My credit cards are maxed out…
On the airwaves of Énergie, during the Midi Fun segment, Marie-Claude Savard recently shared a story that is as heartbreaking as it is alarming: fraudsters are allegedly using her image to pursue their goals.
Indeed, the host explained that fake accounts bearing her name and likeness circulate online, especially on Facebook, and that, more often than not, once reported, these pages disappear before they can do damage. However, this time was different: a victim reportedly fell for a fake Marie-Claude Savard.
She recounted that a few weeks ago, someone reached out to her on Messenger, in a private message. The person claimed to know someone convinced he was in a relationship with the host, even going so far as to show photos of her.
«He thinks he’s in a relationship with you. He has photos of your children. We’re worried, it’s strange, you should know about this», the person allegedly explained to her.
Marie-Claude then asked this person for more details. They provided the name of the man who believed he was in a relationship with her. She tried to trace him on Facebook, found a profile, and wrote to him to explain that if he thought he was in a romantic relationship with her, unfortunately that was not the case. She, however, did not receive a response.
A Few Weeks Later…
Weeks later, another person close to this individual reportedly reached out to say that the situation had not improved at all and that it was imperative that she contact him, ideally via FaceTime, because he would not listen.
«Then I can sense distress on the other end of the line,» says Marie-Claude, adding that a third person then wrote to her about it. She eventually managed to obtain the man’s phone number.
The presenter explains that she had no idea what she was getting into, but she felt compelled to document everything, especially given the rise of artificial intelligence: today, someone can imitate your voice. She decided to stage the call to the Énergie studio while someone filmed, in order to have evidence.
«We don’t reveal his name or his identity. I want to protect. All I want is really, truly to bring this to light,» she insists.
Excerpt of the Conversation
The hosts then played an excerpt of the conversation between the victim and Marie-Claude. In it, the man recounts what happened and mentions the amount he had paid the scammers, convinced it was the real host.
«Do you think that I would ask you for cards, say, there?» the host is heard asking him.
«Hey, not far from $200,000,» the victim asserts.
«Pardon», Savard interjects, visibly unsettled by the situation.
«Yes, my credit cards are full (…) You were always saying: I’ll pay you. I’ll pay you (…) I need cards, I’ll pay you», he testifies.
«I spent four days in the hospital», adds the victim, noting that no one believed him, before adding that he also communicates with «Jennifer Aniston».
A troubling and heart-wrenching call, which is painful to hear, as the victim believes he has been in a relationship with Marie-Claude Savard and Jennifer Aniston for some time.
Now More Than Ever, Vigilance Is Essential
The hosts stressed how easy it is to label those who fall for scams as naive, while the reality is far more complex: the schemes are increasingly sophisticated, and reporting them, especially to banks, can be long, arduous, and discouraging.
This call demonstrates that with a heartbreaking clarity and serves as a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant, because this type of situation is more common than people think.
Checking accounts, being wary of money requests, asking questions, and reporting quickly can help avert the worst outcomes.
We are deeply sorry for the victim and hope she can recover, at least partially, the sums paid.
Created by humans, assisted by AI.
