The alarming way scammers are preying on those with diabetes
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Scams are evolving faster than ever, using new technology to fool even the savviest among us.
With fake information becoming harder to spot, it’s more important than ever to stay informed and protect yourself.
Let’s dive into what you need to know to stay ahead of the game.
A prominent Melbourne diabetes expert has urged his patients to stay confident in their prescribed treatments following the circulation of an AI-generated video falsely attributing damaging statements to him.
The video depicted Professor Jonathan Shaw, deputy director of the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, labelling prescribers of a common diabetes drug as ‘idiots’ while promoting an unverified supplement.
Professor Shaw became aware of the video when concerned patients contacted his clinic, asking about a supposed new treatment.
‘I clicked on the link, and of course, it did look exactly like me, but all the words had been changed,’ Professor Shaw said.
‘I was immediately thinking about the people who might trust what I say, who are now hearing information that I would never give out.’
The deepfake video also featured a fabricated introduction by a well-known Australian TV personality, falsely presenting Professor Shaw endorsing a supplement called Glyco Balance.
The product, which claims to stabilise blood sugar levels within 24 hours, contains cinnamon, berberine, and bitter melon.
The ad, which social media removed after nine days, directed viewers to a fabricated interview transcript with journalist Leigh Sales.
The transcript falsely claimed the supplement was developed at the Baker Institute using government funds, while also questioning the safety of metformin, a widely prescribed diabetes medication.
Professor Shaw expressed grave concerns about the video’s potential impact, saying: ‘My major concern isn’t my personal risk or reputation; my major concern is misinformation. This makes it so much more difficult for ordinary members of the public to identify trusted sources.’
Experts warn that scammers are increasingly using generative AI tools to create highly realistic deepfake ads, leveraging the identities of public figures to push unverified products.
Similar scams have also targeted other prominent Australians, including the use of fake videos featuring health experts to promote dubious treatments.
Kathy Sundstrom, from national anti-scam charity IDCARE, noted the rise in such schemes, saying: ‘In the last year, it’s certainly the worst we’ve ever seen. As everybody has embraced generative AI platforms, so have criminals.’
The fake ad promoting Glyco Balance was just one part of a broader online scam. Sponsored websites, AI-generated testimonials, and even fraudulent research profiles helped create an illusion of legitimacy.
One fake article falsely linked the product to reputable institutions, such as Oxford University and AstraZeneca, further misleading potential buyers.
Health authorities, including Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), have stressed that Glyco Balance has not been assessed for safety or efficacy and is not listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.
Michael, a 79-year-old diabetes patient from northern New South Wales (NSW), fell victim to the misleading ads after encountering one on social media.
‘I clicked on the “read more” tag, and behind it was a prolonged interview with Dr Norman Swan.
There were many pages detailing the development of the product in conjunction with Oxford University and AstraZeneca — all well-known names,’ he said.
After purchasing five bottles in a limited-time offer for $340, Michael quickly regretted the decision. ‘I went back and started reading the comments… People were saying, “I’ve taken one tablet and I feel better.” Come on… You don’t feel better with one tablet,’ he said.
Meta, the parent company of the platform where the video was shared, removed the deepfake after the Baker Institute lodged an intellectual property complaint.
A spokesperson for Meta said: ‘Meta doesn’t want scams on our platforms, and we are continuing to invest in tools and technology to prevent them.’
Despite efforts by digital platforms and regulators like the TGA, the rapid production and dissemination of fraudulent content remain significant challenges.
Ms Sundstrom likened the battle against scams to a game of ‘whack-a-mole’, where new material surfaces as quickly as others are removed.
Professor Shaw warned that such incidents deterred health professionals from engaging online due to fears of being impersonated.
‘We have all sorts of regulations that seem to work very well… Then we suddenly get this happening, where all of that has gone out the window,’ Professor Shaw reminded.
Both experts and regulators advise Aussies to exercise caution when encountering health claims online, taking extra time to verify sources before acting.
‘It’s tiring, but it’s so important,’ said Ms Sundstrom.
In a previous story, we explored how the federal budget is stepping up efforts to combat fraud, allocating significant resources to crack down on scammers and protect Aussies from deceptive schemes.
To learn more about how the government plans to tackle this growing issue, read the full story here.
How can we, as individuals, spot these increasingly convincing schemes before it’s too late? Have you ever come across a scam that seemed too real to ignore? Share your experiences in the comments below.
If you come across a scam, share it on our Scam Watch forum to alert others and help protect our community.
With fake information becoming harder to spot, it’s more important than ever to stay informed and protect yourself.
