SAINT JOHN – New Brunswickers reported losing more than $6.2 million to investment frauds and scams in 2025 – the majority of which were committed online.
With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), new avenues have opened for perpetrators of fraud to mislead people.
“These days, fraudsters are using AI and deepfakes to make scams look and sound real,” said Marissa Sollows, the Commission’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs. “You might hear a familiar voice, see a well-known face or receive a message that feels trustworthy — even though it isn’t.”
The Commission’s 2025 figure is slightly above the $6 million lost to investments scams reported the year before to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), which collects information on fraud and identity theft nationally. Yet the CAFC estimates that only five per cent of fraud is ever reported.
“So the actual amount of money scammed from New Brunswickers could be much higher,” Sollows said.
As part of March’s Fraud Prevention Month, the Commission is hosting a free webinar designed to help New Brunswickers recognize financial fraud in the digital age. Titled Fraud Has a New Face: AI, Deepfakes, and Why Scams Can Be So Hard to Spot, the March 17 (English) and March 18 (French) webinars will outline how scammers operate and some warning signs to watch for.
“We’re sharing practical tips to help you protect yourself, your loved ones and the people you support from scams,” said Sollows. “We also encourage people to check out the helpful resources on our website at FCNB.ca.”
The Commission has developed two online guides: Protecting yourself from AI and deepfake scams, with overviews of the common types of online scams, and Celebrity Endorsements: Don’t have stars in your eyes, which details how celebrities, politicians, journalists or other well-known personalities can have their images or voices manipulated or faked to try and lend legitimacy to offers of goods or services.
New Brunswickers can also stay a step ahead of emerging frauds and scams circulating in the province by subscribing to the Commission’s email notifications. By visiting FCNB.ca, selecting Subscribe to Email Notifications and choosing Alerts, individuals can receive timely updates whenever new consumer or investor fraud alerts are posted on the website.
Audio files of Marissa Sollows, Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Media Contact:
1 866 933-2222 or media@fcnb.ca.
The Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick has the mandate to provide regulatory services that protect the public interest while enhancing public confidence, and to promote understanding of the regulated sectors through educational programs. It is responsible for the administration and enforcement of financial and consumers services legislation for mortgage brokers, payday lenders, real estate, securities, insurance, pensions, credit unions, trust and loan companies, cooperatives, the unclaimed property program, and a wide range of other consumer legislation. It is a Crown corporation funded by the regulatory fees and assessments paid by the regulated sectors. Online educational tools and resources are available at www.fcnb.ca.