People called this Elora, Ont., company for a washer it supposedly sells. Except it doesn't even make washers

Résumé détaillé

This week, hundreds of people were making calls and sending emails and messages to an Elora, Ont., appliance maker wanting to buy their so-called revolutionary washing machine, the "Keel." The problem? Elora's Stirling Marathon doesn't even make washers. The company is a victim of a scam Youtube video generated with artificial intelligence that has since been taken down.

The video suggested the "bombshell washer" by Stirling Marathon would disrupt North America's washer industry.

It would be good news for any other business, except the Elora, Ont., appliance maker doesn't even sell washers.

The Ontario business featured in a recent scam powered by artificial intelligence, where someone posted a YouTube video combining real company marketing images with AI-generated content to advertise a fictional washer called "the Keel."

The company has received hundreds of emails, calls and social media interactions from people asking where to buy the product — with some even showing up at the facility.

The inquiries started last Wednesday, according to Jordan Cuddihy, Stirling Marathon's customer service representative.

"I got here in the morning and started to check the inquiries in the morning and I saw a number of emails and messages from all over the world all over North America asking about this 'Keel' washing machine that we supposedly make," Cuddihy told CBC News.

"After the second or third inquiry mentioning the Keel machine, I did a quick Google search and I was led to this YouTube video, so that's when I realized something was up."

The local appliance maker has sold refrigerators, freezers and coolers since 2016.

CBC News reached out to YouTube, which has has since taken down the video and channel.

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