An 86-year-old Canadian woman has lost over $900,000 after falling victim to a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam that used a deepfake video of Prime Minister Mark Carney. The scam, which originated on Facebook, highlights the growing threat of AI-powered fraud.
The Scam Unfolds
Judy Skene, from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, first encountered the scam in 2025 while browsing Facebook. She saw a video of Carney promoting a crypto investment platform that promised unusually high returns and claimed backing from the Bank of Canada. “I saw an ad on Facebook of Mark Carney telling me if I invested $350 Canadian, it would be backed by the Bank of Canada,” Skene said.
Trusting the message, she clicked the link, signed up, and made an initial payment. Soon after, she received a call from someone claiming her investment had already tripled in value. Over the following months, she continued investing, gradually draining her life savings. She even took out a $300,000 mortgage on her condominium to keep investing.
On the fake platform, her account showed strong growth, but in reality, there was no real investment. By the time the scheme ended, Skene had lost more than $900,000. “Once I did the final payment, there was no more conversation and all my money was gone,” she said.
The Aftermath
The impact has been severe. A family friend, Pat Probert, stepped in to support her. He said the situation became so distressing that Skene even considered taking her own life. Her condo fees and insurance payments were bouncing. Probert has since raised concerns about online fraud and urged people to check in on vulnerable relatives, especially seniors living alone.
The Role of AI and Social Media
Such scams are becoming increasingly difficult to detect due to the use of artificial intelligence to create realistic deepfake videos featuring public figures. Mohit Rajhans, an AI expert, emphasized that responsibility should also lie with social media companies that host fraudulent advertisements. “These scams are on every different type of platform,” he said.
A Warning to Others
Skene has spoken out to warn others about online fraud. “Just be alert and be careful with what you see on Facebook,” she said. Probert has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help her manage living expenses, noting that she had intended to leave her money to charity. “Judy was not doing this for greed; she was doing it to help others. Now she is the one needing help.”
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