The government issues a warning about fraudulent advertisements and schemes that use AI-generated deepfake videos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other state chief ministers. The manipulated clips are used to persuade people to part with money, with reports saying victims are led to make repeated payments or approve fraudulent UPI transactions.
Outlets describe how scammers package the deepfakes as promises of free money or other financial assistance. While the accounts vary in detail, they consistently point to the same method: altered video content of senior political figures is circulated to build trust and drive payments through digital channels. One report also notes that the I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre) sends alerts aimed at preventing such scams, underscoring that authorities view the activity as an ongoing threat rather than an isolated incident.
The warning urges the public to be cautious about such videos and related calls-to-action, particularly where offers involve payments or UPI approvals. Authorities stress that genuine announcements are not made through these kinds of deepfake schemes.
