David Koch is 'dead' and 'under arrest' as fake news scams continue to run wild despite the Sunrise host begging the consumer watchdog to stop them
Scammers can't seem to keep their stories straight with fake news articles claiming Sunrise host David Koch is both 'dead' and 'under arrest'.
The Channel Seven presenter, 67, has recently been the subject of multiple cryptocurrency scams that use false reports of his death to dupe people out of thousands of dollars.
These hoaxes have now diversified to include deceptive links alleging Kochie has been arrested for financial crimes.
But clued-up viewers have noted the impossibility of a dead person being arrested, finding humour in how the scams are now contradicting each other.
The latest false news story includes a sloppily edited image of Koch looking distraught as police officers drag him away.
Scammers can't seem to keep their stories straight with fake news articles claiming Sunrise host David Koch (pictured) is both 'dead' and 'under arrest'
'Thousands flock to ATMs after Kochie's arrest,' reads the false headline.
Koch was targeted by a cruel death hoax earlier this week when criminals used his image and fake news of his passing to scam people out of thousands.
He was bombarded with 'tributes' over the weekend when a Twitter post announcing his death went viral, Crikey reported.
The Seven presenter, 67, has recently been the subject of multiple cryptocurrency scams that use false reports of his death to dupe people out of thousands. These hoaxes have now diversified to include deceptive links alleging Kochie has been arrested for financial crimes
Clued-up viewers have noted the impossibility of a dead person being arrested, finding humour in how the scams are now contradicting each other
Originating from a hacked account, the tweet included a link redirecting users to a cryptocurrency scam featuring fraudulent celebrity endorsements purporting to be from the likes of Koch, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates and others.
'Although saying goodbye is never easy, we take comfort in knowing that Kochie lived a full and meaningful life, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, warmth and compassion,' the scam tweet read.
The message was accompanied by a black and white photo of Koch looking distraught with his hands over his face.
The TV veteran was targeted by a cruel death hoax earlier this week when criminals used his image and fake news of his passing to scam people out of thousands of dollars
Koch retweeted the post and assured his followers that despite taking a week off work, he was 'alive and well'.
'Just for clarity, I'm alive and well and enjoying AFL's Gather Round in Adelaide with all my family. This stuff is really giving me the s**ts,' he said.
Koch has asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) if there is anything he can do about these scams, but was told they will continue to pop up if people keep falling for them.
The owner of the Twitter account, Kimberly Ramirez, told Crikey she 'had no idea' her hacked account was spreading a crypto scam under the guise of a tribute to Koch.
She went on to say she had received an email from Twitter alerting her to a login attempt on her account. The email stated the hacker could have accessed her account from Lake Forest, Illinois.
Koch retweeted the post and assured his followers that despite taking a week off work, he was 'alive and well'
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