Apate deploys AI agents undercover to gather fraud intelligence
Startup Apate uses AI agents to pose as potential victims in online scams, gathering intelligence on fraudsters and their methods.
Australian startup Apate is deploying artificial intelligence (AI) agents to actively engage with online scammers, gathering intelligence to help combat fraud. Founded in 2024 based on research from Macquarie University, the company's strategy involves using AI to mimic potential victims.
The AI agents are designed to answer scam calls, respond to phishing emails and messages, and join social media groups used by fraudsters. They can adopt various personas, including different ages, genders, and accents, and communicate in multiple languages to keep scammers engaged long enough to extract useful information.
Apate reports that its AI agents have collectively spent 17 years interacting with scammers across over 2.5 million conversations. Crucially for its clients, which include banks, telecommunications companies, and government agencies, the agents aim to elicit details such as bank accounts, crypto wallets, and malicious websites used in fraudulent activities.
This gathered intelligence is then provided to Apate's customers to inform and enhance their anti-fraud measures. The approach addresses the growing trend of AI being used by criminals to perpetrate more sophisticated scams, turning the technology against those who misuse it.