As detailed in TechCrunch, Apate.ai, an Australian startup founded in 2024, deploys thousands of AI agents to pose as potential victims and engage with scammers. The company aims to gather intelligence on fraudulent activities by wasting scammers' time and extracting valuable information.
Apate's AI agents interact with scam calls, messages, emails, and social media groups, adopting various personas to keep scammers engaged. The goal is to collect details such as bank accounts, crypto wallets, and phone numbers, which are typically revealed only after a victim has been defrauded. This intelligence is then provided to Apate's customers, including banks, telecom companies, government agencies, and utilities, to enhance their anti-fraud measures. The FBI reported over 22,000 complaints of AI-related crimes in 2025, resulting in approximately $893 million in losses, highlighting the growing need for such proactive defense strategies. Apate's approach, inspired by a founder's personal experience, represents an evolution of scam-baiting, leveraging AI to turn the tables on fraudsters. The company has raised $8.15 million in seed funding to expand its operations and product development.
Source: TechCrunch
