Retired teacher Lynn Phaneuf says he and his wife generally only use the smart TV in the living room of their Prince Albert home to watch the news.
When Phaneuf, 70, saw what purported to be an interview between CBC host Rosemary Barton and Prime Minister Mark Carney talking about cryptocurrency investment opportunities backed by the federal government, he thought he was watching a legitimate segment on a CBC streaming platform.
“With all the stuff that has been going on with Mark Carney, trying to get housing going and this and that, I thought this could be just one of those initiatives that is good for Canadians,” Phaneuf said.
The segment did not air on CBC’s platform, and it was fake — a fraudulent video made using AI to impersonate Carney, Barton and CBC branding to direct people to an investment company that was flagged by the Manitoba Securities Commission in June 2025.
Phaneuf said he had doubts throughout the weeks-long interaction with scammers that ultimately cost him $2,800. But with around $800 in profits deposited to his Canadian bank account, a legitimate cryptocurrency site tangled up in the scheme, the professional nature of the so-called financial advisers and a confusing phone call from RBC, there was always just enough reassurance to keep going, he said.
Advertisement
“I always use the analogy of being lost in the bush. Once you’re lost, you stop believing the things that you should believe.”
The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan said it began tracking amounts reported lost to cryptocurrency scams in the province in 2024, and as of the beginning of November 2025, the total lost was $1.3 million.
For Canada, the reported amount lost totals more than $388 million between January 2024 and September 2025, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Both agencies say only an estimated five to 10 per cent of victims report the fraud.
Companies ‘very well aware’ of AI-generated ads
Mathieu Lavigne, the analytic lead at the Media Ecosystem Observatory — a Canadian-based research initiative that monitors and analyzes online harms — said deepfake, AI-generated videos like the one Phaneuf encountered are a known problem for social media companies.
But the companies are taking a primarily “reactive” approach, he said.
Advertisement
“They’ve basically just been removing individual pages and ads when they’ve been flagged.”
Regulations for ads on social media are much looser than regulations for traditional broadcasts, he said.
Companies like Meta, which owns Facebook, rely on ad buyers to self-declare deceptive AI use and no identity verification is needed before creating a page, even pages running financial ads, Lavigne said.
The Media Ecosystem Observatory was able to track hundreds of Facebook pages, like this one, that impersonated news organizations including CBC to direct Canadians to investment scams. (Submitted by Media Ecosystem Observatory )
“Right now it is possible for any individual around the world to create a page and start buying ads right away that try to defraud Canadians.”
The problem is extensive, he said. His team identified over 200 pages on Meta platforms running ads like the one Phaneuf encountered. One video had been seen by more than 100,000 Canadians.
Advertisement
He said information from Meta’s ad library shows that more vulnerable Canadians like the elderly are often targeted.
The scam
The fake segment directed Phaneuf to a website called TW Pro, which he said later suddenly became PlusTW. The site displayed stock and trading information for recognizable companies like Apple and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Dash. Phaneuf said he was able to verify that information against the stock exchange in real time.
With time on his hands during retirement, and an apparent endorsement from the prime minister, he thought investing might be interesting and fun.
“I was not trying to make big money out of it. I didn’t need the big money out of it. I just thought, ‘Oh, this is something to try,’” he said.
After he created an account, a series of self-described financial advisers began calling him from Canadian numbers. One gave the name of a real financial adviser based in Toronto, he said.
Advertisement
His first investment was $365, paid by credit card. After 10 minutes on the phone with someone, he’d earned a profit.
“The earnings were not great, but it was an earning every time,” he said.
Once he ensured he could withdraw his money, he decided to invest $3,000, an amount he could afford to lose. That was the limit he gave himself for the investment project.
Unclear call from RBC
The site asked him to send the money through crypto.com — a Singapore-based company registered to operate in Canada through the Canadian Securities Administrators — using an e-transfer. The move concerned his bank.
“RBC phoned me and said, ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’” Phaneuf said.
