Savi’s app aims to protect consumers from realistic AI scams like kidnappers demanding ransom

Tech-savvy brothers Patrick and Ryan Coughlin have unveiled Savi Security, a groundbreaking startup dedicated to shielding consumers from increasingly sophisticated AI-generated scams. With backgrounds in national cyber defense and consumer technology—Patrick previously at Cisco and Ryan at Apple—the duo aims to address alarming trends in fraudulent activities that exploit artificial intelligence. Recently, Savi Security secured $7 million in seed funding, with contributions from prominent investors including Acrew Capital and Magnify Ventures. Their innovative app is set to launch for both iPhone and Android users. The initiative was inspired by a distressing personal experience faced by Patrick when his mother received a terrifying phone call claiming that she needed to pay a ransom to save her daughter. The scammer had convincingly spoofed both the caller ID and the voice of Coughlin’s sister, leading to a harrowing moment that ended in relief when it was revealed to be a scam. Reflecting on this incident, Coughlin expressed his concern about how the landscape of cybercrime has evolved. He noted that the accessibility of powerful AI tools has significantly lowered the barrier for criminals, enabling them to conduct elaborate scams that were once reserved for targeting wealthier entities like corporations and governments. The Federal Trade Commission reported a staggering $3.5 billion loss to imposter scams in 2025, a figure that highlights the urgency of the issue, particularly among older Americans and increasingly, Gen Z. To address this, the Coughlin brothers developed a real-time scam detection tool initially tested through a free platform called Scam Wise, which allows users to anonymously upload suspicious communications for analysis. Savi’s new app not only scans texts and voicemails for potential scams but also features a unique live call monitoring service. This allows users to have the app's agents listen in during suspicious calls, identifying potential scams in real time. The app is available for a competitive rate of $8 per month, or $63 annually, covering entire families without user limitations. As the ease of committing fraud increases, Savi Security aims to provide consumers with the same technological edge that scammers utilize, offering a proactive solution to a rapidly growing problem in the digital age.