AI-Generated Article Depicted ABC Finance Presenter Alan Kohler Endorsing Boulder Sparhaven Investment
Scammers used AI-generated deepfake videos of ABC finance presenter Alan Kohler to promote a fake Boulder Sparhaven investment scheme, as part of a broader network of fraudulent websites and fabricated news articles. ASIC reported that Kohler was among the most impersonated public figures in such AI-powered scams in FY26, with the fraudulent content designed to appear legitimate and direct victims to bogus investment platforms.
What happened
Scammers created AI-generated deepfake content depicting ABC finance presenter Alan Kohler appearing to endorse the Boulder Sparhaven investment scheme. The fraudulent content was distributed across multiple platforms as part of a broader scam network designed to appear legitimate.
Reported impact
Alan Kohler stated that impersonation scams used to mislead consumers about his endorsements have damaged his reputation: 'It's taken a lifetime to build trust, and it's so easily lost.' He reported that when he contacted Meta to remove the fraudulent accounts, they would be taken down only to reappear, describing the cycle as 'whack-a-mole.'
Index analysis
ASIC identified Alan Kohler as among the most impersonated public figures in AI-generated investment scams in FY26, with deepfake videos used to direct victims to fake news articles and fraudulent investment platforms. The scams typically began with social media advertisements featuring the AI-generated celebrity endorsements, which took victims to fake news articles before funnelling them to bogus investment websites.
Governance controls
ASIC removed more than 19,400 online scams in FY26, up 182 per cent from the previous year, including fake websites, social media ads, phishing scams and cryptocurrency investment scams. ASIC Chair Sarah Court advised consumers to verify website addresses, check whether a person or company is legitimate, and be wary of urgent calls to act before investing.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.