Dick Smith warns about growing threat of artificial intelligence scams

An Australian millionaire and a couple who lost their entire $220,000 superannuation are warning anyone who uses a phone to watch out for a particularly sneaky scam.

Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to con hardworking Australians with one of the country’s leading businessmen urging the government to do more to protect the vulnerable.

After years of unwillingly being the face of many scams broadcast on social media platforms, Dick Smith is again warning Australians that they are more likely than ever to fall victim as scammers are using deep fake videos to make their false advertising more realistic.

Deep fake AI is a type of artificial intelligence used to create convincing but fake photos and videos -- with anyone potentially becoming a target.

Dick Smith's likeness has been used to con thousands of people into putting their money into investment scams. Photo: A Current Affair

Social media platforms are the most common place people will come across these scams. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

Scammers have begun to use videos of Mr Smith to create their own likeness, one that they can get to say whatever they want.

The millionaire himself was even tricked by one of these videos.

“I’m incredibly angry because when I first saw it I thought it was really me, I thought they’d done an interview somewhere that I’d forgotten about but then I realised no it wasn’t,” he told A Current Affair.

He’s urging Australians to steer clear of social media advertising in case they fall victim.

“I’m saying to fellow Australians never ever buy anything that’s advertised on these Facebook or Instagram because you’ll probably lose your money,” Mr Smith said.

Queensland couple Paula and Ron have echoed his call after they lost more than $220,000 from their superannuation account after deciding to trust a deep fake video.

“There’s a scam going around with Gina Rinehart promoting online trading and you watch her lips and those words are coming from her lips,” Paula said.

“They put us on a roller coaster ride highs and lows and highs and lows...from a $350 investment to be talking to actually losing all my superannuation,” Ron added.

The pair are now facing serious financial difficulty, with Paula failing to hold back tears as she spoke of the experience.

“I’m sorry, it’s just it’s horrible -- it’s the worst feeling and the embarrassment of it, you don’t talk to your friends about it because you’re embarrassed,” she said.

The couple have lost thousands to scammers who advertised on Facebook. Photo: A Current Affair

There are calls for the government to put more pressure on social media companies to stamp out these advertisements, with the industry under limited regulation.

“You would have thought that our government was ready for these sorts of scams, but it seems that maybe our government wasn’t,” media lawyer Justin Quill said

Even the treasurer has been targeted by scammers, with a deep fake video of Jim Chalmers appearing online.

This is something that Mr Smith has serious concerns about.

“Imagined if suddenly we saw on television, our Australian prime minister saying in a perfect accent, we’re declaring war. Well, most people would believe it, but it could be completely faked and done by some Russian gang,” Mr Smith said.

“The government could bring in legislation to make sure that Facebook and Instagram didn’t run these scam ads, but they don’t do anything for some reason.”

Originally published as Dick Smith warns about growing threat of artificial intelligence scams