Western Australia's Premier Roger Cook has revealed his distress after discovering artificial intelligence technology was used to create a deepfake video of him promoting a fraudulent investment scheme.
Sophisticated Scam Targets Unsuspecting Australians
The fake advertisement, which circulated on YouTube over the weekend, used advanced AI to replicate both the Premier's appearance and voice. The deepfake video falsely claimed to be "endorsed by the Government" and targeted viewers with promises of investment opportunities requiring a $400 contribution.
Mr Cook expressed his concern about the sophisticated nature of the scam, stating he was "very distressed to see my image used in this way." The Premier emphasized that the State Government never endorses private investment schemes or specific financial products through unsolicited videos or social media advertisements.
Consumer Protection Issues Urgent Warning
Consumer Protection WA released an official warning about the scam late on Friday, confirming the advertisement used AI technology to mimic the Premier's likeness. The watchdog described the scheme as "designed to steal your money and personal information."
Mr Cook acknowledged that while careful observers might detect the video as fake, he understood how convincing it could appear to casual viewers. "It's pretty distressing, isn't it? It's very scary that people go to such lengths to deceive people and to try to scam them out of their hard earned dollars," he told reporters on Saturday.
Growing Trend of AI-Powered Fraud
The incident highlights an alarming trend of scammers using increasingly sophisticated technology to exploit public figures. Mr Cook is far from the first Australian leader to be targeted by such schemes, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously falling victim to similar AI-generated scams.
Prominent business figures including mining magnates Gina Rinehart and Andrew Forrest have also had their likenesses appropriated for fraudulent advertisements. Mr Forrest has taken legal action against Meta, Facebook's parent company, over the proliferation of such scam ads on their platforms.
The Premier expressed concern about the broader implications of advancing technology, noting it creates "a whole new world, a world in which you have to continue to ask yourself the question, is this real?"
Despite the serious nature of the scam, Mr Cook maintained his characteristic humour, jokingly asking the community to "keep trusting the real me" while remaining sceptical of the AI-generated version.
Authorities urge anyone encountering similar suspicious investment schemes to report them immediately to Consumer Protection WA and to remember that legitimate government endorsements of private financial products do not occur through unsolicited online advertisements.
