A serious case highlighting the misuse of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology has emerged from Khargone district, where a retired electricity department employee was allegedly cheated of more than ₹27 lakh through a carefully designed online investment scam. The fraudsters reportedly used fabricated videos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to promote a fake and high-return investment scheme.
The victim, identified as Avadh Bihari Sharma, a resident of Shrinagar Colony in Barwaha, filed a complaint stating that he came across several investment-related videos on YouTube. Some of these videos were created using deepfake technology, in which top national leaders appeared to be endorsing a supposedly safe and highly profitable investment plan targeted at senior citizens.
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Believing the content to be authentic, the victim contacted phone numbers provided in the advertisements. He was soon drawn into what was described as a special investment scheme for elderly individuals. The fraudsters initially built trust by allowing small investments and showing fabricated returns through a fake online dashboard, creating an illusion of legitimacy.
Over a period of nearly one month, the victim transferred a total of ₹27.16 lakh from two different bank accounts into multiple accounts controlled by the fraud network. Investigators said the money was routed through several layers of transactions, making the financial trail complex and difficult to trace.
The scam took a more coercive turn when the accused allegedly informed the victim that his investment account showed an excess credit of more than ₹25 lakh and that failure to explain the source could lead to legal action. Under this pressure, the victim attempted to arrange additional funds, further deepening the trap laid by the fraudsters.
Police officials stated that continuous phone calls and messages were used to maintain psychological pressure on the victim. The accused repeatedly claimed that the scheme was government-approved, using fake assurances and fabricated communication to gain trust and prevent suspicion.
The fraud came to light only after the victim discussed the matter with a relative, who alerted him that the entire setup appeared suspicious. Realizing he had been misled through manipulated digital content, the victim immediately approached authorities and filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Local police have also initiated a detailed investigation into the case.
Officials are currently examining bank transaction records, digital payment routes, and the accounts involved in the scam. Early findings suggest the use of multiple mule accounts across different regions to divert funds, a pattern commonly seen in organized cyber fraud operations.
Cyber experts have warned that this case reflects a growing trend of AI-powered scams in India, where fraudsters are increasingly using deepfake videos of prominent personalities to promote fake investment platforms. These videos are designed to appear highly credible, especially when circulated on social media and video-sharing platforms.
Experts further noted that such scams typically begin with viral advertisements and gradually shift victims to private messaging platforms to avoid detection. Once trust is established, victims are encouraged to invest larger sums, often under the illusion of guaranteed returns or government-backed schemes.
Authorities have urged the public to verify any investment opportunity through official regulatory channels and avoid relying solely on social media content. Officials also emphasized that no legitimate scheme guarantees fixed high returns within a short period without proper regulatory approval.
The case has raised serious concerns among cybersecurity professionals, who believe that AI-generated misinformation is becoming a significant threat to financial safety. Investigators have not ruled out the possibility of an inter-state or larger organized cyber network behind the fraud.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities expecting further developments as more victims and financial links are identified. Officials have also stressed the need for increased digital awareness, particularly among senior citizens, to prevent such AI-driven frauds in the future.
