elderly-investors

What changed

An Ontario retiree, Judy Skene, reportedly lost nearly $1 million after a Facebook ad featuring an alleged AI-generated deepfake video of Prime Minister Mark Carney drew her into a cryptocurrency investment scam. Reports said scammers later persuaded her to liquidate retirement funds, mortgage her condo, and take a credit-card cash advance.

Timeline

1. 16 June 2026Reported Deepfake Video Impersonating Mark Carney Used in Nearly $1M Cryptocurrency Scam Targeting Ontario Senior
   Incident82%

   • Senior loses almost $1M in 'increasingly common' deepfake scamhttps://www.bradfordtoday.ca/local-news/senior-loses-almost-1m-in-increasingly-common-deepfake-scam-12390782
   • Sault retiree lost almost a million dollars in crypto scamhttps://www.sootoday.com/city-police-beat/sault-retiree-lost-almost-a-million-dollars-in-crypto-scam-12367526
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1532https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1532/

   Senior loses almost $1M in 'increasingly common' deepfake scamSault retiree lost almost a million dollars in crypto scamAI Incident Database - Incident 1532
2. 11 May 2026Quantum AI and Related AI-Themed Investment Scams Reportedly Used Deepfake Endorsements and Spoofed Media Sites to Solicit Investments
   Incident82%

   • Which? finds deepfake investment scams on YouTubehttps://www.which.co.uk/news/article/which-finds-deepfake-investment-scams-on-youtube-aFPBo9E3Bk2K
   • We exposed a global AI scamhttps://www.which.co.uk/news/article/which-exposed-a-global-ai-scam-quantum-ai-a6E3T4Y5WHVc
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1236https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1236/

   Which? finds deepfake investment scams on YouTubeWe exposed a global AI scamAI Incident Database - Incident 1236
3. 15 Mar 2026Florida Couple Reportedly Loses $45,000 in Alleged AI-Generated Elon Musk Impersonation Scam
   Incident82%

   • Elon Musk giveaway scheme steals $45,000 from Florida couplehttps://www.clickorlando.com/news/investigators/2025/12/15/elon-musk-giveaway-scheme-steals-45000-from-florida-couple/
   • Elon Musk deepfake scam steals $45,000 from couple: 'You just never think it's going to be you'https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/elon-musk-deepfake-scam-steals-230000179.html
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1306https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1306/

   Elon Musk giveaway scheme steals $45,000 from Florida coupleElon Musk deepfake scam steals $45,000 from couple: 'You just never think it's going to be you'AI Incident Database - Incident 1306
4. 10 Jan 2026Purported Deepfake Impersonating Elon Musk Allegedly Defrauded Elderly U.S. Woman of $50,000 via Gift Card–to-Crypto Scam
   Incident78%

   • My 80-year-old mom is convinced she's dating Elon Musk — and scammers took $50K from her. How do I stop her before she …https://moneywise.com/managing-money/debt/my-80-year-old-mom-is-convinced-shes-dating-elon-musk-and-scammers-took-50k-from-her-what-now
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1328https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1328/

   My 80-year-old mom is convinced she's dating Elon Musk — and scammers took $50K from her. How do I stop her before she …AI Incident Database - Incident 1328
5. 24 Dec 2025Purported Deepfake Impersonating Doctor Allegedly Used in $200,000 Investment Scam Targeting Florida Grandmother
   Incident78%

   • 'Just heartless': Ponte Vedra grandmother scammed out of $200K she saved for grandson with autismhttps://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/ponte-vedra-grandmother-scammed-200k/77-a6e93452-471d-418a-8c8f-448c875b4e76
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1314https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1314/

   'Just heartless': Ponte Vedra grandmother scammed out of $200K she saved for grandson with autismAI Incident Database - Incident 1314
6. 23 Nov 2025Ottawa Couple Reportedly Loses CA$177,023 After Purported Deepfake Elon Musk Investment Scam
   Incident82%

   • 'All our dreams are gone': Ottawa couple scammed out of $177khttps://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/all-our-dreams-are-gone-ottawa-couple-scammed-out-of-177k/
   • Ottawa couple loses $177,000 in deepfake investment scamhttps://youtu.be/V-Mk79wSIJA?si=o5TVXjAiOTSoDW_v
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1276https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1276/

