Good Samaritan gardener targeted by cruel AI scam hits breaking point
Several fake accounts are posting Nathan Stafford's lawn care videos, usually with an American voiceover dubbed over the top, on TikTok and YouTube.
The Sydney-based gardener started his mowing company in 2010 and has a 10million strong following across his social media platforms. Mr Stafford also donates a percentage of his merchandise sales to the Heart Centre for Children.
However, in the last 18 months, the Good Samaritan has spent countless hours working to stop his followers from handing over money to scammers.
Dozens of his videos have been reposted by fake accounts, some of which ask his followers for money under the guise of fundraising. Other videos feature insensitive voiceovers about single mothers and cancer patients.
Mr Stafford told 2GB radio host Ben Fordham on Tuesday that the AI scam was affecting both his brand and his business.
One video posted by a fake account claimed he was working on a single mother's 'mosquito trap' because she was 'too busy' to notice it was overgrown.
'It's very disappointing because I help a lot of single mothers and I don't find that entertaining at all,' Mr Stafford said.
Several fake accounts (pictured) are posting Nathan Stafford's lawn care videos
Some of the videos have a American voiceover dubbed over the top (pictured)
'To me it's making a mockery out of that situation. I even saw one last night about a person supposedly having leukemia. I lost a good mate that had leukemia.
'I don't appreciate any of that or find it funny at all.
'They're just trying to empty people's pockets.'
He said there were 'hundreds and hundreds' of fake accounts on TikTok that he had been trying to get deleted for almost two years.
'It's really damaging, mate,' he told Fordham.
'Some of these fake accounts have amassed over 200,000 followers and reach out to my followers, pretending to be me, and request money.'
Mr Stafford's content typically focuses on helping Aussies who are unable to take care of their own overgrown gardens, free of charge.
'I love doing it, it's a good way to also help people out in the community and spread a bit of positivity on my platforms,' he said.
'My profiles are based on helping people, honesty and all that kind of stuff.
'But (these AI scammers) are going out there and the stories that they're putting on these videos are horrendous. It's so far from the truth.
'I don't appreciate that because that's not what my channel is about.'
Mr Stafford has called on TikTok and YouTube to deploy more resources to shut down fake accounts impersonating popular creators.
'Someone needs to step in here and speak with me. It's not just me. There's hundreds of other people that are going through this. It's out of control,' he said.
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