Scammers Reportedly Using Deepfakes of Health Experts and Public Figures in Australia to Sell Health Supplements and Give Harmful Advice

Scammers created AI-generated deepfake videos featuring diabetes expert Professor Jonathan Shaw and TV host Karl Stefanovic to promote an unproven dietary supplement called Glyco Balance on Facebook. In the fake video, an AI-generated Professor Shaw falsely claimed that metformin, a standard diabetes medication, was ineffective and dangerous, while promoting Glyco Balance as a superior alternative that could 'stabilize blood sugar levels in just 24 hours.' The video was accompanied by a fabricated interview transcript where Shaw allegedly endorsed the product as being developed at his institution, the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, with government funds. Patients began calling Shaw's clinic asking about the new treatment after seeing the ads. The fake advertisements were part of a coordinated scam involving multiple fraudulent elements including fake customer reviews, testimonials, and a fabricated research article on ResearchGate attributed to a non-existent Stanford researcher. One victim, 79-year-old Michael from Northern NSW, paid $340 for the supplement after being convinced by fake testimonials. Meta removed the video nine days after it was reported by the Baker Institute. The incident is part of a broader trend of AI-generated health misinformation scams targeting medical professionals and celebrities.