Upcover adds deepfake response cover to cyber insurance for Australian SMBs

Upcover adds deepfake response cover to cyber policies in Australia

Upcover has introduced a deepfake-focused endorsement to eligible cyber policies via a partnership with Coalition. The add-on extends cover to AI-driven impersonation incidents and gives policyholders access to deepfake forensics, legal takedown support, and crisis communications.

The move targets a growing pain point: synthetic audio and video that erode trust and fuel fraud. Banks and regulators in Australia have warned about impersonation scams, and smaller businesses are bearing more of the impact as tools get cheaper and easier to use.

What's new

The option, called Coalition's Deepfake Response Endorsement, is available through Upcover's digital platform. It sits alongside existing cyber cover and is aimed at speeding access to specialist response-services many smaller firms haven't had before.

"A convincing deepfake of a founder or CEO can wipe out trust with customers, investors or staff overnight," said Anish Sinha, Upcover's COO and cofounder. Coalition added, "Deepfakes are the new frontier; they target trust, the most valuable asset that any business has."

What the endorsement includes

• Response for AI-generated impersonation incidents (audio, video, and other synthetic media).
• Deepfake forensic analysis to assess authenticity and trace sources.
• Legal support to pursue removals across platforms and jurisdictions.
• Crisis communications to manage media and stakeholder messaging.

Why this matters for insurers and brokers

• Threat profile: SMBs face invoice fraud, business email compromise, and social engineering-now boosted by convincing voice and video impersonation.
• Claims complexity: Synthetic media spreads fast and persists via reposts, pushing up comms, legal, and takedown costs.
• Client expectations: Response capability is becoming as important as indemnity. Fast access to experts can contain reputational damage.

Likely claim scenarios

• Fabricated executive videos that damage brand trust or trigger customer churn.
• Synthetic voice calls pressuring staff to make urgent payments or disclose credentials.
• Payment redirections and BEC where deepfakes add credibility to spoofed email threads.
• Contractual disputes after customers or suppliers act on false instructions from an impersonated director.

Distribution and availability

Upcover distributes through a self-serve, digital-first platform supporting more than 60,000 businesses and 40+ insurers and underwriters. The endorsement is available to eligible Australian cyber policies placed via Upcover.

The Upcover-Coalition partnership began in 2025, focusing on self-serve cyber distribution. Coalition operates in Australia, the UK, Canada and parts of Europe, combining insurance with security tools and advisory services.

Underwriting angles to watch

• Verification controls: Out-of-band callbacks for payment and banking changes; video/voice verification workflows for executive instructions.
• Training: Staff awareness for finance and admin teams on voice cloning and synthetic media red flags.
• Process design: Segregation of duties, thresholds for second approvals, and vendor change protocols.
• Incident playbooks: Pre-approved takedown counsel, PR workflow, and platform-specific escalation paths.
• Wordings: Definitions of "deepfake," triggers, sub-limits, panel requirements, consent/assignment provisions, and cross-border takedown coverage.

Broker checklist for client conversations

• Map exposure: Who is impersonation-prone (founder, CFO), which channels are used (email, Teams/Zoom, WhatsApp), and where payment instructions originate.
• Test the last-mile: Can finance staff halt a suspicious request without penalty? Are callbacks mandatory before any beneficiary change?
• Review cover: Confirm endorsement availability, sub-limits, waiting periods (if any), panel vendors, and notification triggers.
• Shore up comms: Prepare stakeholder and customer templates for a deepfake incident to shorten response time.
• Point clients to guidance: Australian Cyber Security Centre and Scamwatch resources on impersonation and social engineering.

Key quotes

Upcover's Anish Sinha: "A convincing deepfake of a founder or CEO can wipe out trust with customers, investors or staff overnight."

Coalition's Connor McKay: "By bringing specialised deepfake forensics and legal support to Upcover clients, we're ensuring that Australian businesses aren't just insured against the fallout, but are actively supported in reclaiming their identity and reputation."

Bottom line

Synthetic media is now a mainstream driver of fraud and reputational loss. Upcover's rollout with Coalition gives smaller Australian businesses faster access to the kind of response muscle larger firms rely on-deepfake forensics, legal takedowns, and crisis comms-folded into a cyber policy workflow.

For insurers and brokers, the priority is clear: verify first, pay later, and have a clean response plan ready for the day an executive's face or voice shows up saying something they never said.