Deepfake video of Nirmala Sitharaman used to dupe Belagavi man in Rs 7.9 lakh scam

Summary

A 76-year-old man in Belagavi encountered a deepfake video on YouTube featuring Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman endorsing an investment scheme. The video included a link directing users to an investment platform. The victim clicked the link, provided his details, and was later contacted on social media by someone claiming to be Adarsh Anand, who encouraged him to invest. After an initial small investment showed simulated profits, the platform demanded a "customs duty" payment of Rs 4.2 lakh to process a withdrawal, followed by an additional Rs 2 lakh. When the victim realized the scam, he had lost a total of Rs 7.9 lakh.