Will the ScamShield Bot be able to read my other WhatsApp messages?
No, the Bot will not be able to read your other WhatsApp messages.
Why does ScamShield need access to my contacts, access to make and manage phone calls, and access to send and view SMS messages?
ScamShield does not filter calls or messages coming from a contact saved on your phone. To do so, we require access to your contacts. We do not store your contact list on our database.
Likewise, ScamShield requires access to make and manage phone calls, and access to send and view messages to be able to spot and filter scam calls and messages from unknown contacts.
We only store information on calls and messages from unknown contacts and which have been identified as scam to train our system, and better protect the community.
What gets sent to the Bot when I report to the police?
When you submit a report to the ScamShield Bot, the SPF will be able to see only the information you have submitted through the ScamShield Bot and the time stamp at which the report was submitted. For example, here is what the SPF can see:
For Message Reports: A copy of the submitted message, the reported sender information, and the channel submitted for the report.
For Call Reports: The caller’s number or ID, info submitted about the call, where the call was received.
Are there any privacy concerns with using the app?
No, both iOS and Android have strict privacy rules on what ScamShield can or cannot read. If a message comes from a contact saved on your phone, the SMS will not be sent to ScamShield. If you have previously interacted with an unknown contact, or decided to engage an unknown contact in conversation, then ScamShield will not get to see the message either. Only messages sent by unknown persons via SMS will be read by the AI. The app also does not have any access to your location data or any personal data (because it’s not necessary!).