"Not Me": Magda Szubanski Issues a Warning About Social Media Scams
Culture
Celebrity
Magda Szubanski
In a strong and urgent message, beloved Australian comedian and national icon Magda Szubanski has raised alarms about fraudulent medical fundraising attempts and misleading news stories that misuse her likeness.
On a recent Saturday afternoon, the star of the popular show Kath & Kim took to Instagram to clarify that a series of images circulating online were fake. She urged her fans not to contribute to any medical fundraisers that are not officially endorsed by her.
"Hey there, everyone. This wonderful woman—whoever she may be—is not me," Szubanski stated in her post. "I sincerely hope she is doing well. However, please do not mistake her for me, and ABSOLUTELY DO NOT DONATE MONEY TO ANY MEDICAL FUNDRAISER CLAIMING TO REPRESENT ME! For authentic updates, you can always find me right here. Otherwise, proceed with caution; it’s a scam!"
Last May, the 64-year-old actress bravely disclosed her diagnosis of stage four Mantle Cell Lymphoma, a rare type of blood cancer. Currently, she is receiving treatment in Melbourne through The Nordic Protocol, which integrates chemotherapy with immunotherapy.
The misleading images that triggered this warning seem to be generated by artificial intelligence, and they have been making rounds on various social media platforms over the past few days, falsely claiming to provide updates on Szubanski's health condition.
One such post, shared on Facebook by an account named Celebrity Buzz Today on January 15, carried the headline: "GOOD NEWS AND AN EMOTIONAL UPDATE. After receiving overwhelming support from thousands of fans at the hospital, Magda Szubanski has finally shared a new update on her health today. ‘I am fighting. But I cannot do it alone. My current health condition is...’"
Since August of last year, Szubanski has not posted any updates regarding her health (an earlier update featured an emotional video from her hospital room). In that heartfelt video, she expressed gratitude to a young fan for boosting her spirits while admitting, "Chemotherapy is really taking its toll on me."
In her most recent Instagram update, Szubanski reiterated that all legitimate updates about her health will be available on her official social media platforms, and anything outside of these channels should be regarded as fraudulent.
Szubanski has been approached for further comments on the matter.
If you suspect you’ve encountered a scam, Australians are encouraged to report it to ScamWatch.
