Free AI scam checker targets seniors before they lose money

A Sammamish engineer has launched PurrtectMe.com, a free AI tool that helps people 60 and older check suspicious emails, texts and phone scripts for scams before responding. The launch comes as FBI data show elder fraud losses hit $7.75 billion in 2025, underscoring the need for simple, no-account tools.

Why it matters: - Older Americans are a prime target for fraud, and the financial damage is accelerating. - A simple, free tool could help seniors and caregivers spot scams before money is sent or personal information is shared. - The service is built for people who do not want to sign up, pay, or learn new software just to check a suspicious message.

What happened: - Sammamish engineer Tariq Shaikh launched PurrtectMe.com, a free scam-detection website aimed at seniors. - The site lets users paste in a suspicious email, text message, or phone call script and get an instant plain-language verdict on whether it looks like a scam. - The platform requires no account, no payment and no technical experience. - PurrtectMe.com is available now at purrtectme.com.

The details: - FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data show Americans age 60 and older filed 201,266 fraud complaints in 2025. - Those complaints reported $7.75 billion in losses, a 59% increase from the prior year. - Average loss per victim was $38,500. - PurrtectMe.com uses generative AI to analyze the language and structure of a submitted communication. - The system looks for patterns common to phishing, romance scams, tech-support fraud, government impersonation and investment fraud. - The site returns its assessment in plain, non-technical language. - The platform has been live since April 2026 and has drawn visitors from 29 countries, with most traffic coming from the United States. - Shaikh said he wanted to build something a senior or caregiver could use in the moment, for free, without having to figure out new technology first. - Shaikh has 17 years of fraud-prevention experience and previously built fraud-detection systems at Amazon, American Express, Citibank, Charter/Spectrum and Walmart/Sam's Club. - Shaikh holds a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from Arizona State University. - PurrtectMe.com is self-funded so far. - The service is designed to stay free permanently, with no in-app purchases or advertising.

Between the lines: - The launch reflects a gap in the market for scam tools that are fast, free and built for older adults instead of bundled inside paid security products. - The focus on plain language suggests the product is aimed as much at reducing confusion and hesitation as at identifying fraud patterns. - The self-funded approach signals a consumer-first pitch, but it also means the platform's long-term scale will depend on Shaikh's continued support.

What's next: - Seniors, caregivers and family members are being encouraged to use the site whenever a message or call feels suspicious, before replying or sending money. - The company plans to keep the tool free and ad-free. - As scam tactics evolve, the usefulness of the platform will depend on how well its AI keeps up with new fraud patterns.

The bottom line: - PurrtectMe.com is trying to make scam checking as easy as copy, paste and read — a low-friction approach aimed at one of the groups most exposed to fraud.