Rajasthan Police Warns Against Deepfake Scams and Fake Government Scheme Ads
Rajasthan Police has issued a critical advisory regarding cyber criminals using deepfake videos and fake social media ads to defraud citizens of their money.
Jaipur. The Rajasthan Police cyber crime division has issued a stern warning to the public following a surge in sophisticated financial frauds targeting citizens through social media. Under the guidance of Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar Sharma, the authorities have highlighted how criminals are exploiting the names and images of prominent political figures to promote non-existent government welfare schemes. These fraudulent advertisements, frequently appearing on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, lure unsuspecting victims with promises of financial aid or lucrative cashback rewards.
According to Additional Director General of Police for Cyber Crime, V.K. Singh, the modus operandi of these gangs involves the use of advanced artificial intelligence and deepfake technology. By manipulating video content, perpetrators create convincing clips that appear to show public representatives announcing new welfare programs. Once users engage with these ads, they are often redirected to suspicious websites or contacted via messaging apps, including those using international country codes like +92. Victims are then pressured to pay various registration, processing, or verification fees to unlock the promised benefits.
A significant portion of these scams involves manipulating victims into accepting UPI collect requests. Authorities emphasize that users often mistakenly believe these requests are for receiving money, whereas they actually authorize the immediate deduction of funds from their bank accounts. Furthermore, scammers utilize scratch card games and spin-and-win contests to initiate these fraudulent transactions, leaving victims with empty accounts and no recourse to the promised rewards.
To combat this growing threat, the police have urged citizens to exercise extreme caution. It is vital to verify the authenticity of any government scheme through official departmental websites before engaging with social media advertisements. Officials have explicitly warned that any communication from international numbers claiming to represent local representatives should be treated as a red flag. Citizens are reminded that a UPI PIN is strictly for sending money and should never be entered to receive funds.
If you suspect you have been targeted, it is crucial to report the incident immediately. Evidence such as screenshots and transaction details should be preserved. Victims can file reports through the national cyber crime portal, contact the dedicated helpline at 1930, or reach out to the local cyber helpdesk numbers provided by the state police. Sharing unverified advertisements should be avoided to prevent the further spread of these malicious campaigns.
