NATHASYA BINTI MOHD KAMAL UNIVERISITI POLY-TECH MALAYSIA
Online scam cases in Malaysia have been rising alarmingly, with data from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM/JSJK) showing an increase from 20,289 cases in 2021 to 41,830 cases in 2024. Despite continuous awareness campaigns, most existing approaches remain conventional, static, and lacking in interactivity, making it difficult to measure learning outcomes and behavioural change. Key problems identified include low awareness among seniors and youth, passive and unengaging learning materials, low risk perception ("it won't happen to me"), difficulty in tracking learning progress and impact, and fragmented scam-related resources scattered across multiple platforms.
To address these challenges, SAFE-COM 360™ is introduced as an innovative digital learning ecosystem that integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI), gamification, simulation, and analytics to deliver engaging, adaptive, and measurable scam awareness education. The platform comprises six core components: a knowledge module on common scam types (Know the Scam), an AI-powered chatbot for real-time message verification and advice (AI Scam Assistant), a personalised scam risk evaluation (Risk Assessment), a real-life scenario-based simulation environment (Simulation Lab), a progress and behaviour-tracking dashboard (Dashboard Analytics), and a digital badge and certification reward system (Certification & Rewards).
SAFE-COM 360™ is expected to generate meaningful impact across multiple levels: enhancing individuals' scam awareness and critical thinking; strengthening community-driven protection through knowledge sharing; supporting national cybersecurity and digital safety agendas while reducing scam-related financial losses; and promoting environmentally sustainable, paperless digital education. The innovation also holds strong potential for publication in the fields of digital literacy, gamified learning, and cybersecurity awareness frameworks, contributing to the development of a safer and more resilient digital society in Malaysia.
Keywords: Scam Awareness, Artificial Intelligence, Gamification, Digital Literacy, Cybersecurity
