A fed-up David Koch intends to take authorized motion to cease his identify and picture being utilized by scammers on social media.
The former Sunrise host informed 2GB’s Ben Fordham Live that there had been a surge in on-line scams utilizing digitally altered footage of him to lure folks in.
Koch stated it was time social media corporations have been held to account for the content material they featured.
“It’s been happening for years but now it’s just getting out of control,” he informed Fordham, earlier than confirming he had spoken to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to attempt to get one thing carried out in regards to the concern.
Koch additionally stated he was contemplating defamation motion in opposition to the social media corporations who characteristic the rip-off posts, saying the scams have been damaging his popularity.
One frequent trick scammers use is to place clickbait-style photos of Koch on social media to encourage folks to click on on them, comparable to a latest pretend image that reveals him apparently battered and bruised.
After clicking the picture, harmless victims are inspired to place their cash into crypto currencies and different “dodgy” investments.
Koch, who stepped down from Sunrise in June after greater than twenty years and can be chairman of Port Adelaide Football Club, spoke of his heartbreak for a 72-year-old lady who misplaced $10,000 final month via a rip-off that appeared in an advert in an app she was utilizing to learn the Bible.
Koch has issued a number of earlier warnings to his followers to watch out of scams utilizing his picture however stated the problem stored occurring.
“I report to all the platforms that they (the scams) come on,” he informed 2GB.
“They (social media companies) tell me they take them down but then they come back like locusts and I’ve had enough.”
Koch and Fordham expressed their frustration that social media corporations weren’t held accountable to the identical requirements as “traditional” media retailers.
“We’ve covered stories about vaccine injuries and when you put them up Facebook pulls them down, but on this stuff it’s allowed to be up there and no one’s doing anything about it,” Fordham stated.
“I don’t think regulation has kept up with these scams.”
Source: www.news.com.au
