Crypto scammers using fake news articles and government figures to exploit trade war fears in Canada

Crypto scammers are taking advantage of trade war fears by using fake news articles and impersonating government figures, as reported by securities regulators in Alberta and New Brunswick, Canada. The Alberta Securities Commission issued an alert on March 7 regarding a scam called CanCap, which falsely claimed an endorsement from former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau through a fabricated news article from CBC. Similarly, the Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick warned on March 5 about CanCap using a fake news article with a forged endorsement from Premier Susan Holt. These scammers are exploiting current events to prey on individuals' vulnerabilities and are using artificial intelligence to create fake endorsements and content to appear legitimate. The regulators highlighted the scammers' ability to quickly change the name and appearance of the scheme, with losses from crypto scams, hacks, and exploits reaching nearly $1.53 billion in February.