A sophisticated cyber fraud case involving the alleged use of deepfake video calls impersonating Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Minister Nara Lokesh has come to light in Visakhapatnam. The Cyber Crime Police registered a formal case after a 44-year-old former serviceman, identified as Bodireddy Srinivasa Reddy, filed a complaint stating he was defrauded of Rs 80,000. The incident has raised fresh concerns among law enforcement agencies over the growing misuse of artificial intelligence to manipulate victims in online scams.
Fabricated Credentials Used to Establish Trust
According to the police complaint, the fraudster initially initiated contact on WhatsApp using the profile photograph of former minister and senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Devineni Uma. The accused claimed to be acting directly on behalf of senior political figures to establish authority. To gain the victim’s confidence, the fraudster shared fabricated digital screenshots showing simulated conversations with various elected representatives and senior government officials, laying the groundwork for the financial exploitation.
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AI Generated Video Calls Mimic Public Figures
The deception escalated when the victim received direct video calls appearing to feature Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Minister Nara Lokesh. Investigators strongly suspect the visuals were generated using advanced deepfake technology specifically programmed to mimic the exact appearance and physical mannerisms of the public figures. The complainant told investigators that the video interaction appeared highly authentic, which led him to firmly believe the administrative claims being made by the caller.
Financial Transfer Precedes Disappearance of Suspect
The fraudster utilized the high-profile impersonation to convince the former serviceman that his pending tax-related issues, along with his formal requests regarding the development of a local public park, could be quickly resolved through high-level official intervention. The victim was then instructed to pay a “formality amount” to expedite the administrative process. Trusting the visual representations, Reddy transferred Rs 80,000 through a UPI transaction. Soon after receiving the funds, the fraudster continued to issue vague promises before breaking off communication and disappearing entirely.
Cyber Crime Police officials are currently examining all available digital evidence, including the WhatsApp text histories, the shared screenshots, and the recorded deepfake video calls, to identify the perpetrator and determine the technical extent of the AI-assisted impersonation. Authorities issued a public warning noting that cyber criminals are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence, deepfake videos, and voice cloning technology to compromise targets by mimicking politicians, celebrities, and senior bureaucrats. The investigation remains active.