Advertisement
They told him cryptocurrencies often involve scams, but when he asked if RBC had problems with the specific company, crypto.com, the representative said no, Phaneuf said.
“He couldn’t give me an answer: is this OK or is this not OK?”
The call lasted five minutes.
In a statement to CBC, RBC said it would not comment specifically on Phaneuf’s case due to client privacy, but that the company was in contact with him directly about the situation.
“We recognize that we have an important role to play in helping to protect our clients from fraudsters and educating Canadians about staying vigilant in an ever-evolving threat landscape,” the statement said.
Advertisement
A spokesperson for crypto.com told CBC the company “is not affiliated” with either PlusTW or Pro TW “in any way.”
Pressure to invest
Phaneuf said the pressure to invest increased. When he resisted, the financial advisers became harder to get on the phone. He said he tried to withdraw money and “the phone went dead.” Requests to close his account were similarly ignored.
Normally, he’s able to spot scams and can avoid things like fake emails or phishing scams, he said.
“I was mad because I fell for this one hook, line and sinker.”
Phaneuf said he reported the loss to Prince Albert city police but got a call informing him that they would not pursue it, despite classifying it as theft. He was told there was no need to submit his witness statement, he said.
Advertisement
After CBC contacted Prince Albert police for comment, a spokesperson said they had determined Phaneuf’s case “requires additional attention” and reopened the file.
“After reviewing the file, we recognize that the initial assessment did not meet our expected standard of service,” Chief Patrick Nogier said.
“We need to be upfront,” Nogier said when asked about the police service’s ability to handle cybercrime.
“We do not have the capabilities and the expertise.”
Nogier said cases involving cybercrime are often beyond the capacity of mid-sized police forces like Prince Albert’s.
Advertisement
Prince Albert Police Chief, Patrick Nogier (Aishah Ashraf/CBC)
He called the initial assessment of Phaneuf’s case “concerning” given how often cybercrime goes unreported.
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre outreach officer Jeff Horncastle said victims of fraud should file reports with both their local police and the anti-fraud centre, as it is a separate reporting process.
He said fraud is “very underreported” for multiple reasons, including victims being confused about where to go and having challenges reporting to police.
Learning about the scam
Phaneuf’s wife asked him to take a cybersecurity course at the University of Saskatchewan through its continued learning program in the fall.
While attending the virtual course, he heard a very familiar tale of fraudsters earning trust through phone calls over time, returning some money to victims in order to get them to invest more, and then disappearing with their money, he said.
“They could have just been pointing at me.”
Advertisement
While Phaneuf didn’t tell his teacher, Canada Research Chair in Security and Privacy Natalia Stakhanova, about his experience, Stakhanova said other seniors in her class have mentioned brushes with AI-powered scams.
University of Saskatchewan computer science professor Natalia Stakhanova teaches a cybersecurity course for seniors. (Katie Swyers/CBC)
“A lot of people don’t realize the extent of the AI these days and the capabilities are growing daily,” Stakhanova said.
“Criminals are getting, becoming more and more creative.”
Scams are now more sophisticated and more believable than “we are accustomed to seeing,” she said.
Experts say education is key to fighting new forms of fraud.
All individuals and companies dealing with financial securities are required to be registered with the Canadian Securities Administrators and can be looked up there.
Advertisement
Phaneuf’s advice is to keep your bank account information away from anyone asking for money on the internet.
“Don’t let any money out because there’s a good chance you’ll never see it again.”
Robert Kiyosaki said a manuscript shared by Jim Rickards changed how he views global finance.
Kiyosaki warned commonly held financial assets could face pressure as financial rules shift across markets.
His claims remain warnings, with evidence and future market developments still central.
Why Did One Manuscript Change Robert Kiyosaki’s View?
Robert Kiyosaki, the author of the best-selling personal finance book Rich Dad Poor Dad, said an advance manuscript of “The Entropy Trap” shared by Jim Rickards prompted him to rethink how he views global finance. Rickards is an economist, lawyer, and financial commentator known for writing about currencies, debt, and systemic market risk. Kiyosaki said the early reading changed his perspective on where the financial system may be headed.
