American Express Makeathon 2023

Problem statement name

Develop a system that balances the need for security with the user's convenience and privacy while ensuring the technology's accuracy and reliability.

Overview

As transactions become increasingly digital, the need for secure and convenient verification methods become more important. Traditional methods of authentication, such as passwords and PINs, can be vulnerable to hacking and phishing attacks. Facial recognition technology offers a potentially more secure and user-friendly alternative.

However, the effectiveness of facial recognition technology for transactions or OTP verification is dependent on several factors. These include the accuracy and reliability of the technology, the potential for fraud or spoofing, and user privacy concerns.

Build a solution that includes facial recognition technology that is secure and also supports user privacy and confidentiality.

Task 

• Develop a working training model
• Face detection and recognition system
• Deployment of the project on GitHub

Submission format 

• Project description (mandatory)
• Presentation (mandatory)
• Video and link of the project

Problem statement name

Develop a gamification strategic application that can help credit and debit card users take advantage of Rewards programs.

Overview

Many credit and debit card users do not take advantage of Rewards programs offered by their banks or financial institutions. This can be due to a lack of understanding of how the program works, a perception that the rewards are not significant enough to make a difference, or a lack of engagement with the program.

The challenge is to design a gamification strategic application that is effective in engaging users and driving desired behaviors, such as using the card for specific transactions or spending a certain amount each month. The strategy must also be easy to understand and use and be scalable across different user segments and markets.

Task 

• Build an app for users
• Include games and financial information
• Include games that include transaction information
• Provide security alerts to the users

Submission format 

• Project description (mandatory)
• Presentation (mandatory)
• Video and link of the project

Problem statement name

Develop blockchain-based solutions that can ensure compliance with regulatory mandates while also providing transparency, security, and efficiency.

Overview

Blockchain based mandates require a deep understanding of blockchain technology, as well as an understanding of the regulatory landscape and compliance requirements for the specific industry or use case.

Computer engineers working on blockchain mandates must be able to develop blockchain-based solutions that can ensure compliance with regulations and mandates while providing transparency, security, and efficiency. This can involve designing and developing blockchain-based systems that can track and verify transactions, securely store data, and provide real-time visibility into the status of transactions and compliance.

Task

• Show compliance and regulation of mandates
• Track and verify mandates transactions
• Real-time visibility of transaction status

Submission format 

• Project description (mandatory)
• Presentation (mandatory)
• Video and link of the project

Problem statement name

Develop and maintain ML-based fraud detection models that are effective at identifying evolving fraud patterns even in the presence of imbalanced data.

Overview

Fraudulent activities such as credit card fraud, insurance fraud, and identity theft is a problem for businesses and individuals alike. Traditional fraud detection techniques often rely on rule-based systems that require human experts to manually update the rules as new fraud patterns emerge. These methods can be time-consuming, expensive, and often fail to detect new and evolving fraud patterns.

Overall, the goal of ML-based fraud detection is to develop models that can detect fraud patterns in real-time, while minimizing false positives and false negatives. By addressing the challenges outlined in the problem statement, businesses and individuals can better protect themselves from the financial and reputational damage caused by fraud.

Task 

• Data collection and preparation 
• Model training 
• Use imbalance data to train the model
• Model evaluation 

Submission format 

• Project description (mandatory)
• Presentation (mandatory)
• Video and link of the project

Problem statement name

Building a unique solution for managing risk profiles involves the development and implementation of data-driven risk management strategies.

Overview

Reassessment of the risk profile is necessary to:

• Ensure that the risk management strategies are effective
• Identify any new risks that may emerge

This requires regular analysis of data and a continuous improvement approach to risk management.

Your idea should involve development and implementation of data-driven risk management strategies that prioritize risks, implement effective risk mitigation strategies, and continuously monitor and reassess the risk profile to ensure ongoing effectiveness.

Task 

Involve different approaches for mitigating identified risks. For example,

• Risk avoidance
• Risk transfer
• Risk mitigation and risk acceptance

Submission format 

• Project description (mandatory)
• Presentation (mandatory)
• Video and link of the project

Problem statement name

Build a basic digital wallet to transact using e-RUPI

Overview

A digital wallet is a software application that allows users to store, send, and receive digital currencies or digital assets. To transact using e-RUPI, a digital wallet will need to be integrated with the e-RUPI payment system. The digital wallet will be used to facilitate transactions between the user's e-RUPI account and other payment systems.

Design and implement a secure and user-friendly digital wallet system that enables seamless transactions using e-RUPI, ensuring high reliability, confidentiality, and platform availability. 

Task 

• System should provide a simple and intuitive user interface
• Allowing users to add funds to their digital wallets easily
• Initiate transactions
• View transaction history
• Integrate with the e-RUPI payment gateway
• Implement robust security measures
• Encryption
• Authentication
• Access control

Submission format 

• Project description (mandatory)
• Presentation (mandatory)
• Video and link of the project 

Resources

• What is digital wallet?
• Introducing e-RUPI

Problem statement name

Build a quantum-safe crypto-algorithm for future-proofing Amex’s sensitive data

Overview

With the development of quantum computers, traditional cryptographic algorithms such as RSA (Rivest–Shamir–Adleman) and ECC (Elliptical Curve Cryptography) are becoming vulnerable to attacks. 

Quantum computers can solve certain mathematical problems much faster than classical computers, which can be used to break the encryption used to protect sensitive data. To future-proof sensitive data against these potential quantum threats, quantum-safe cryptographic algorithms have been developed. These algorithms use mathematical principles that are believed to be secure against both classical and quantum computers.

Develop a quantum-safe cryptographic algorithm that can effectively protect sensitive data of Amex from potential attacks by quantum computers, and future-proofing the security of Amex's information systems against quantum threats. 

Task 

• Replace the existing cryptographic algorithms used by Amex, which are vulnerable to attacks by quantum computers that can break traditional cryptographic methods such as RSA and ECC.
• New algorithm should also be efficient and scalable
• Able to handle large volumes of sensitive data.
• Perform cryptographic operations in real-time and reliable manner.
• Algorithm should be compatible with existing technologies and platforms used by Amex

Submission format 

• Project description (mandatory)
• Presentation (mandatory)
• Video and link of the project

Resources

• What Is Quantum-Safe Cryptography, and Why Do We Need It?
• Post-Quantum Cryptography