Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers and the British Columbia Securities Commission issued a joint warning about the growing use of artificial intelligence in fraud and encouraged the public to submit information anonymously through either agency, including via the BCSC Whistleblower Program. The BCSC also launched a new advertising campaign and a dedicated microsite to help British Columbians avoid AI-enabled investment scams. The release highlights chatbots, deepfakes and fake reviews as tools used to create fake identities and persuade victims, with investment fraud, phishing and romance scams identified as among the highest-impact schemes. The ‘We’re Not All F**ked’ campaign flags common indicators of investment scams including claims of guaranteed high returns with no risk, pressure to commit quickly, unanswered questions, and attempts to exploit family or social connections to build trust, while avoidAIscams.ca provides investor tips. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported that Canadians lost more than $638 million to fraud in 2024 and more than $2 billion in reported losses since 2021, while estimating only 5 to 10 per cent of fraud is reported.
British Columbia Securities Commission 2025-03-18
British Columbia Securities Commission launches AI investment scam prevention campaign and urges anonymous reporting with Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers
The British Columbia Securities Commission and Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers warned about increasing AI use in fraud, urging anonymous public reports. The BCSC launched an ad campaign and microsite to help British Columbians avoid AI-enabled investment scams, highlighting tools like chatbots and deepfakes. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported over $638 million in fraud losses in 2024, with only a small fraction reported.