Scammers used AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating Toronto immigration lawyer Max Chaudhary to defraud vulnerable immigrants by requesting $7,000 for fake legal services via WhatsApp.
Scammers created AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating Toronto immigration lawyer Max Chaudhary to target vulnerable immigrants seeking legal services. The deepfake videos appeared to show Chaudhary directly addressing individuals by their first names and even mentioning personal details like his fiance. The scam was discovered when a potential victim called Chaudhary's law firm asking about sending $7,000 that had allegedly been discussed over WhatsApp, but quickly realized the person they had been messaging was not actually Chaudhary despite receiving multiple videos that appeared to show the lawyer. Chaudhary expressed concern that other immigrants may have fallen victim to similar deepfake scams, particularly given the current climate of confusion around new federal immigration policies that have reduced permanent-resident targets by 20% in 2025 and study permits by 10%. Migrant advocacy groups noted that desperate newcomers facing policy uncertainty are particularly susceptible to such scams. The incident highlights how AI deepfake technology is being exploited to target vulnerable populations during times of immigration rule changes.
Domain classification, causal taxonomy, severity scores, and national security assessments were LLM-classified and may contain errors.
Using AI systems to gain a personal advantage over others such as through cheating, fraud, scams, blackmail or targeted manipulation of beliefs or behavior. Examples include AI-facilitated plagiarism for research or education, impersonating a trusted or fake individual for illegitimate financial benefit, or creating humiliating or sexual imagery.
AI system
Due to a decision or action made by an AI system
Intentional
Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal
Post-deployment
Occurring after the AI model has been trained and deployed