Ask Arthur is now on Chrome: detect scam ads and dodgy sellers on Facebook

Australians lost $2.18 billion to scams last year. That number has gone up every single year since we started counting.

A huge chunk of that happens on Facebook. Marketplace scams, deepfake celebrity ads flogging fake investments, PayID tricks in Messenger — it's relentless. And the platforms aren't stopping it at the source.

We built Ask Arthur to change that. Today, it's available as a free Chrome extension.

The problem nobody's solving

You've seen the ads. Some bloke who looks like a famous Australian spruiking a crypto scheme. A Marketplace listing for a suspiciously cheap iPhone. A buyer in Messenger asking you to "verify your PayID" before they pay.

These scams don't start in your bank account. They start in your Facebook feed, your inbox, your group chats. By the time your bank flags something, the money's already gone.

Nobody is watching the place where scams actually begin. Until now.

What the extension does

Ask Arthur sits quietly in your browser and helps you spot scams before you fall for them. No technical knowledge needed.

Check any website

Paste a URL and Ask Arthur will tell you if the site is dodgy — fake shops, phishing pages, investment scams, the lot.

Analyse suspicious messages

Got a weird email, SMS, or Messenger message? Paste the text and our AI will break down exactly why it's suspicious (or give you the all-clear).

Spot scam ads in your Facebook feed

This is the big one. When you scroll Facebook, Ask Arthur quietly checks every sponsored post. If it finds something suss, you'll see a warning banner right on the ad — before you click.

Score Facebook Marketplace sellers

Thinking about buying from someone on Marketplace? Ask Arthur checks the seller's account age, ratings, and location to give you a trust score. New account with no history selling a $3,000 laptop? You'll know about it.

Catch PayID scams in Messenger

If someone in Messenger starts pushing PayID scam patterns — asking you to "verify" your details, sending fake payment confirmations, requesting unusual transfers — Ask Arthur flags it in the chat.

Scan your Chrome extensions

Not sure if your other browser extensions are safe? Ask Arthur can audit them for security risks, dodgy permissions, and known vulnerabilities. Graded A+ to F, plain English.

Detect deepfake images

Those AI-generated celebrity endorsement ads? Ask Arthur is building detection for synthetic images so you can tell what's real and what's been fabricated to take your money.

How to install

It takes about 30 seconds:

1. Visit the Ask Arthur page on the Chrome Web Store
2. Click Add to Chrome
3. Click Add extension in the popup
4. You'll see the Ask Arthur icon in your toolbar — that's it, you're protected

No account needed. No signup. No credit card.

How it protects you on Facebook

Sponsored posts: When you scroll your feed, Ask Arthur checks every sponsored post against our threat intelligence database and AI analysis. If something looks off — a fake domain, a too-good-to-be-true offer, a known scam pattern — you'll see a clear warning banner right on the ad.

Marketplace listings: When you open a listing, Ask Arthur looks at the seller's profile. How old is the account? Do they have ratings? Does their listed location match up? You'll see a trust badge (green, amber, or red).

Messenger chats: If a buyer or seller starts using known PayID scam tactics — fake payment screenshots, requests to "verify" your bank details, pressure to move off-platform — Ask Arthur shows a warning in the chat window.

All of this happens locally in your browser. We don't read your private messages. We don't store your conversations.

Your privacy is protected

• No account required — just install and go
• No data stored — we don't keep your messages, URLs, or browsing history
• No tracking — we don't monitor what sites you visit
• No selling data — ever
• Free to use — the core extension costs nothing

Who it's for

Honestly? Everyone. But especially:

"Install it for Mum"

If you've got parents or grandparents who use Facebook, this is the single most useful thing you can do to protect them. Install it on their computer next time you visit.

Marketplace buyers and sellers

If you buy or sell on Facebook Marketplace, seller trust scores and PayID scam detection are built for you.

Anyone getting suspicious messages

Weird email from your "bank"? Text message about a package you didn't order? Paste it into Ask Arthur and get a straight answer in seconds.

What's next

• Community reporting — flag scams you find and protect other Australians automatically
• More platforms — expanding beyond Facebook to other places scams live
• Mobile app — the same protection on your phone
• Push alerts — get notified about scam trends in your area