Deepfake Australian PM used in celebrity scams causing $7.4m in losses
nordicinst · x · 2026-08-16
Australia's corporate watchdog ASIC has warned of a steep rise in scams using deepfakes of celebrities and politicians to lure victims into phony investment opportunities. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is the most commonly co-opted figure, with deepfake videos overlaying fake audio promising high returns on government-guaranteed platforms. ASIC dealt with over 19,400 scams last financial year, nearly triple the previous year. The ease of generating AI deepfakes has allowed scammers to build networks of fake brands, websites, and reviews to deceive victims.
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