Let’s dive into what you need to know to stay ahead of the game.
A prominent Melbourne diabetes expert has urged his patients to stay confident in their prescribed treatments following the circulation of an AI-generated video falsely attributing damaging statements to him.
The video depicted Professor Jonathan Shaw, deputy director of the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, labelling prescribers of a common diabetes drug as ‘idiots’ while promoting an unverified supplement.
Professor Shaw calls out a fake AI video promoting an unverified diabetes supplement. Image source: Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Professor Shaw became aware of the video when concerned patients contacted his clinic, asking about a supposed new treatment.
‘I clicked on the link, and of course, it did look exactly like me, but all the words had been changed,’ Professor Shaw said.
‘I was immediately thinking about the people who might trust what I say, who are now hearing information that I would never give out.’
The deepfake video also featured a fabricated introduction by a well-known Australian TV personality, falsely presenting Professor Shaw endorsing a supplement called Glyco Balance.
The product, which claims to stabilise blood sugar levels within 24 hours, contains cinnamon, berberine, and bitter melon.
The ad, which social media removed after nine days, directed viewers to a fabricated interview transcript with journalist Leigh Sales.
The transcript falsely claimed the supplement was developed at the Baker Institute using government funds, while also questioning the safety of metformin, a widely prescribed diabetes medication.
Professor Shaw expressed grave concerns about the video’s potential impact, saying: ‘My major concern isn’t my personal risk or reputation; my major concern is misinformation. This makes it so much more difficult for ordinary members of the public to identify trusted sources.’
Experts warn that scammers are increasingly using generative AI tools to create highly realistic deepfake ads, leveraging the identities of public figures to push unverified products.
Similar scams have also targeted other prominent Australians, including the use of fake videos featuring health experts to promote dubious treatments.
Kathy Sundstrom, from national anti-scam charity IDCARE, noted the rise in such schemes, saying: ‘In the last year, it’s certainly the worst we’ve ever seen. As everybody has embraced generative AI platforms, so have criminals.’
The fake ad promoting Glyco Balance was just one part of a broader online scam. Sponsored websites, AI-generated testimonials, and even fraudulent research profiles helped create an illusion of legitimacy.
Scammers use AI to create fake videos of experts, pushing dodgy treatments online. Image source: Pexel/Pixabay
One fake article falsely linked the product to reputable institutions, such as Oxford University and AstraZeneca, further misleading potential buyers.
Health authorities, including Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), have stressed that Glyco Balance has not been assessed for safety or efficacy and is not listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.
Michael, a 79-year-old diabetes patient from northern New South Wales (NSW), fell victim to the misleading ads after encountering one on social media.
‘I clicked on the “read more” tag, and behind it was a prolonged interview with Dr Norman Swan.
There were many pages detailing the development of the product in conjunction with Oxford University and AstraZeneca — all well-known names,’ he said.
After purchasing five bottles in a limited-time offer for $340, Michael quickly regretted the decision. ‘I went back and started reading the comments… People were saying, “I’ve taken one tablet and I feel better.” Come on… You don’t feel better with one tablet,’ he said.
Meta, the parent company of the platform where the video was shared, removed the deepfake after the Baker Institute lodged an intellectual property complaint.
A spokesperson for Meta said: ‘Meta doesn’t want scams on our platforms, and we are continuing to invest in tools and technology to prevent them.’
Despite efforts by digital platforms and regulators like the TGA, the rapid production and dissemination of fraudulent content remain significant challenges.
Ms Sundstrom likened the battle against scams to a game of ‘whack-a-mole’, where new material surfaces as quickly as others are removed.
Professor Shaw warned that such incidents deterred health professionals from engaging online due to fears of being impersonated.
‘We have all sorts of regulations that seem to work very well… Then we suddenly get this happening, where all of that has gone out the window,’ Professor Shaw reminded.
Professor Shaw says AI impersonation is deterring health pros from online engagement. Image source: Pexel/Mikhail Nilov
Both experts and regulators advise Aussies to exercise caution when encountering health claims online, taking extra time to verify sources before acting.
‘It’s tiring, but it’s so important,’ said Ms Sundstrom.
In a previous story, we explored how the federal budget is stepping up efforts to combat fraud, allocating significant resources to crack down on scammers and protect Aussies from deceptive schemes.
To learn more about how the government plans to tackle this growing issue, read the full story here.
How can we, as individuals, spot these increasingly convincing schemes before it’s too late? Have you ever come across a scam that seemed too real to ignore? Share your experiences in the comments below.
If you come across a scam, share it on our Scam Watch forum to alert others and help protect our community.
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