SK Telecom, the parent company of the SK Group ICT Family, has developed ScamVanguard, an advanced artificial intelligence system that revolutionizes mobile scam prevention. The system offers strong protection against the ever-changing threats of financial fraud. ScamVanguard, which won the Best Innovation Award in Cybersecurity at CES 2025, uses state-of-the-art AI to safeguard users from fraudulent messages, calls, and online schemes.
Han Sang-hyun, manager of SK Telecom’s Cybersecurity AI Development Team, explained the core technology to The Readable at CES 2025: “ScamVanguard detects scams without accessing the content of calls or messages. Instead, it analyzes patterns, such as phone numbers making millions of calls or targeting specific groups and flags them as suspicious.”
Voice calls, text messages, and social media
The AI system operates across three main domains: voice calls, text messages, and social media platforms. For voice phishing attempts, ScamVanguard analyzes call patterns to identify and block numbers with malicious intent. When suspicious activity is detected, customers receive alerts on their phones with warnings such as “Voice phishing suspicious.” Han described the system as both a barrier and an informant, keeping users aware of potential threats while providing robust protection.
Text message scams are another key focus. “It’s straightforward,” said Han. “Messages are either scams or legitimate. When the AI identifies a text as a scam, the system immediately notifies the customer.” ScamVanguard goes a step further in combatting fraud by actively engaging scammers through a unique undercover bot.
Han explained how the bot operates: “For example, if a scammer includes a Telegram ID in a phishing message offering a high-paying job, the undercover bot adds the scammer on Telegram and pretends to be a victim. The scammer believes their scheme is working, but in reality, we’re collecting critical information, such as URLs and tactics.” This intelligence is then used to alert customers and collaborate with authorities to block malicious URLs and phone numbers.
Over 1.3 million scam messages and calls every month
ScamVanguard’s integration within SK Telecom’s ecosystem has made it widely accessible to subscribers. Embedded in A-dot phone plans and services like PASS and Chat+, it offers a seamless layer of protection. Since its launch in late 2024, ScamVanguard has blocked over 1.3 million scam messages and calls each month.
SK Telecom’s efforts go beyond detection and prevention. Han highlighted the company’s collaboration with government agencies, including law enforcement, to exchange data and strengthen scam countermeasures. “We work closely with the police and other authorities,” he said. “They provide us with data, which we use to train and improve our AI systems.”
A tool also used in the financial sector
ScamVanguard’s reach has also expanded into the financial sector. Through a partnership with the Industrial Bank of Korea, the technology powers a solution called “Surpass,” designed to protect customers from financial fraud. This collaboration demonstrates ScamVanguard’s potential to tackle threats beyond traditional communication channels.
Lee Jong-min, manager of SK Telecom’s Future R&D team, emphasized the importance of this technology: “Mobile financial fraud is becoming more advanced and sophisticated. ScamVanguard is our response to that. It not only detects scams but also prevents fraudulent financial transactions, safeguarding customers’ assets.”
The technology’s real-time detection and alert systems are powered by a scalable deep learning structure. By analyzing vast datasets, ScamVanguard can identify patterns that might go unnoticed by humans. This scalability positions it as a potential global solution to combat scams in an increasingly interconnected digital world.
“Initially, ScamVanguard started as a simple text message classifier about four or five years ago,” Han shared. “We kept adding components. What we have now is the most advanced version yet, and we’re continuing to improve it.”
For SK Telecom customers, ScamVanguard offers more than just security. The company describes it as a proactive approach to safety in an era of increasingly sophisticated scams. By combining AI, collaboration with government agencies, and applying innovative features like undercover bots, SK Telecom has created a system that not only protects but stays one step ahead of cybercriminals.
Editor’s note: This article was written by an independent journalist who is based in Las Vegas and was not sponsored by any companies including SK Telecom.
