Ontario woman loses $90,000 to deepfake crypto scam involving fake Doug Ford video

Summary

An Ontario woman lost US$90,000 after falling victim to a deepfake cryptocurrency scam in October 2024. The scam involved a fake video purporting to show Ontario Premier Doug Ford promoting a new crypto investment initiative. The victim initially invested $350 and was later encouraged to invest more by individuals claiming to represent an investment firm. When she attempted to withdraw her funds, she was asked to pay additional fees. Guelph police confirmed the scam was not associated with the provincial government and urged victims to contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.