Baidam and Infoblox launch rapid takedown service to combat online scams

Indigenous ICT and cyber security provider Baidam has partnered with global cloud networking and security services company Infoblox to launch a service to remove fake websites and scam domains.

Called Baidam Takedown Services, the company claims this is the Australian-first capability to take action as per above, within a week using the Domain Name System (DNS).

Baidam said the service is in response to the alarming rise in online scams targeting Australians.

According to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) and its National Anti-Scam Centre, Australians lost $2.74 billion to various scams in 2023, including investment, identity theft, and online shopping fraud.

Jack Reis, chief executive of Baidam, pointed to the particular vulnerability of indigenous and regional businesses to internet fraud.

"There are parts of Australia where the internet is very new, or not available yet at all," Reis said.

"It's one of the most important resources we can bring to the bush, but lack of experience and education on cybersecurity and online scams can leave indigenous people and businesses more vulnerable," he added.

The ACCC report noted that First Nations people reported almost twice as many scams in 2023 compared to the previous year, underscoring the urgency of this initiative.

Operating out of Australia's first Indigenous designed and managed Security Operations Centre (SOC) in Brisbane, Baidam Takedown Services leverages Infoblox's technology to track, identify, confirm, and remove fraudulent websites significantly faster than typical industry response times.

"We're seeing internet fraud playing a more prominent role in how cybercriminals infiltrate organisations in Australia," Scott Morris, Infoblox Australia and New Zealand Managing Director said.

"Our takedown service helps companies neutralise fraudulent domains impersonating them for criminal activities," Morris addded

The service can also track and remove stolen proprietary information from online forums or fraudulent hosts and confirm and remove malicious files from organisations' legitimate websites.

The Baidam Takedown Services are now available across Australia, offering organisations the ability to purchase or pre-purchase 'packs' of takedowns for current or suspected fraudulent websites and domains. 

Baidam was a finalist in the 2024 CRN Impact Awards, in the ESG category.