AI Deepfake Scam: Is Your ₹22,000 Already Gone?

Fake Facebook ads using AI deepfakes of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman promise ₹5.5 lakh weekly returns on a ₹22,000 investment. PIB has officially called it a scam. No such government scheme exists. Do not click, invest, or share.

Here's what happened: Fake Facebook ads using AI-generated deepfake videos of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman falsely claim a government scheme turns ₹22,000 into ₹5.5 lakh weekly.. PIB Fact Check has officially debunked the scheme, confirming neither the Finance Ministry nor any government body has endorsed or launched this investment programme.. These scam ads are designed to harvest personal and banking details from victims, leading to financial fraud and identity theft..

What you should do: Verify any 'government scheme' claim immediately at pib.gov.in/factcheck before clicking any link or transferring money.. Report the fake ad directly on Facebook using the 'Report Ad' option and alert your contacts on WhatsApp to avoid spreading it further.. Check your bank statements and linked UPI apps for any suspicious transactions if you or a family member already clicked on such a link..

Real government investment schemes — PPF, NPS, Sukanya Samriddhi — are only accessible through post offices, authorised banks, or official government portals, never through Facebook ads or WhatsApp links.

For readers weighing their credit and loan options, our personal loan guide and CIBIL score resources put this update in context.