Govt warns against fake scheme ads using PM, CMs deepfakes and UPI frauds

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs' Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has issued an advisory warning people about cyber fraud carried out through fake government scheme advertisements on social media. Scammers are allegedly using the names and photographs of the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and chief ministers of various states to lure people with promises of financial assistance under government schemes.

The advisory was issued on October



19 by the National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (NCTAU) of the I4C, which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to the advisory, fraudsters are using platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to circulate fake advertisements claiming to offer financial assistance through government schemes. They are also creating fake and deepfake videos of political leaders to make their claims appear credible and deceive people into parting with their money.