Researchers at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, have built a chatbot named Apate that can mimic human voices and carry on conversations with phone scammers. This development was reported by the PCMag portal, highlighting a creative response to a common threat in telecommunications.
The project is led by Professor Dali Kaafar. The idea emerged after a 40-minute exchange with scam callers, and the team believes that artificial intelligence can automate the process of keeping scammers engaged. The goal is to occupy the scammers’ attention long enough to prevent them from targeting others, effectively reducing the pool of potential victims.
Apate was trained using real text and voice data from encounters with scammers drawn from diverse sources such as phone calls, emails, and social networks. The training approach aims to equip the chatbot with the ability to understand and respond to a range of scam tactics, enabling it to hold meaningful dialogues under different circumstances.
Early demonstrations show that Apate can adapt to various scenarios and employ multiple strategies to keep the recipient on the line for extended periods. Strategies range from adopting a feigned lack of understanding to expressions of frustration, designed to deter further manipulation. Preliminary results indicate that the average duration of interaction between scammers and the chatbot sits around five minutes, although the system has shown potential for longer exchanges under certain conditions.
Researchers have filed patents to protect the underlying technology and envision integrating the chatbot into telecommunication networks as a new form of automated response system directed at scammers. The concept centers on creating a kind of proactive answering mechanism that challenges and delays scam attempts rather than simply blocking them, thereby contributing to safer communication channels for users.
In related news, there is broad interest in applying artificial intelligence to cybercrime prevention and consumer protection. Experts note that such innovations raise questions about privacy, consent, and the ethical boundaries of automated interactions. Ongoing work emphasizes transparent operation, auditability, and safeguards to ensure the technology is used to mitigate harm without creating new risks for legitimate users. Experts also stress the importance of collaboration with industry partners, regulators, and consumer advocates to shape responsible deployment.
As the field moves forward, scholars and practitioners alike continue to explore how AI-driven countermeasures can complement existing security measures in the telecom sector. The aim is to reduce the success rate of scams while preserving user trust and accessibility. In Sydney, the Apate project stands as a notable example of how machine intelligence can be harnessed not just to detect threats but to disrupt scam workflows and protect communities. At the same time, researchers acknowledge that vigilance, ethical considerations, and careful implementation are essential to ensure beneficial outcomes for society. Attribution: PCMag coverage of the Apate project and related discussions in the field of AI and telecommunications.