Sunrise host David Koch has fired up over online fraudsters who used his image and fake quotes to steal $30,000 from a viewer.
Speaking to Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones on Monday, “Kochie” said enough is enough and demanded the Government do something to stop it after he was contacted by a victim who was fooled by an online ad using a fake endorsement for a dodgy crypto investment platform.
“I had a bloke on the weekend contact me through Facebook, abusing me because he had lost $30,000 on a scam that used my picture and dodgy comments from me,’ Koch said.
“What are you going to do about it?
“Scammers have been using my photo and dodgy quotes from me to scam people for years.
“They appear on Facebook, they appear on LinkedIn, they appear on that Taboola feed on big mainstream websites and I can’t do anything about it.”
The 66-year-old, who began his career as a financial journalist, said this wasn’t the first time his identity had been falsely used to promote “dodgy stuff”.
“Here at Channel Seven, we get sued by you and the ACCC if we run a dodgy ad,” he said.
“Why can’t Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn take the same responsibilities as mainstream media groups?
“It’s just heartbreaking for our viewers that get sucked in by these sorts of things.”
Jones admitted laws need to change to protect consumers and added there would be a specialised scam detection unit created within corporate watchdog, the ACCC – a move praised by Koch.
“We are adamant that the law needs to change,” Jones said.
“We need to drag it into the 21st Century. Social media platforms need to be accountable for the material they are publishing.
“If they are told you have got dodgy stuff online and or unlawful stuff online, which is enabling criminals and they are not taking it down, then there will be fines and penalties that apply.”
The Sunrise host replied: “That is music to my ears because not only are people losing thousands of dollars, it damages my reputation.
“I’ve seen a photo online saying things I never said about Bitcoin or whatever, and people lose money because they think it’s me.”
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