Aussie watchdog warns of rise in AI scam threats

New data shows between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025, Asic coordinated the removal of 11,964 phishing and investment scam websites - a 90% increase in takedowns compared to the previous 12-month period when 6,270 were removed.

On average, this is 32 websites per day, or 230 per week.

The watchdog also took down more than 1,100 online investment scam advertisements on social media in 2025.

Asic warns consumers to watch out for scammers increasingly using AI in social media advertisements to lure them into providing their personal details.

Commissioner Alan Kirkland says scammers sometimes hide content that is against the terms and services of social media platforms, by using ‘cloaking’ to display different content depending on the consumers’ device or location.

“Scammers are using artificial intelligence to make fake investment ads look more polished, more convincing and harder to spot,” says Kirkland. “We’re seeing AI being used to create professional videos, fake endorsements and targeted ads designed to lure people into handing over their details.”

Australians lost $2.18 billion to scams in 2025, with investment scams alone costing $837.7 million, according to the National Anti‑Scam Centre’s latest Targeting Scams Report.

“Scammers offer guaranteed, quick and easy investment returns, often claiming to leverage the latest AI technology to make money with minimal effort,” says Kirkland. “With these AI videos, the only thing that is real is the amount of money you risk losing.”