The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), through its Moneysmart service, issued a consumer warning about a surge in investment scam advertisements and websites that misuse images of prominent Australians to promote fraudulent “get-rich-quick” schemes, and said it is ramping up its takedown capability. ASIC reported that more than 330 celebrity‑image investment scam websites have been shut down so far in 2025, a 25% increase on the same period last year, with impersonated figures including Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, Gina Rinehart and Anthony Pratt. It highlighted recent patterns seen through takedown work including fake trading platforms, cloned websites, fake news articles and “AI trading bot” products promising unachievable returns, noting National Anti-Scam Centre data showing Australians lost AUD 945 million to investment scams in 2024. ASIC also extended its takedown services to cover investment scam advertising on social media and reiterated its “Stop, Check, Protect” guidance, including checking URLs and whether associated providers are licensed by ASIC or listed on the Moneysmart Investor Alert List. The warning also flagged “superannuation switching” schemes that start with super comparison sites or unsolicited “health checks” and may involve high-pressure sales tactics, clickbait ads and unrealistic return promises. ASIC’s enforcement update indicated more than 14,000 investment scam and phishing websites have been taken down since the program began two years ago, with an average of around 130 malicious websites removed each week.

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