Knowing which online business endeavors are legitimate is a persistent problem for consumers, but a new application is hoping to combat this problem.

The Scam Detector app gives consumers insight into popular scams by letting them know which ones are frauds. The app is available for free from Apple?s App Store.

?Most scams that happen are face-to-face scams,? said Sorin Mihailovici, CEO Scam Detector Inc., Edmonton, Canada.

?Mobile is instrumental in the app because you can check automatically and find out how a scam works,? he said.

Mobile scams
Mobile fraud is any kind of interaction that takes place on a handset that is fraudulent.

For example, it can be used with banking, auto, travel and any transactions made via mobile and can be used in a variety of channels, including SMS, mobile payments or information provided over the mobile Web.

Companies are overcoming mobile fraud with features such as GPS, which use a consumer?s location to validate an activity.

According to a study from Gartner in 2010, location information from mobile phones will be used to secure 90 percent of mobile transactions by 2013.

The Scam Detector app tracks down information for more than 525 worldwide scams.

The app has nine categories including auto, travel and Internet scams.

Additionally, the scams are broken down into five areas - social networking, online auctions, financial, housing and employment.

Consumers can also search for keywords to find out if something is a scam.

Scams can be shared via Facebook, Twitter or email.

The app was launched in June and has been downloaded in 70 countries.

Scam Detector has plans to be released for Android devices in the coming months and is also available as a PC-based app.

Fraudulent behavior
The Scam Detector app hits on an important mobile threat that marketers, developers and agencies need to be aware of.

With mobile becoming more adaptable by consumers, the channel leaves an open invitation to scammers and hackers.

Unlike computers that consumers arm with virus security, mobile devices are left virtually open for anyone to infiltrate.

In addition to apps, mobile payments and SMS, consumers also need to be wary of mobile giveaways and sweepstakes that do not look legitimate.

?With fraud, you have to be there at the right time and do not want to be too late,? Mr. Mihailovici said.

Final Take
Lauren Johnson is editorial assistant on Mobile Marketer, New York