The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has declared war on "super-charged" AI-driven fraud, revealing a record-breaking 11,964 scam websites were dismantled in 2025.
This represents a 90% surge in takedowns compared to the previous year, as regulators scramble to combat criminals leveraging artificial intelligence to deceive the public.
According to new data, ASIC coordinated the removal of approximately 230 malicious sites per week, alongside 1,100 deceptive social media advertisements.
Commissioner Alan Kirkland warned that scammers are now using AI to craft sophisticated "deepfake" videos and polished endorsements that are increasingly difficult to distinguish from legitimate opportunities.
These digital traps often employ "cloaking" technology to bypass platform security, displaying different content based on a user's location to evade detection.
"With these AI videos, the only thing that is real is the amount of money you risk losing," Commissioner Kirkland stated, noting that Australians lost over $2.1 billion to scams last year alone.
Investment fraud accounted for nearly $838 million of those losses, frequently driven by high-pressure tactics and promises of "guaranteed" returns via mythical AI trading bots.
ASIC is urging citizens to exercise extreme caution before sharing personal details online.
The regulator advises that any investment opportunity spruiking unrealistic returns or celebrity endorsements should be treated as a red flag.
Consumers are encouraged to verify Australian financial services licences via the Moneysmart website and contact their banks immediately if they suspect a breach, as the digital arms race between regulators and overseas syndicates intensifies.