The reaction was framed around a warning about financial change. The book, written by Mickey M. Maini, “blew my mind and opened my eyes to what & why global financial change is coming,” Kiyosaki described. His comments focused on what he described as a shift in the rules behind wealth, assets, and trust.
The central claim is that wealth could move away from people relying on traditional financial assumptions. Kiyosaki asserted:
“The informed will be tomorrow’s ULTRA RICH. Todays uniformed operating by the old rules of money… will become the new poor.”
The Warning Behind the Claim
The warning centers on assets that depend on trust, including U.S. bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and mutual funds. Kiyosaki framed those instruments as vulnerable under the financial shift he says is coming, placing commonly held investment products at the center of the risk.
That claim is severe, but he presented it as a warning rather than a proven outcome. He also pointed to large bondholders, including Japan, saying they have already started dumping U.S. bonds. He did not provide supporting data in the statement.
The acclaimed author shared:
Advertisement
“Message from book… ‘All assets that require trust, assets that most people have… such as U.S. bonds, ETFs, mutual funds will be flushed down toilets, all over the world.’”
The broader conflict is whether traditional financial assets remain reliable under the conditions Kiyosaki described. His framing divides investors between those preparing for a changed financial system and those still operating under assumptions he says may no longer hold.
What Still Needs to Be Proven
A planned August study session could clarify the warning Kiyosaki described. He said his study team would examine the message and that Rickards may join, though the evidence behind the claims has not yet been laid out.
For now, the warning rests on Kiyosaki’s account of a manuscript that changed his view. He urged readers to prepare, writing:
“I want you to be one of the world’s new rich.”
What remains unknown is whether market data, policy moves, or investor behavior will confirm the risk he described.
His recent commentary has focused on what he describes as fragility in the global monetary system, particularly around the U.S. dollar. He has pointed to rising debt, central bank policies, and inflation as risks that could trigger a sharp market downturn.
Advertisement
Alongside those concerns, he has repeatedly highlighted bitcoin, gold, and silver as alternative stores of value. In his view, those assets may help reduce exposure to traditional financial instruments during periods of currency weakness and market turbulence.
Strategy Is No Longer Just Going to “Inoculate the Market,” Selling Crypto May Be Much More Common. Here’s What That Could Mean for the Stock | The Motley Fool
When Strategy (MSTR 0.69%) sold a modest amount of Bitcoin earlier this year, it was a noteworthy development given that the company’s business has centered around buying up as much of the cryptocurrency as it can, and vowing to never sell. And it often boasts of being the largest corporate holder of the digital currency.
The company brushed off the sale of 32 Bitcoins, with management saying it simply wanted to “inoculate the market.” Well, now it appears that Strategy is doing much more than just that, and there could be more significant cryptocurrency sales in the future.
Image source: Getty Images.
Strategy unveils a Bitcoin monetization program
On June 29, Strategy released a framework going forward that it says will “enhance liquidity, preserve long-term Bitcoin exposure, and support long-term value creation for shareholders.” Among the notable components is its Bitcoin monetization program.
Within that program, the company says it may sell some of its cryptocurrency holdings for multiple reasons, including to fund a USD reserve, fund dividends or interest expense, or to fund repurchases of digital credit securities or common stock.
Advertisement
While the company says it remains committed to Bitcoin for the long term and it’s the company’s “primary treasury reserve asset,” it’s a significant change of course for Strategy, which was previously heavily against ever selling the digital asset.
Today’s Change
(-0.69%) $-0.69
Current Price
$100.08
Key Data Points
Market Cap
Advertisement
$35BMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.Market cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.
