Glenwood youth launches tech to squash online scams

MATRIC learner and Glenwood resident Suhail Surajpal (17) hopes to revolutionise the South African e-commerce sector with a project to safeguard retailers and shoppers from online scams.

In line with this goal, Surajpal has developed a buy-and-sell platform with the aim of identifying scams online.

“I’ve developed something called Community Corner – a new community marketplace platform that uses advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and machine-learning technology to keep shoppers and sellers safe from fraud and scams. In South Africa, scammers commonly use marketplace platforms to prey on unsuspecting individuals who are simply trying to buy or sell something. Having experienced that first-hand, I developed Community Corner to not just alleviate those concerns but to also drastically reduce the possibility of it happening,” said the youngster.

Surajpal said Community Corner would function as both a website and a mobile app.

“Users would need to launch the app/website before proceeding to search or browse for products or services they’re looking for – similar to how you shop on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace,” he explained.

He added that the platform would be free for the community to use.

“This will be a hundred percent free platform for individuals and local businesses, however, big businesses will have the option to pay a fee to access certain features like listing insights, 24-hour support and customised filter options, amongst other things, should they wish,” said Surajpal.

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So how does the platform work?

The concept behind Community Corner is to identify scams online and alert users.

“The platform and backend software work by identifying, and thereafter infiltrating listings and users who exhibit specific language, behaviour and device data patterns commonly associated with scammers, fraudsters and others intending to use the platform for criminal activity,” explained Surajpal.

He added that the platform utilises a piece of software he created called Authenticate AI.

“Authenticate AI works by collecting data from two sources – the first being behavioural data from the device or account you’re using, commonly known as ‘cookies’, and the second source being various e-commerce storefronts as well as credit card payment gateways who collectively form our partner network. It then uses machine-learning technology to assess identifiable data attributes and compares them to users’ past transactions on any other online store that uses a piece of software, a plugin or service from those on our network,” he said.

“Artificial Intelligence then monitors store and website traffic and detects users who constantly request chargebacks from their bank after making a purchase, as well as users who are using location and identity spoofing technology or users whose information does not match that of the transaction. Community Corner tweaks the software a little bit in the sense that it also monitors keywords, language and trackable conversations to formulate,” he explained.

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When will Community Centre be launched?

Surajpal plans to launch Community Corner as a website and app from April 1.

“I also plan to launch the software as a service to other e-commerce sites, to help them safeguard both their platform and their sellers against payment fraud and chargebacks as well as bot and spam accounts and subscription and account abuse,” said Surajpal.

He added that these are among the functions the software is capable of.

“I believe that what I’ve created has the potential not just to improve the online shopping experience for millions of South African shoppers but for thousands of business owners, too,” said Surajpal.

And this is not the first business venture the youngster has taken on.

“Not only am I a talented developer, but I’m also a young entrepreneur, now on my third business venture and am a prime example to other students out there that success and innovation have no age limit,” he concluded.

For more information, visit the websites: www.communitycorner.co.za or www.surajpaltechnologies.com or email infor@communitycorner.co.za.

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