Cybercrime body warns of fake investment scams using PM, Union Ministers' photos

Published 16 July 2026 · tech

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has warned people to stay alert against fake investment circulating on Facebook and Instagram, saying cybercriminals are increasingly

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has warned people to stay alert against fake investment circulating on Facebook and Instagram, saying cybercriminals are increasingly using social media to lure victims with false promises of high returns. According to I4C, fraudsters misuse the names, photographs and videos of the Prime Minister, Union ministers, leading industrialists, investment experts, film celebrities and other well-known personalities to make their appear credible. These typically promote claims such as "Guaranteed Returns", "Double Money", "Daily Profit" and "Limited Time Investment Offer" to attract unsuspecting users. Read Full Story I4C said these often look authentic but are designed to steal people's hard-earned money. In many cases, cybercriminals are also using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create deepfake videos, making it increasingly difficult for users to distinguish between genuine and fake promotional content. HOW INVESTMENT SCAM WORKS Cybercriminals first run on Facebook and Instagram featuring images or videos of popular personalities while falsely claiming that they earned massive profits through a particular investment platform. When users click on these, they are redirected to a website or invited to join a WhatsApp or Telegram group. They are then encouraged to make a small initial investment of Rs 500, Rs 1,000 or Rs 5,000 with promises of earning multiple times the amount within a few days.

Initially, fraudsters display fake profits on fabricated dashboards to gain the victim's confidence. Once trust is established, they repeatedly persuade victims to invest larger amounts. When victims attempt to withdraw their money, the fraudsters demand additional payments under the pretext of taxes, processing fees, security charges or Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. Eventually, the fraudulent website becomes inaccessible, the victim's account is blocked and the scammers disappear. PM, PROMINENT PERSONALITIES IMAGES BEING MISUSED I4C specifically warned that several fake misuse the names and photographs of the Prime Minister and other prominent personalities. The fraudsters falsely suggest that certain investment schemes are backed by government initiatives or recommended by senior leaders to convince people that the offers are legitimate. The agency reminded citizens that the Government of India, the Prime Minister's Office, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) or any other legitimate government institution does not promote investment opportunities through social media. AI, DEEPFAKE TECHNOLOGY INCREASING THREAT I4C said cybercriminals are increasingly using Artificial Intelligence to produce deepfake videos that falsely portray famous personalities endorsing investment schemes. These videos are entirely fabricated, with AI generating facial expressions, voice and speech patterns. The agency cautioned that users should not trust an investment opportunity simply because it appears in a convincing video.