<p>Crypto scams accounted for 615 takedowns, the regulator says, as total number exceeds 7,300 in 12 months</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/aug/19/australia-politics-live-iron-ore-price-budget-unions-immigration-labor-coalition-cost-of-living">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></li><li>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">morning and afternoon news emails</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></li></ul><p>More than 7,300 websites have been taken down in the first year of operation of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission’s service targeting investment scams, the regulator has revealed.</p><p>Since the beginning of the program in July 2023, Asic said it had shut down thousands of scam websites that offer fake investment trading platforms and cryptocurrency investments that are often spread online through social media containing false celebrity endorsements.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/article/2024/aug/19/asic-scam-websites-crypto">Continue reading...</a>