With the rise in AI-generated misinformation and fake ads on social media platforms, it is increasingly difficult to determine if the content you see is real CBC content or not. Two major giveaways:
- CBC journalists or personalities will never appear in an ad encouraging you to invest money in a financial product, fund or service.
- CBC News will never encourage you to invest in a financial product, fund or service in a news report.
There’s been an alarming increase in fake ads and news stories on social media platforms like Meta and X, which claim to be from, or endorsed by, CBC or CBC employees. These fake ads often link to websites selling products, sharing disinformation, or promoting financial scams.
If you see something that looks like a CBC News story or video featuring such promotions, it is fake.
CBC is committed to fighting disinformation, which deliberately misleads the public and puts at risk your trust in legitimate media outlets.
How can I recognize a fake CBC News story?
Here are some tips:
- Look carefully at the URL of any website you are directed to, or if you click on a hyperlink within the story for more information. These fake-story links direct people to other products, services or investments. They may even have “CBC” in the URL but genuine CBC News stories do not include hyperlinks to companies selling products, services or investments.
- If the story, video or ad says it is part of a government announcement, check both the CBC News website or CBC News app, to see if the story or video has been published there, as well as the Canadian federal government news site, which provides information on legitimate funding announcements.
- Watch out for stories and videos which include comment sections with positive reviews from people who say they have made money by investing in the featured product or service. Remember: CBC does not endorse investments, goods or services in our legitimate news coverage and we don’t allow the public to post comments that promote these either. This is another sign that this is not a real CBC News report.
- If you see the story, video or ad on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube or any other platform, see if “Advertisement” or “Ad” is listed anywhere on it. You can check the name of the advertiser on most social media sites by activating the Report this Ad feature (see below). Information about the advertiser and their country of location is usually listed. If CBC or CBC/Radio-Canada is not the advertiser and Canada is not the country location, but the ad uses CBC’s logos and trademarks, you can report that ad to the site’s administrators.
What else can I do?
When you see a fake ad on a website or social platform, please share your concerns with the Competition Bureau of Canada via their complaint form. The Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that advocates for and protects Canadian consumers, including by ensuring truth in advertising.
What if I have sent money to a possible scam?
Report it to the platform where you encountered the content (see details below).
You can also contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for further guidance about your situation.
It is also important to flag the ad to the platform
Reporting an ad on YouTube:
If you see an ad that is inappropriate or violates Google’s ad policies, you can report it.
To report the ad, select More or Info Report ad or choose to fill out and submit this form.
Reporting an ad on Meta Platforms:
To report an ad on Facebook: Look for the three dots ( … ) in the top right hand corner of the ad, then select “Report ad”.
Report an ad on X:
To report an ad on X: Look for the three dots ( ... ) in the top right hand corner of the ad then select “Report ad”.