   'All our dreams are gone': Ottawa couple scammed out of $177kOttawa couple loses $177,000 in deepfake investment scamAI Incident Database - Incident 1276
7. 19 Oct 2025Purported AI-Generated Deepfake of Infosys Co-Founder N. R. Narayana Murthy Used in Investment Scam Allegedly Defrauding 79-Year-Old Bengaluru Woman of ₹35 Lakh (~$40,000)
   Incident78%

   • AI scam uses Narayana Murthy deepfake, dupes 79-year-old Bengaluru woman of Rs 35L; fake UK firm ran ‘trading platform’…https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/cybercrooks-dupe-79-year-old-bengaluru-woman-of-rs-35-lakh-in-ai-trading-scam/articleshow/122097772.cms
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1240https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1240/

   AI scam uses Narayana Murthy deepfake, dupes 79-year-old Bengaluru woman of Rs 35L; fake UK firm ran ‘trading platform’…AI Incident Database - Incident 1240
8. 29 June 2025Alleged AI Deepfake Videos Used to Lure Simcoe County, Ontario Residents in Crypto Scam
   Incident78%

   • 'Disgusting' scammers using deep fakes to lure unsuspecting local residents into crypto traps: MPhttps://www.midlandtoday.ca/local-news/disgusting-scammers-using-deep-fakes-to-lure-unsuspecting-local-residents-into-crypto-traps-mp-10873863
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1121https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1121/

   'Disgusting' scammers using deep fakes to lure unsuspecting local residents into crypto traps: MPAI Incident Database - Incident 1121
9. 10 Apr 2025Tbilisi-Based Call Center Allegedly Uses AI-Driven Scripts to Defraud Over 6,000 Victims of $35 Million
   Incident82%

   • Deepfakes, cash and crypto: how call centre scammers duped 6,000 peoplehttps://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/mar/05/deepfakes-cash-and-crypto-how-call-centre-scammers-duped-6000-people
   • Next-Gen AI Scam Clones Broker Exante, Opens JPMorgan Account to Dupe U.S. Victimhttps://www.financemagnates.com/forex/next-gen-ai-scam-clones-exante-opens-jpmorgan-account-to-dupe-us-victim/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 962https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/962/

   Deepfakes, cash and crypto: how call centre scammers duped 6,000 peopleNext-Gen AI Scam Clones Broker Exante, Opens JPMorgan Account to Dupe U.S. VictimAI Incident Database - Incident 962
10. 23 Jan 2025Taranaki, New Zealand Resident Allegedly Defrauded of $224K in Bitcoin Scam Using Deepfake of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon
    Incident82%

    • Pensioner loses $224k after being tricked by AI deepfake Christopher Luxon cryptocurrency investment scamhttps://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/pensioner-loses-224k-after-being-tricked-by-ai-deepfake-christopher-luxon-cryptocurrency-investment-scam/YLG3EQMOAZATVARBL5ITDRL2DA/
    • Scammers who used Christopher Luxon deepfake video to steal $224,000 from pensioner caught on secret recordinghttps://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/scammers-who-used-christopher-luxon-deepfake-video-to-steal-224000-from-pensioner-caught-on-secret-recording/EXC6A4NCAFBOTNZNJFH32B2A5U/
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 907https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/907/

    Pensioner loses $224k after being tricked by AI deepfake Christopher Luxon cryptocurrency investment scamScammers who used Christopher Luxon deepfake video to steal $224,000 from pensioner caught on secret recordingAI Incident Database - Incident 907
11. 16 Dec 2024Deepfake Elon Musk Videos Have Reportedly Contributed to Billions in Fraud
    Incident82%

    • How ‘Deepfake Elon Musk’ Became the Internet’s Biggest Scammerhttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/08/14/technology/elon-musk-ai-deepfake-scam.html
    • Deepfakes of Elon Musk are contributing to billions of dollars in fraud losses in the U.S.https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/deepfakes-ai-fraud-elon-musk/
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 795https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/795/

    How ‘Deepfake Elon Musk’ Became the Internet’s Biggest ScammerDeepfakes of Elon Musk are contributing to billions of dollars in fraud losses in the U.S.AI Incident Database - Incident 795

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