ASIC Launches New Tool to Expose Financial Services Imposter Scams

Australia’s Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has introduced a new initiative aimed at helping investors identify fake financial services websites and combat the growing threat of imposter scams.

The regulator is now collecting and publishing the official website addresses of Australian Financial Services (AFS) licensees through its Professional Registers Search (PRS). More than 6,500 licensed firms, including banks, investment platforms, brokers and superannuation providers, have been invited to submit their website details since the initiative launched in May 2026.

The move comes amid a surge in scams where fraudsters clone the names, licence numbers and websites of legitimate financial firms to deceive investors. According to ASIC, approximately 20% of all new scam warnings published on its investor alert list since late 2023 have involved the impersonation of licensed financial entities or their representatives.

Under the new system, consumers can search the PRS using a firm's name, licence number, ABN or ACN and verify whether a website is genuinely associated with a licensed financial services provider. The register will also indicate whether a licensee does not operate a website or has yet to provide its website information.

ASIC said the initiative will also help digital platforms, advertisers and technology providers strengthen verification procedures for financial services advertisements and reduce the spread of fraudulent promotions.

The announcement comes as scam activity remains elevated across Australia. Data from Scamwatch and ReportCyber recorded more than 60,000 scam reports and losses exceeding AUD 248 million during the first quarter of 2026 alone.

ASIC is encouraging investors to independently verify firms before transferring funds or sharing personal information and to report suspected impersonation scams to Scamwatch. The regulator has also launched additional resources to help businesses respond to and mitigate scams involving the misuse of their brand identities.