A 32-year-old man has been arrested in Surendranagar district under the Rajkot Range for allegedly impersonating a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) by using AI-generated images in police uniform along with forged official documents to deceive people and extract money through social media platforms.
The accused, identified as Sohil Pathan, a resident of Sayla, allegedly created a fake identity claiming to be a former Inspector with the Dahod Local Crime Branch (LCB) and later a DySP with the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Using this fabricated profile, he reportedly built an online presence to influence people and gain financial benefits through deception.
AI-generated photos and forged police documents
According to investigators, the accused used artificial intelligence tools to generate highly realistic images of himself wearing police uniforms. These images were then uploaded and circulated on social media to strengthen his false identity and credibility. Along with this, he allegedly created multiple forged government documents, including a Gujarat Police identity card, duty passes, transfer orders, and no-objection certificates, some of which were dated 2023 and later confirmed to be entirely fake.
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How victims were cheated
Police said the accused targeted individuals by presenting himself as a senior police official capable of helping in official matters. In one such instance, he allegedly convinced a man from Madhya Pradesh that he could assist in unfreezing a bank account. On this pretext, he reportedly collected ₹22,000, which was transferred into the account of an associate and later withdrawn in cash.
During the investigation, police recovered several WhatsApp chats from the accused’s mobile phone, along with digital files containing fake certificates and transaction records. In these conversations, he allegedly posed as a senior law enforcement officer and used official-style language and documents to mislead victims.
Confession and emerging AI-enabled threat
During questioning, the accused reportedly admitted that he was unemployed and had devised the scheme to earn quick money. He confessed to using AI-based tools to create a convincing online identity and generate fake documents so that people would trust him easily and fall for his claims.
Officials stated that the case highlights a growing cyber threat in which artificial intelligence is being misused to fabricate identities and carry out financial fraud. Investigators also indicated that such incidents are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it harder for victims to distinguish between real and fake identities online.
Further investigation is underway to determine whether others were involved in the fraud network or if the accused acted alone. Authorities have seized his electronic devices for detailed forensic examination to trace additional digital evidence and possible links to other victims.
Cybersecurity experts have also warned that the misuse of AI-based image and document generation tools could significantly increase the complexity of online frauds in the future, making impersonation scams more convincing and harder to detect.
