David Koch quits: How Sunrise host was targeted by cruel scams and death hoaxes

From a deadly hoax that went viral to his identity being stolen and used in fake notes by vicious con artists, it’s been a rough few years for television host David Koch.

The 67-year-old Sunrise presenter sent shockwaves through the television world on Monday when he swallowed back tears as he announced he would be leaving the program in two weeks after 21 years on the programme.

The longest-serving breakfast TV presenter in Australian history is increasingly fed up with fraudsters using his photo in fake advertisements online to lure thousands of Aussies.

Koch has unknowingly been the face of countless scams over the years, promoting everything from erectile dysfunction pills and Bitcoin investments to fake cryptocurrency trading apps and kitchen counters.

The online scams have appeared everywhere from real estate and news websites to even weather apps.

At least one Aussie woman lost $150,000 from her savings, while another man recently lost $30,000 in seconds.

Just six weeks ago, a shocked Koch was scrolling through properties on one of Australia’s leading property websites.

He came across a fake ad featuring a digitally altered photo of him surrounded by police with the headline, “Thousands flock to ATMs after Kochie’s arrest.”

This one takes the cake… this on @realestate_au. Got out of hand,” enraged Koch on Twitter

“Scammers cheat you by illegally using my image and false comments. They are the scum of the earth… and unfortunately I can’t help that.’

Days earlier, Koch spoke of a “damned annoying” death hoax after criminals used his image and fake news about his passing to scam people out of thousands of dollars.

He was bombarded with ‘tributes’ while on leave from Sunrise when a Twitter post announcing his death went viral.

Originating from a hacked account, the tweet contained a link redirecting users to a cryptocurrency scam featuring fraudulent celebrity endorsements purportedly from the likes of Koch, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, and others.

“While saying goodbye is never easy, we take comfort in knowing that Kochie lived a full and meaningful life and left 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 in front of his face.

The hoax was viewed 140,000 times and more than 6,000 Twitter users clicked on the ad, which led them to a website pushing Immediate Edge, a get-rich-quick scam featuring fake endorsements from celebrities like Jeremy Clarkson, Piers Morgan, and Justin Trudeau.

At the time of his ‘death’, the chairman of Port Adelaide Power in Adelaide was with his family to enjoy AFL’s inaugural Gather Round before heading to Far North Queensland for a few days.

To be clear, I live and enjoy #gatherround in Adelaide with my whole family. “This stuff really gives me the s**ts,” Koch wrote.

He spoke to 2GB’s Ben Fordham on air a few days later to prove he was still alive.

‘I am alive and well and currently on a break in beautiful Palm Cove, [the tweet] is certainly far from the truth,’ he said.

It’s so damn annoying… This is just one of many scams using my images and fake comments of mine to promote the benefits of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. It says this is a way to make a fortune.’

‘It is ridiculous. There’s another rumor that I’ve been arrested because the authorities come up with a plan that could make you a fortune.’

“They’re in plague proportions right now!”

Koch added that he reported the scam to authorities who told him there were limits to what they can do.

“I’ve spoken to the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) and they’ve told me the only reason these scams are going on is because people fall for it and lose money or they wouldn’t be using me,” he said. said.

“My problem is I get emails from people who think they are real and blame me, so what am I supposed to do to protect myself from this let alone the Australians lose their hard earned money?”

In January, Koch was furious after discovering yet another fraudulent ad using his name.

Online viewers were urged to click a link referring to Koch being involved in a “shocking scandal,” or promising to reveal how the financial expert amassed wealth.

Koch has repeatedly called for social media platforms to put an end to these scam ads.

He has also called for tougher government action against fraudsters and took out his frustration on federal aide Stephen Jones in a fiery television interview last November.

“I had this guy over the weekend who contacted me on Facebook and abused me for losing $30,000 to a scam using my photo and dodgy comments of mine,” Koch told the assistant treasurer.

“Here at Channel Seven we get sued by you and the ACCC if we run an unreliable ad. Why can’t Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn take the same responsibility as mainstream media groups?’

“It’s just heartbreaking for our viewers who get sucked into this stuff.”

A defeated Kochie added, “I can’t help it.”

Weeks earlier, he had seen a screenshot of a fake online article on a UK weather app that claimed to reveal how much money he “really made.”

“These scam artists are getting out of hand. My daughter’s friend in the UK checked her weather app of all things… and a scam ad pops up. LOOK AFTER. They are starting to get pestering proportions,” Koch furiously posted on Instagram in October.

In 2019, Koch and his wife of 44 years Libby found themselves at the center of an online scam related to Bitcoin investments.

‘SCAM WARNING; ANY STORY OR AD PROMOTING THE KOCH’S RECOMMENDED BITCOIN AS AN INVESTMENT IS A SCAM,” his lengthy post began

“The scammers who use Libby and I as bait to entice people to invest in Bitcoin drive us crazy.”

“Facebook does its best to take them down, but then they resurface using various offshore servers

A year earlier, in 2018, Koch was also forced to deny any association with fraudulent ads promoting erectile dysfunction treatments after unknowingly becoming the face of an online campaign.

“For those who may be tempted… be warned: the erectile dysfunction ads doing the rounds online with my image are bogus,” Koch warned.