. With this new system, the police can now block scam websites within minutes, a significant improvement from the past when it took several hours or even days.