The mail imitates several others passive income offers AFP has debunked.
“This is a fraudulent ad. We encourage all consumers to be vigilant when it comes to online scams,” RBC spokeswoman Gillian McArdle said in a July 12 email, referring to tips on the bank’s website to prevent fraud (archived here).
a reverse image search confirms that McKay’s clip was manipulated.
The Canadian Asian Television Network (ATN) uploaded the original to YouTube on January 4, 2024 (archived here). He wears the same gray suit and purple striped tie as he speaks with the chairman of ATN Shan Chandrasekar (archived here).
McKay uses the word “investment” only once, and he is not referring to a supposed passive income plan for Canadians.
“There are a couple of awards that we’ve won that I think I’m most proud of,” he says. “Those are things like economists globally rating our RBC Capital Markets business as the most trusted investment bank in the world.”
McKay’s mouth does not match the words he appears to be saying in the clip circulating on Facebook.
Other elements in the message also indicate that the offer is fraudulent:
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The page promoting this is called “All you need from UK” and the page’s transparency data shows no admins in Canada.
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There appear to be 42 comments on the post, but none are visible.
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The link in the message does not lead to an investment platform, but to the website for a conference organized by a group in Ottawa.
The Meta Ad Library says the video violated its terms of service as a promotional ad. But the post remains live, with about 50,000 views, and can be shared by Facebook users.
Read more about AFP’s coverage of disinformation in Canada here.
