How artificial intelligence traps fraudsters by wasting their time
uses thousands of AI agents to pose as potential scam victims across calls, messages, email and social media. The interactions are intended to keep fraudsters engaged while collecting details such as bank accounts, cryp
uses thousands of AI agents to pose as potential scam victims across calls, messages, email and social media.
The interactions are intended to keep fraudsters engaged while collecting details such as bank accounts, crypto addresses, phone numbers and malicious websites.
The company reports 2.5 million conversations and 17 years of scammersβ time wastedβa practical example of using AI agents to gather intelligence on scams.
How digital agents work
The service, which was based on research from Macquarie University, develops programs that communicate with scammers via phone, text message, email and social media. These digital agents impersonate people of different ages and backgrounds. As they converse with the scammers, they trick them into revealing information such as bank accounts, cryptocurrency addresses, phone numbers and the fake websites they use to steal money.
This information ends up in banks, telecom providers, and government agencies. With this data, organizations can better shield their services and block fraud before it harms real customers.
Results and expansion
Apate says its digital agents have collectively wasted 17 years of fraudster time, participating in 2,5 million conversations. The effectiveness of this method is already being seen in practice:
READ ALSO
Reactions to SpaceX's plan to launch 100.000 new satellites
- Commonwealth Bank of Australia has seen a 76% drop in fraud losses reported by its customers.
- TPG Telecom has redirected 590.000 suspicious calls to Apate agents.
The company, led by Dali Kaafar, received $8,15 million in funding in August 2026 to further develop its technology and plans to expand to London and the US. The need for such solutions is great, as in 2025 alone the FBI received 22.000 reports of crimes related to artificial intelligence, with financial losses reaching $893 million.
G
Hacks.gr on Google
Set it as a preferred source for cybersecurity updates.
Preferred source
Originally published by Dev.to AI. Aggregated on AIWithGhost for educational purposes β full credit and traffic to the original publisher.