By Walter Beaver and Francis “Franky” Facts | North of Polite Fact Department

A convincing television interview appears in your feed. A familiar Canadian journalist is asking questions, a recognizable public figure is talking about a supposedly extraordinary investment opportunity, and the message suggests ordinary Canadians are missing out. There is just one problem: the interview may never have happened.

Scam advertisements have misused the names and likenesses of CBC journalists Rosemary Barton and Adrienne Arsenault, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem and entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary to create the appearance of a credible investment endorsement. The people pictured should not be mistaken for the promoters of the offers. Their apparent participation is precisely what makes impersonation effective.

What has actually been documented?

An independent investment-ad monitoring site, InvestRedFlags, reported on November 5 that it had recorded nine Canadian advertisements between October 26 and November 5 using at least two of these names. It identified multiple changing platform names, including Pioneer Kopitiume and Ownvance. Those are the monitoring site’s findings, not a police tally or a determination by a court.

The pattern is wider than one advertisement. The same monitoring service has identified advertisements using the image of Prime Minister Mark Carney. It also points to previously reported fake CBC deepfakes and investor warnings concerning the misuse of Kevin O’Leary’s image. None of this establishes that the impersonated people approved an investment promotion.

How the trick works

The advertisement commonly promises a sensational television revelation, a suppressed interview or a way for everyday people to earn unusually large returns. Clicking can lead to a page styled to resemble legitimate news coverage. A form then asks for the visitor’s name and telephone number, creating an opportunity for a persistent sales pitch and requests for deposits. The name of the platform may change while the underlying story stays strikingly similar.

That is why a recognizable face is not evidence of legitimacy, and a video is no longer enough. A convincing-looking broadcast clip can be edited, fabricated or presented outside its true context. Search for the interview on the broadcaster’s own website, not on a page reached through the advertisement.

Before you invest, verify

Canadians can check whether an individual or investment firm is registered through the Canadian Securities Administrators’ registration search. A registration check is an essential starting point, not a guarantee that every investment is safe. Be wary of guaranteed returns, pressure to act immediately, invented news stories and requests to send money through unfamiliar platforms.

If you already provided personal information or money, contact your bank or card provider promptly, save the advertisement and transaction records, and report suspected fraud to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Do not pay a second person who claims they can recover your money for an advance fee.

The real story is not a miraculous investment hidden from Canadians. It is the exploitation of public trust in recognizable broadcasters and prominent personalities. When a supposed news report is also asking for your deposit, verify the news before believing the pitch.

Read more Scam Alerts

• Scammers are posing as Canada’s Anti-Fraud Centre
• Police stopped a $2.9-million fraud attempt after a fake internet service call

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