Anthony Albanese and Dick Smith deepfake video — Sep 2026

The Rise of Deepfake Scams

In recent years, the rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence has fundamentally altered the landscape of online misinformation and financial fraud. While AI-generated content ranges from harmless celebrity rumors to sophisticated disinformation campaigns, its application in targeted financial scams has become a significant concern for Australian authorities.

What happened

Scammers are increasingly leveraging deepfake technology to enhance the credibility of fraudulent schemes. Specifically, malicious actors have utilized deepfake footage featuring well-known Australians, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and businessman Dick Smith, to create deceptive content. These deepfakes are designed to impersonate these public figures to convince individuals to hand over their money.

This trend aligns with a broader surge in AI-driven cyber threats. During the 2026 financial year, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) reported the removal of more than 19,400 scam websites, with generative AI identified as a key driver behind many of these operations. Experts suggest that as image and video generation tools become more accessible and advanced, the ability to distinguish between authentic media and AI-generated fabrications is diminishing. University of Wollongong experts emphasize that identifying these scams requires moving beyond visual inspection—which can now produce highly realistic results—and instead focusing on critical thinking, source verification, and evaluating the context in which the media is presented.