AI-Powered Phishing Attacks Poised to Scam Over 1 Million Aussies

According to a recent report, Australia is bracing for a significant rise in AI-enhanced phishing attacks over the next 12 months. Research by software development company Airteam has revealed that these scams could affect up to 1.18 million Australians, marking a 372% increase from the 250,000 people scammed in 2024.

Phishing attacks involve criminals posing as trustworthy entities to trick people into sharing sensitive information. The report shows that AI-automated phishing emails have a 54% click-through rate, nearly 5 times higher than standard attempts. This makes the AI-powered scams much more profitable for cybercriminals.

AI expert Natalie Ashes warns that these sophisticated attacks will be extremely difficult for even savvy internet users to identify. She is particularly concerned about the impact on older Australians, who may struggle to recognize the subtle lures used in these scams. In the first four months of 2025, Australians reported losses of $13.7 million to phishing scams, a significant increase from $4.6 million in early 2024.

Banks are working to strengthen protections and stay ahead of the evolving threat, but Ashes believes small and medium-sized businesses, along with the elderly, will make up a large portion of the additional 930,000 scam victims expected in 2026.