Cybercriminals are leveraging artificial intelligence to create convincing, yet entirely fabricated, stories that prey on the emotions of sports fans, with the ultimate goal of stealing personal data. A recent viral social media post, appearing to originate from an AFL club fan page, falsely claimed that Richmond forward Tom Lynch had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
The post, shared widely on the Tigers Dynasty Facebook fan page, detailed a fictional diagnosis of Stage IV glioblastoma, describing Lynch's supposed struggle with pain and loss. It urged fans to offer prayers and support. Accompanying the text was an AI-generated video depicting Lynch appearing distressed, set against a backdrop of an Adelaide Oval.
Fans who clicked on a link within the post, promising further details, were directed to a phishing website designed to trick them into divulging personal information. This information can then be exploited for identity theft, including access to online banking, credit card details, and other online accounts.
Richmond Football Club has confirmed that the report of Lynch's cancer diagnosis is false. A club insider described the situation as "troubling" and an "ongoing issue," noting that as soon as one fraudulent site is shut down, another emerges.
This fabricated story is particularly cruel as Lynch is reportedly expecting his first child with his wife, Olivia, in the coming days.
The Tigers Dynasty page, which lists a non-existent address in Tasmania, has been linked to other fake news stories. These include a fabricated report of former player Alex Rance being killed in a plane crash in Miami, using real images from a recent cargo plane crash in Florida. Neither Rance nor his ex-wife were involved.
Additionally, the page shared an AI-generated image of a young boy, claiming he died from cardiac arrest during football practice. This story appears to have been stolen from the actual death of 13-year-old Caden Sorrell from North Carolina.
These deceptive tactics are not limited to one club. Similar fabricated stories about the death of a Richmond legend's son have been replicated on pages posing as fan groups for other national sports teams, including the Collingwood Magpies, Sydney Swans, and the NRL's Wests Tigers.
The Australian Federal Police have issued warnings about cybercriminals exploiting moments of distraction or vulnerability. They urge social media users to be vigilant and scrutinize links to websites that may appear legitimate but are designed for fraudulent purposes.
