Apate sends AI agents undercover to get scammed so they can gather fraud intelligence
News Source
β’Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:00:00 +0000
π° What Happened
A startup called Apate uses AI agents to trick scammers. The agents act like ordinary people who might fall for a scam. They answer scam calls, reply to shady messages and click phishing links.
The goal is to keep scammers talking and learn about them. Apate says its agents have wasted 17 years of scammers' time in 2.5 million chats. The company then shares what it learns with banks, phone companies and governments.
π The Backstory
Scams are getting worse because of AI. The FBI received more than 22,000 complaints about AI-related crimes in 2025, with losses of about $893 million. Most of that money came from fake investment schemes.
People have long teased scammers for fun. Apate turned that idea into a real business. Its founder started the company after getting a scam call at a family picnic. Research done at Macquarie University in Sydney inspired the idea.
π― Why It Matters
Scams cost people and businesses huge amounts of money. Learning how scammers work can help banks block them before more people lose their savings.
A startup called Apate uses AI agents to trick scammers. The agents act like ordinary people who might fall for a scam. They answer scam calls, reply to shady messages and click phishing links.
The goal is to keep scammers talking and learn about them. Apate says its agents have wasted 17 years of scammers' time in 2.5 million chats. The company then shares what it learns with banks, phone companies and governments.
Scams are getting worse because of AI. The FBI received more than 22,000 complaints about AI-related crimes in 2025, with losses of about $893 million. Most of that money came from fake investment schemes.
People have long teased scammers for fun. Apate turned that idea into a real business. Its founder started the company after getting a scam call at a family picnic. Research done at Macquarie University in Sydney inspired the idea.
Scams cost people and businesses huge amounts of money. Learning how scammers work can help banks block them before more people lose their savings.