Two-year-old startup contributes to Tampa’s growing startup ecosystem.
In a major milestone for both Scamnetic and the growing Tampa, Florida innovation ecosystem, the AI-powered scam detection company announced a $13 million Series A funding round to accelerate its growth and expand its market presence globally.
The round, led by Roo Capital, included participation from 1st and Main Growth Partners, SaaS Ventures, and Riptide Ventures—bringing the company’s total funding to $16 million.
Founded with the mission of restoring trust in digital interactions, Scamnetic is pioneering a holistic approach to scam prevention through advanced artificial intelligence tools. The company’s platform has positioned itself as a first-of-its-kind technology suite that proactively defends consumers and enterprises from evolving digital threats, including fraud, identity scams, and phishing attacks.
Reinforcing Consumer Safety Through AI
“Scams have become the most reported crime globally, not just eroding financial stability but also breaking consumer trust,” said John Evans, Scamnetic’s Chief Operating Officer. “We believe that AI should be used as a force for good, and this funding allows us to expand our mission: to make the digital world safer for everyone.”
As scams become more sophisticated, Scamnetic is using AI to fight AI. Its core product suite includes:
- Scan&Score™: Scans all incoming communication—emails, texts, social media DMs, messaging apps, QR codes, and even images—for scam indicators in real-time.
- IDeveryone™: A secure identity verification system that helps users confirm who they’re interacting with before they send sensitive information or payments.
- Scam Intervention™: A 24/7 hotline staffed by scam recovery experts who help victims navigate fraud resolution and asset recovery.
- Scam Education™: Continually updated resources that help individuals and companies stay informed on evolving scam tactics.
A Critical Market Need
The urgency of Scamnetic’s mission is underscored by startling financial losses:
- U.S. consumers lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 alone, a 25% increase from the previous year.
- Text message scams accounted for $470 million in losses.
- The global cost of fraud scams and banking schemes topped $485.6 billion in 2023.
- The Global Anti-Scam Alliance estimated that over $1 trillion was lost to international scams within just 12 months.
In response to these trends, investors have rallied behind Scamnetic’s proactive approach. “The world needs to fight AI with AI,” said Spencer Cecola, Partner at Roo Capital. “Scamnetic is the rare company with both the vision and the technology to get ahead of the curve—and stay there.”
Empowering the Tampa Startup Ecosystem
Scamnetic’s rise is a testament to Tampa’s emergence as a vibrant innovation hub. While cities like Miami and Austin often dominate headlines, Tampa has quietly cultivated a thriving tech scene, particularly in cybersecurity, fintech, and AI.
As a homegrown company, Scamnetic is actively contributing to the region’s economic development by creating high-skilled jobs, attracting venture capital, and fostering technology leadership. Its funding success marks one of the largest Series A rounds for a cybersecurity-focused AI startup based in the Tampa, Florida startup ecosystem.
The company maintains ties to the local innovation infrastructure, collaborating with startup accelerators, university research hubs, and entrepreneurial support organizations across Central Florida. This synergy has allowed Scamnetic to scale quickly while remaining grounded in a community-oriented mission.
Fueling Expansion and Innovation
Scamnetic plans to use its new funding to scale operations, with a focus on enhancing its marketing, sales, and customer support teams. The capital will also accelerate development on its product roadmap, including expanding its real-time protection features and identity verification tools.
Among the company’s expansion priorities:
- Broader global coverage for multinational enterprise customers
- Enhanced user experience and more robust integrations for SaaS partners
- Growth into adjacent markets like online marketplaces, virtual events, and cryptocurrency exchanges
Scamnetic is also exploring partnerships with telecom companies, social platforms, and e-commerce giants—industries where scams and fraudulent activity are particularly prevalent.
Building for the Future
What sets Scamnetic apart is its holistic approach. Rather than addressing scams piecemeal, the platform tackles the full lifecycle of fraud—from detection to user education to victim recovery. This end-to-end solution has positioned the company as a category creator in digital safety.
“As scams evolve, the tools to fight them must evolve faster,” said COO Evans. “We’re not just protecting consumers—we’re protecting the integrity of the digital economy.”
The company is already servicing clients ranging from mid-sized enterprises to multinational corporations, and its tools are increasingly embedded into customer service workflows, financial systems, and communication platforms.
Looking forward
As AI scams continue to threaten global trust and financial stability, Scamnetic offers a timely and necessary solution—one that combines technological excellence with a clear social mission.
By anchoring its expansion in Tampa, the company adds credibility and momentum to a region that is quickly becoming a serious contender in the national startup landscape.
