{
  "id": 1331937,
  "title": "AI deepfake scams are impersonating Australia's most public faces",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/ai-deepfake-scams-are-impersonating-australias-most-public-faces",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-16T19:00:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-17/asic-ai-powered-impersonation-scams-warning-alan-kohler/107038256"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Australia, artificial intelligence is being used to create increasingly sophisticated deepfake scams that impersonate public figures to deceive potential investors. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) reported a 182 percent rise in such scams over the past year, with over 19,400 removed from the internet. Scammers often impersonate high-profile individuals like Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, and billionaire Gina Rinehart. These scams typically start with social media ads that claim celebrities endorse a particular investment scheme. Victims are then directed to fake news articles promoting the scam, followed by phone calls offering fake investment opportunities and small profits to build trust. The scams are becoming more convincing, using familiar branding and user reviews to create a false sense of legitimacy. ASIC chair Sarah Court has called on social media platforms to do more to stop these scams, warning that failing to act could result in severe consequences for both victims and those impersonated. Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, has taken steps to detect and remove impersonation scams, but the spokesperson noted that the number of removed scams may be a result of improved detection rather than an actual increase in scams. The Australian government is considering stronger regulations and penalties to combat this growing threat.",
  "summary": "Regulators are removing record numbers of fake celebrity-endorsed investment scams, using AI images of famous figures from the prime minister to Alan Kohler and Gina Rinehart.",
  "key_points": [
    "AI deepfake scams impersonating Australia's public figures increased by 182%.",
    "Scammers impersonate high-profile individuals like Albanese, Taylor, and Rinehart.",
    "ASIC urges social media platforms to act against these convincing scams."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}