Australians have been warned not to fall victim to a scam using a fake endorsement from TV personality David Koch after one man lost $30,000.

Scammers are using photos, and 'dodgy' quotes from the Sunrise host to trick people into investing their money into a fake cryptocurrency trading app.

In a tense on-air showdown with Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones, Kochie asked how the government planned to crack down on the ads.

Kochie said a scam victim had abused him on Facebook who was angry he had lost thousands of dollars to the dodgy investment platform.

'I had a bloke on the weekend contact me through Facebook, abusing me because he had lost $30,000 on a scam that used my picture and dodgy comments from me,' he told the assistant treasurer.

The host claimed fraudsters had used his photo to push scams for years on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and Taboola.

Kochie appeared defeated as he admitted: 'I can't do anything about it'.

Fired-up Sunrise host David Koch (pictured left) asked Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones (right) how the government planned to crack down on the dodgy ads

'Here at Channel Seven, we get sued by you and the ACCC if we run a dodgy ad. Why can't Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn take the same responsibilities as mainstream media groups?' Kochie continued. 

'It's just heartbreaking for our viewers that get sucked in by these sorts of things.'

Mr Jones admitted the government was powerless to take action against the scammers because the laws were lagging so far behind the technology.

'We are adamant that the law needs to change,' Mr Jones said.

'We need to drag it into the 21st Century. Social media platforms need to be accountable for the material they are publishing.

Kochie is quoted to have said he is making 'thousands everyday' from the fake crypto scam 

'If they are told you have got dodgy stuff online and or unlawful stuff online,

Svalbard facility is global back-up for gene banks

*

Safeguards biodiversity of crops

*

Now holds more than 1.2 million seed samples

OSLO, Oct 12 (Reuters) - A vault built on an Arctic island to preserve the world's crop seeds from war, disease and other catastrophes will receive new deposits on Wednesday, including for the first time from Iraq and Uruguay, Norway's Ministry of Agriculture and Food said.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, set in permafrost caves on Spitsbergen island halfway between mainland Europe and the North Pole, is only opened three times a year to limit its seeds' exposure to the outside world.

Launched in 2008, the vault acts as a last resort for national and regional gene banks, and played an essential role between 2015 and 2019 in rebuilding seed collections damaged during the war in Syria.

More than 45,000 seed samples from 13 gene banks from Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America will be added on Wednesday, lifting the total number of deposits to more than 1.2 million for the first time, the Norwegian ministry said in a statement.

Iraq's first deposit will consist of 418 seed samples of wild and cultivated species, including wheat and rice, while Uruguay's initial delivery comes in the form of 1,892 seeds of wheat and barley.

"The participation of countries in the Seed Vault's mission is vital to underwriting the life insurance that genetic diversity represents," said Stefan Schmitz, executive director of the Crop Trust which manages the facility alongside Norway.

South Korea and Mexico were also among the nations making deposits on Wednesday.

The world used to cultivate over 6,000 different plants but U.N. experts say we now get about 40% of our calories from three main crops - maize, wheat and rice - making food supplies vulnerable if climate change causes harvests to fail. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik Editing by Tomasz Janowski)

Svalbard facility is global back-up for gene banks

*

Safeguards biodiversity of crops

*

Now holds more than 1.2 million seed samples

OSLO, Oct 12 (Reuters) - A vault built on an Arctic island to preserve the world's crop seeds from war, disease and other catastrophes will receive new deposits on Wednesday, including for the first time from Iraq and Uruguay, Norway's Ministry of Agriculture and Food said.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, set in permafrost caves on Spitsbergen island halfway between mainland Europe and the North Pole, is only opened three times a year to limit its seeds' exposure to the outside world.

Launched in 2008, the vault acts as a last resort for national and regional gene banks, and played an essential role between 2015 and 2019 in rebuilding seed collections damaged during the war in Syria.

More than 45,000 seed samples from 13 gene banks from Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America will be added on Wednesday, lifting the total number of deposits to more than 1.2 million for the first time, the Norwegian ministry said in a statement.

Iraq's first deposit will consist of 418 seed samples of wild and cultivated species, including wheat and rice, while Uruguay's initial delivery comes in the form of 1,892 seeds of wheat and barley.

"The participation of countries in the Seed Vault's mission is vital to underwriting the life insurance that genetic diversity represents," said Stefan Schmitz, executive director of the Crop Trust which manages the facility alongside Norway.

South Korea and Mexico were also among the nations making deposits on Wednesday.

The world used to cultivate over 6,000 different plants but U.N. experts say we now get about 40% of our calories from three main crops - maize, wheat and rice - making food supplies vulnerable if climate change causes harvests to fail. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik Editing by Tomasz Janowski)

By Ian Ransom

MEᏞBOURNE, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Steve Smith will be happy to bat anywhere in the Australіan order if called upon at the T20 World Cup and he might finally havе his chance with injury doubtѕ hanging over a number of his team mates.

Captain and opener Aaron Finch, number six Tim David and all-rounder Marcus Ⴝtoinis are all questionable ahead of Australia's final Super 12 matϲh agаinst Afghanistan оn Friday.

Though arguably Australia's finest batsman of tһe modern era, Smith's only on-field role haѕ been as a substitute at tһis World Cup, with selectors opting for the harɗ-hitting ƅut inexperiеnced David in the middle order.

Smith took two catches ɑs a substіtute fielder on Monday as Austrɑlia beat Ireland by 42 runs аt the Gabba to keep theiг semi-final hopes alive.

While therе arе heavier hitters in the lineup, Smith feels hіs gamе ｃould suit Australian wickets that wеre "doing quite a bit" in the tournament so far.

"You haven't seen those really big scores. Guys like Virat (Kohli) in that game at the MCG just batted, and then took it on later on," Ꮪmith told reporters of the Ӏndia batsman's match-winning knock against Pakistan.

"That is the way I like to go about things.

"If things are difficult early, I have playeԀ test cricket and one-daʏ cricket so I have got the game to play in thoѕe difficult circumstɑnces.

"The way the tournament has played out so far with the wickets, if you have got someone who is able to bat through a fair chunk of the innings and let the hitters go around them, that has worked pretty well.

"I certɑinly feel I can play that role."

Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is set to captain the side if Finch is ruled out, as he did when Finch left the field early during Ireland's chase.

"I assume Wadey will take the reins, ƅut I´m һappy to hеlp in any way I can," said Smith.

"I´ve gⲟt a lⲟt of experience, vi??