ASIC Took Down 11,900 Scam Websites in 2025: What Crypto Investors Need to Know

Australians lost millions of dollars to online investment scams in 2025 despite an aggressive crackdown by regulators. According to ASIC, more than 11,900 scam websites were removed during the year, including over 3,000 cryptocurrency related scams.

That works out to roughly 32 fraudulent websites being taken down every day.

Yet scammers continue finding new victims. The reason is simple. Scam websites can be rebuilt faster than regulators can remove them.

The rise of deepfake crypto scams

One of the biggest threats in 2025 has been the use of artificial intelligence generated videos and images.

Scammers have created fake advertisements featuring well known Australian business leaders and public figures. These ads often appear on social media platforms and direct users to fraudulent crypto investment websites.

The videos look convincing enough to make people trust the opportunity. Once a victim clicks through, they are encouraged to deposit money into a fake platform that appears legitimate.

ASIC has repeatedly warned that scammers are rapidly adopting new technology to make fraud harder to detect.

Social media remains the primary attack channel

Most crypto scam victims do not discover fraudulent platforms through search engines.

Instead, they encounter them through targeted advertisements on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other social media platforms.

These advertisements often contain:

Fake testimonials

Scammers use fabricated success stories and fake reviews to create trust.

Fake news articles

Victims are redirected through websites designed to look like legitimate news publications.

Celebrity endorsements

Well known names are used without permission to promote fraudulent investment opportunities.

The goal is always the same: move victims onto a fake investment platform and encourage deposits.

Why scam websites keep returning

Removing a scam website does not stop the criminals behind it.

A new domain can be registered within minutes and promoted through fresh advertising campaigns almost immediately.

The infrastructure required to launch a scam website is inexpensive while the potential profits can be enormous.

This is why Australian authorities have increasingly focused on identifying and disrupting the criminal networks operating these scams rather than simply taking down websites.

Operations involving ASIC, AUSTRAC and the Australian Federal Police are now targeting the people behind the fraud instead of just the websites they use.

How to protect yourself

Never trust celebrity crypto promotions

If a social media advertisement features a celebrity promoting a crypto investment platform, verify it through official channels before taking any action.

Check domain history

A professional looking website means nothing if the domain was registered only a few weeks ago.

Verify registration

Any cryptocurrency exchange operating in Australia should be registered with AUSTRAC.

Avoid clicking investment ads

If a platform interests you, type the website address directly into your browser rather than clicking advertisements.

Research before depositing funds

Search the platform name alongside words like scam, review or warning before sending money.

Key takeaway

ASIC's removal of 11,900 scam websites highlights the scale of online investment fraud affecting Australians.

While regulators continue removing fraudulent platforms, the strongest defence remains education and verification.

Before investing in any cryptocurrency platform, take a few minutes to verify who operates it, how long it has existed and whether it is properly registered.

If something feels rushed, secretive or too good to be true, it usually is.

Sources: ASIC, AUSTRAC, Australian Federal Police, National Anti-Scam Centre, Scamwatch 2025