Ontario senior loses $900,000 in AI deepfake cryptocurrency scam

An 86‑year‑old resident of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Judy Skene, was duped by an AI‑generated deepfake video that appeared to show Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney promoting a new cryptocurrency platform. The video claimed a $350 investment would be backed by the Bank of Canada and generate guaranteed wealth. Believing the claim, Skene signed up, deposited the initial amount and, after being told her money had tripled, continued to invest larger sums.

Over several months the scammers persuaded her to mortgage her condominium for $300,000 to keep funding the fake account. When the final payment was made, the platform vanished, leaving Skene with a total loss of about $900,000 and no means to cover basic expenses. A friend, Pat Probert, created a GoFundMe campaign to provide emergency assistance.

Experts note the case highlights the growing use of AI‑deepfake advertisements in investment fraud and call for greater accountability from social‑media platforms that host such deceptive content.