ASIC Flags AI Scam Surge, 12,000 Websites Taken Down in Australia
Synopsis
As part of a major crackdown on digital fraud, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has reported a record 12,000 scam website takedowns. The regulator is cautioning the public that scammers are leveraging artificial intelligence to generate convincing fake endorsements and authentic-looking trading platforms. These criminals are using techniques such as ‘cloaking’ to evade the authorities to target Australians’ retirement savings and investment capital. This is the latest in a series of articles examining how ASIC plans to protect the nation’s digital economy against increasing AI threat
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has taken down close to 12,000 dodgy scam websites in the last year alone. This unprecedented crackdown comes as experts caution that the just-launched wave of scammers is now using artificial intelligence to make their fake investment pitch look more real than ever.
Key Highlights
- ASIC took action against 11,964 scam and phishing websites.
- That marks a 90% increase in site takedowns from the previous year.
- The regulator issued a new warning that scammers are now using A.I. to generate fake clips of well-known politicians and business leaders.
- Investment scams continue to be the most common type of loss in Australia.
- ASIC is in the process of working with social media companies to hopefully block such scams from appearing on your feed.
ASIC Shuts Down 12,000+ Dodgy Scam Sites
Australia’s corporate watchdog, ASIC, has mounted a major offensive against online fraud, freeing the country of almost 12,000 scam-type websites. They often masquerade as legitimate trading platforms or banks, only to steal personal information and cash from unsuspecting Australians. By moving quickly to take these sites offline, the regulator is attempting to prevent millions of dollars from being funnelled to criminal gangs abroad.
This massive cleanup is part of a larger effort to keep pace with the fast-moving world of digital crime. After ASIC was granted the power to directly take down websites, it removed thousands of phony links but warns new ones are popping up daily. What now gets even more of the attention is catching these dodgy sites as soon as possible, before they have an opportunity to make their way into search results or social media ads.
AI Super-Charging the Scam Threat
Regulators are particularly concerned about how scammers have been able to use artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their tricks. Many past scam websites were sketchy giveaways due to poor spelling or blurry photos. These days, AI has criminals designing sleek websites and writing false news stories in seconds flat. They are even using AI to replicate the voices and faces of trusted celebrities to promote fake crypto-trading apps.
These scams are powered by a new artificial intelligence technology and are meant for people who get overly excited about new technology. It’s common for a con artist to say they have a secret AI bot that can predict the stock market, or even Bitcoin, with 100% accuracy. ASIC is reminding Australians that if an investment opportunity sounds too good to be true, it almost always is, even if it promises results through magic AI tools.
The Danger of Cloaking Technology
One major challenge for ASIC is a method known as cloaking. This is when a fraudster takes out an ad on a perfectly normal-seeming blog or news site to the regulator, but shows the regular user something else: a fake investment ad. That makes it much more difficult for computer programs to discover and flag the scam. It also provides a way for ads to skirt the safety rules of major social media platforms.
Due to these sneaky tricks, ASIC has even resorted to using its own advanced technology to hunt down hidden pages. They’re collaborating more tightly with internet providers and tech companies to cut the pipes through which these scammers gain access to the public. Even with these tools, the regulator says that the most effective protection against being deceived is attention to detail.
How to Stay Safe Online
To help keep the public safe, ASIC is promoting a simple Stop, Check and Protect message. They would do well to remember that you should never click on those investment links sent via WhatsApp or Telegram, and check whether a company holds an Australian Financial Services licence before handing over any money. If in doubt, search the company on the Moneysmart website.
If you do accidentally click a link or pay a bill, the single most important factor is speed. And reporting the scam to your bank and to Scamwatch as soon as you can gives the authorities the best chance of stopping those criminals, and protecting other people. In today’s online world, a couple of minutes spent fact-checking can be the difference between a lifetime of financial loss.
FAQs
- ASIC took down how many sites?
In 2025 almost 12,000 sites were removed, nearly double that of the previous year.
- Are these sites easy to find?
Not anymore. AI makes them look very professional, which is why you always have to check for a proper license.
- Can I recover my money if I’m scammed?
Sending money overseas makes this very challenging, which is why they say, Stop and Check.
- Where to report a scam?
You should notify your bank straight away and report it to the government via the Scamwatch website
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