Advertisements on Truth Social are linking users to a deepfake video of former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to defraud viewers [1].
The incident highlights the vulnerability of social media platforms to AI-generated misinformation and the risks of financial scams targeting high-profile figures. Because these ads appear on a platform owned by former U.S. President Donald Trump, the presence of such content raises questions about content moderation and verification standards.
The fraudulent ads direct users to a fabricated video that pretends to show Carney asking for money [1]. According to the CBC Fact Check team, the fake video is specifically designed to scam individuals into sending funds [2]. The use of deepfake technology allows scammers to mimic the voice and appearance of trusted public figures to create a false sense of legitimacy.
Truth Social serves as the host for these advertisements, which leverage the likeness of the former central banker to trick users [1]. The scam relies on the perceived authority of Carney to convince victims to engage with the financial request.
"CBC's Fact Check team found ads on Truth Social linking to a deepfake of Prime Minister Mark Carney," the CBC Fact Check team said. "The fake video is designed to scam you into sending money" [2].
This type of AI-driven fraud is becoming more common as tools for creating realistic synthetic media become more accessible. By embedding these links within paid advertisements, the scammers bypass some of the organic scrutiny typically found in user-generated posts.
“The fake video is designed to scam you into sending money.”
The appearance of deepfake financial scams in paid advertising channels suggests a shift in how bad actors exploit platform trust. When AI-generated fraud is integrated into an ad network, it gains a veneer of officiality that can deceive even cautious users, placing a higher burden of responsibility on platform owners to vet promotional content.
