AI generated clips of Justin Trudeau, Elon Musk used in investment scams worth millions: Edmonton police
Edmonton police are warning about online investment scams, including one linked to AI-generated clips of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and X owner Elon Musk, after Edmontonians lost more than $12 million this year.
In a Friday release, Edmonton police say they are currently investigating 172 scam incidents from Jan. 1 to Nov. 26 of this year, involving 204 victims and a reported loss of $12.8 million.
Of those occurrences, 15 victims lost about $1.9 million in a “scam that features Prime Minister Trudeau and public figure Elon Musk,” police said, including one victim who lost $900,000.
These scams, primarily found on social media platforms, show an ad purporting to be a legitimate investment opportunity, often featuring what appears to be a video endorsement from Trudeau or Musk
People who click on the link and express interest in the supposed opportunity are then called by someone claiming to be a financial adviser, who guarantees large profits off a small investment.
Scammers then access victims’ bank accounts through remote-access apps, allowing them to take money under the guise of fees or investments.
EPS Det. Trevor Semotiuk said police are seeing an increase in the number of scams using AI in this way.
“If you think you’ve been a victim of this scam, please don’t hesitate to contact police,” he said in a statement.
“Your report will help us to understand just how misleading and technologically advanced these investment scams can be.
“If you think you’ve encountered a scam or an opportunity that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Before you make a financial investment, going in-person to a trusted financial adviser or banking institution can help verify if something is authentic or illegitimate.”
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