Day’s Range
$96.97 – $102.19
52wk Range
$81.81 – $457.22
Volume
Advertisement
248.6K
Avg Vol
21.3M
Gross Margin
68.11%
Advertisement
The stock is as risky and volatile as ever
Whether or not Strategy buys or sells Bitcoin doesn’t change the fact that this is a highly risky and speculative stock to own. While crypto fans may be disappointed in the company’s change in strategy, selling Bitcoin will likely not be enough to make the business any better or worse as an investment.
In just the past 12 months, the stock has plummeted a whopping 75% as volatility in digital assets has drastically weighed on its earnings, with the company incurring $12.8 billion in losses over the trailing 12 months, on revenue of $490 million.
That’s not likely to change significantly, even if Strategy offloads some of its crypto holdings, because with such a large exposure to Bitcoin, how the cryptocurrency performs will inevitably impact the company’s bottom line in a big way. This year, the leading cryptocurrency is down 28% as investor excitement around it has largely cooled off, which has proven disastrous for Strategy’s stock as well. And at this stage, there’s little reason to anticipate a recovery anytime soon.
WiFi slows most on 2.4 GHz during 8-10 AM and 6-10 PM as nearby networks compete.
Bluetooth devices and microwaves can disrupt 2.4 GHz; 5 GHz or 6 GHz may improve speeds.
WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 users can reduce congestion by switching channels and moving routers centrally.
Your WiFi can feel rock-solid at midnight and oddly sluggish by breakfast, even when you have not touched a single setting. The culprit is often outside your walls: a crowded slice of public radio spectrum where your router has to negotiate space with every nearby network, plus a grab bag of household gadgets that leak interference. Add peak-hours demand and the signal-blocking quirks of building materials and weather, and “slow internet” starts to look less like a billing issue and more like an invisible traffic problem you are forced to share.
When WiFi slows down without warning
One day your home WiFi feels snappy, the next it drags, even though your router hasn’t moved and your internet plan hasn’t changed. That swing is real, and it’s usually not your imagination or a “bad day” from your ISP. WiFi lives on shared airwaves, and those airwaves get crowded, noisy, and sometimes just plain finicky.
Think of your connection as a conversation in a busy room. Your laptop and router may be talking just fine, but the room itself can fill up fast with other chatter. What looks like a mystery slowdown is often the result of invisible competition and interference that changes hour by hour.
The battle of competing networks
Most homes still rely heavily on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi bands, which are unlicensed spectrum in the US. That “free for everyone” reality is convenient, but it also means your network shares space with your neighbors, their smart TVs, their work laptops, and every nearby router doing the same thing.
Congestion has a rhythm. During common work-from-home and school-from-home windows, especially 8-10 AM, and again in the evening 6-10 PM, more devices are streaming, video calling, syncing, and downloading updates. Even if you pay for fast broadband, your WiFi link can become the bottleneck when the local radio environment gets packed.
Interference inside your home
Your own house can sabotage you. A microwave is the classic culprit because it can leak noise near 2.4 GHz, exactly where many WiFi networks still operate. Older cordless phones, some baby monitors, and even dense clusters of Bluetooth gadgets can add more clutter, especially in smaller apartments where everything sits close together.
Advertisement
Then there’s physics. Concrete, metal, and even water (think aquariums or thick pipes in walls) absorb and scatter radio signals. A router shoved behind a TV, tucked into a cabinet, or stuck in a far corner forces your devices to “hear” through more obstacles, lowering speeds and making dropouts more likely.
Weather, channels, and what you can do tonight
Environmental changes can matter too. Higher humidity and rain can slightly increase signal loss, and shifting temperatures can change how radio waves propagate around a neighborhood. You might never notice on its own, but paired with congestion it can tip a marginal connection into a frustrating one.
The 2.4 GHz band is also channel-limited. In the US there are 11 channels, but only 1, 6, and 11 don’t overlap. Many routers default to “auto channel,” so nearby networks can hop around trying to escape interference, sometimes creating instability. Practical fixes: prefer 5 GHz (or 6 GHz if you have WiFi 6E/7 gear), place the router centrally and higher up, and use a WiFi analyzer app to pick a less crowded channel instead of leaving it on auto.
