Apate.ai Uses AI Agents Undercover to Combat Scams by Gathering Fraud Intelligence
Australian startup Apate.ai is using thousands of AI agents to engage with scammers in an effort to gather fraud intelligence. These agents, designed to mimic real users across various demographics and languages, interact with scammers through calls, messages, emails, and social media groups. The goal is not only to waste the time of fraudsters but also to extract valuable information such as bank accounts, crypto wallets, phone numbers, malicious websites, and impersonated brands before any actual victims are harmed. The company's approach represents a novel evolution in scam-baiting, leveraging AI advancements that have empowered both scammers and defenders. Apate provides this intelligence to banks, telecom companies, government agencies, and utilities so they can enhance their anti-fraud measures. The FBI reported over 22,000 complaints of AI-related crimes in 2025, with significant financial losses attributed largely to investment scams involving deepfakes. The idea for Apate was inspired by a real-life scam call the CEO received during a family picnic several years ago. This experience led him and his team at Macquarie University to explore machine learning techniques that could detect and prevent such frauds more effectively.
Topics: Artificial Intelligence Cybercrime Prevention Startup Innovation