Sask Premier Warns of AI-Generated Videos of Him Endorsing Online Investments

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is warning of AI-generated advertisements circulating online of himself and others endorsing online investment platforms.

“Those ads are a scam, and the videos of myself and others are nothing short of AI deepfakes,” Moe said in a July 31 video posted on X.

Deepfakes are images, videos, or audio that have been altered or produced through AI to create content that misrepresents an individual’s words or actions.

The premier said there are also videos of “other well-known people,” such as Prime Minister Mark Carney, circulating online that recommend putting money into certain investments.

“And I want you to know that I will never endorse or recommend a particular investment,” Moe said. “So if you see a video or an ad of myself doing that, it’s a fake.”

Moe said that while the government is trying to track down the creators of the AI-generated content, “it can be pretty difficult to prevent these kinds of scams.”

The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA) released a July 30 investor alert to warn Saskatchewan residents of the impersonation scams on social media involving the premier.

“The FCAA informs Saskatchewan investors that Premier Scott Moe does not endorse or advertise any investment platforms,” the alert says.

FCAA Securities Division Executive Director Dean Murrison advises not to make investment decisions based on public figure endorsements.

“Scammers can create fraudulent news and social media articles that imitate the real media source,” Murrison said in a July 30 statement.

While Moe warned against handing over money, personal information, or financial information to individuals or companies that aren’t reputable, professional, and trustworthy, the FCAA has cautioned against sending money to companies that aren’t registered in Saskatchewan.

Under the Securities Act of 1988, individuals or companies need to be registered with the FCAA to trade or sell securities or derivatives in Saskatchewan. Consumers can check registration statuses online at AreTheyRegistered.ca, Murrison says, adding that unregistered businesses may not be legitimate.

Other Instances

Moe was also used in an impersonation scam earlier this year when photos of him were circulating online that claimed the premier was endorsing cryptocurrency trading platforms.

“Apparently, some online scammers are using my photo, as well as photos of other public figures, to promote their crypto scam,” Moe said in a March 14 post on X. “Please don’t fall for this. You will never see me endorsing crypto or any specific investment.”

The FCAA released an investor alert that day to warn Saskatchewan residents of the scam on social media that involved fake news articles claiming Moe endorsed CanCap and BitCan, which are cryptocurrency trading platforms that are not registered with the FCAA.

Other politicians have been used in AI-generated advertisement scams, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

In June, an Ontario senior lost more than $15,000 after clicking on a Facebook advertisement that appeared to feature Ford promoting a mutual fund account, according to Guelph police.

The man was then convinced through a chat to invest more than $15,000 over the next week through e-transfers and credit card payments.

In 2023, the likeness of then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was used in a YouTube ad as part of a cryptocurrency scam. The AI-generated video used voice cloning to make it appear that the prime minister was endorsing an investment platform.

Similarly, a cryptocurrency scam using AI-depictions of Trudeau and American-Canadian tech billionaire Elon Musk were also circulating online that year.

Jennifer Cowan contributed to this report.