A widely shared social media post, presented as if it came from an AFL fan page, is spreading a false claim that Richmond forward Tom Lynch has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
The post may look legitimate at first glance, but it is entirely fabricated. It appears to be AI-generated, along with other posts on the same page, and directs users to a website designed to steal personal details.
Published on the Tigers Dynasty Facebook fan page, the fake message claims Lynch is “facing the cruellest battle of his life” after being diagnosed with Stage IV glioblastoma, described in the post as “one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of brain cancer”.
It goes on to say that “each passing day has become a fight against pain, loss, and the slow fading of strength”.
The fabricated post also urges “the AFL world and the Yellow and Black faithful” to rally around Lynch and his family with “prayers, love, and unwavering support” during what it describes as a heartbreaking period.
Despite being untrue, the post has been shared several times and has drawn emotional responses from fans, many of whom left messages of grief, shock and support in the comments.
The post also included a video that appeared to show Lynch, 33, looking sombre while standing before television news microphones with an Adelaide Oval backdrop behind him.
A link attached to the post claims to offer more information, but instead sends users to a phishing website used by cybercriminals to trick people into handing over personal information.
The criminals can then use those details to steal online banking logins, credit card details and passwords, or to gain access to other online accounts.
A fan page posted a fake news report combined with an AI video of AFL star Tom Lynch
It was particularly cruel timing for Lynch, who is about to become a parent with wife Olivia
Richmond Football Club confirmed the ‘report’ about Tom having terminal cancer was false
It comes just days before Lynch is due to welcome his first child with wife Olivia.
Richmond Football Club told Our News Outlet the post about Lynch’s ‘terminal brain cancer’ was false, and a club insider said it was ‘troubling’.
‘It is an ongoing issue,’ they added. ‘Even if you get a site shut down, another one pops up.’
But the fake news about Lynch is just one of countless scam posts spread by pages posing as AFL fan sites.
The same Tigers Dynasty page – which lists its headquarters a non-existent address in rural Tasmania – also shared a fake news story that former player Alex Rance was killed in a US plane crash in Miami.
It shared real pictures of the Amazon cargo plane crash in Florida at the weekend, but neither Rance nor his ex-wife Georgia Rance – also pictured, despite the couple’s 2019 split – was involved.
It also claimed on Monday that the 13-year-old son of a ‘Richmond Tiger legend’ had died following a cardiac arrest at football practice, together with another fake link promising more information and an AI-generated picture of a boy.
The same page posted a fake report that former Tiger Alex Rance died in a plane crash
Rance was pictured with Georgia, his ex-wife, from whom he split in 2019
On Monday it shared an AI image of a young boy, saying he’d died of a cardiac arrest
In reality, the story appears to have been stolen from the genuine death of Caden Sorrell, 13, from North Carolina, who died on August 28.
It’s not just Richmond Football club bearing the brunt of criminals using their star plays in attempts to phish fans.
A quick search revealed the same false story about a Richmond legend’s teen son dying of a cardiac arrest had been replicated for pages purporting to be fan groups for other national sports teams, including the AFL’s Collingwood Magpies and Sydney Swans, and the NRL’s Wests Tigers.
The Australian Federal Police warn cybercriminals ‘love to exploit moments when you’re distracted, rushed, or not paying attention’.
They encourage social media users to ‘watch out’ for links to fake websites that look like real ones.
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