"My agent will not let me talk to the general": Software agents as a tool against internet scams

Abstract

This chapter takes as its basis an attempted so-called romance scam to evaluate a common modern communications phenomenon: the difficulty in evaluating human interaction online. Without having access to the kind of wellestablished, largely subconscious physical signals that we use to assess a situation in the offline world, extra vigilance is needed. The option of avoiding online communications is becoming increasingly unrealistic in personal as well as professional situations. The chapter examines whether, in addition to experience, training or personal characteristics, technology can help to avoid risks of misuse of personal data, fraud, extortion and so on. We argue that the elements that arose suspicions in a sceptical and aboveaverage vigilant Internet user can be generalised and instrumentalised through software agents. This would allow such agents to assist the user and raise the red flags where appropriate, even when the user herself may not detect the danger. Such software agents can be made required companions on cyber journeys, becoming an integral part of communication networks.