Bengaluru: A Bengaluru man reportedly lost more than Rs 7 lakh after being lured into an investment scheme using deepfake videos featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Reliance executive Anant Ambani. The incident highlights the growing use of artificial intelligence-generated content by cyber fraudsters to make fake investment opportunities appear genuine.

Deepfake videos can manipulate a person’s face, voice or speech to create the impression that a public figure is endorsing a product, service or financial scheme. In recent years, such videos have increasingly been used in investment scams, with fraudsters exploiting the credibility of well-known political leaders, businesspersons and celebrities.

Deepfake videos used to promote investment scheme

According to the report, the Bengaluru victim came across videos that appeared to feature Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Anant Ambani promoting an investment opportunity.

The use of recognisable public figures appears to have been intended to create a sense of trust around the scheme. The victim subsequently invested money, eventually losing more than Rs 7 lakh.

However, neither Modi nor Ambani has endorsed the fraudulent investment platform shown in such manipulated videos.

The use of Anant Ambani’s identity in investment scams has been documented previously. The Deepfakes Analysis Unit of the Misinformation Combat Alliance found that a video purportedly showing Ambani promoting an income-generating programme had been manipulated using synthetic audio. The original footage was altered to make it appear that he was recommending a financial opportunity requiring an initial investment.

Another investigation by the same organisation found a separate video falsely showing Ambani promoting a gaming application. The analysis concluded that the original footage had been manipulated with synthetic audio to promote a dubious scheme.

PM Modi’s image also used in fake investment videos

The misuse of Prime Minister Modi’s image for investment fraud has also prompted government warnings.

In July 2026, the government’s Fact Check Unit under the Press Information Bureau debunked an AI-generated video that falsely showed Modi promoting an investment platform and promising unusually high monthly returns. The government clarified that Modi had not endorsed the platform and advised people to be cautious about suspicious links and phishing attempts.

The government has also previously debunked fake videos claiming that Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had endorsed investment platforms promising easy or unusually high returns. The PIB Fact Check Unit said such fabricated endorsements were being used by fraudsters to deceive people.

These cases demonstrate how scammers can combine manipulated video with investment-related claims to give fraudulent platforms the appearance of legitimacy.

Bengaluru has seen similar deepfake fraud cases

The reported Bengaluru incident is part of a wider pattern of cyber fraud involving AI-generated videos.

In November 2025, Bengaluru cybercrime police registered a suo motu case over deepfake videos that falsely showed prominent personalities, including Virat Kohli, Nirmala Sitharaman and Anant Ambani, endorsing stock trading platforms and online games.

According to the police investigation reported at the time, the videos encouraged viewers to download applications, register accounts and invest money while promising substantial returns.

Other Bengaluru residents have also reportedly fallen victim to similar schemes. In one case reported in 2026, a Bengaluru student lost Rs 3.5 lakh after being influenced by a deepfake video featuring Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The victim was directed to a fraudulent trading website and communicated with the alleged fraudsters through Telegram and phone numbers.

Another Bengaluru resident reportedly lost Rs 61 lakh after being lured by a deepfake video featuring Sitharaman and a bogus trading platform.

Why deepfake investment scams are difficult to detect

Investment fraudsters traditionally relied on fake advertisements, websites and fabricated profit statements. Deepfake technology adds another layer by making the scam appear to have the backing of a familiar and trusted personality.

A manipulated video can show a public figure seemingly speaking directly to viewers, describing an investment opportunity and promising financial gains. For someone unfamiliar with deepfake technology, such content can appear convincing, particularly when it is circulated through social media.

Fact-check investigations have found that deepfake videos involving Ambani have used genuine footage taken from earlier interviews or public appearances and replaced the original audio with synthetic speech. In one case, investigators traced the footage back to an authentic video of Ambani discussing Vantara before establishing that the viral version had been manipulated.

What investors should check before transferring money

The latest incident underlines the importance of independently verifying investment advertisements before transferring funds.

People should not assume that a video is genuine simply because it features a familiar public figure. Claims of guaranteed or unusually high returns should be treated cautiously, particularly when the investment opportunity is promoted through social media advertisements or unsolicited messages.

Investors should verify whether a company or platform is authorised by the relevant regulator and check information through official websites rather than using links supplied in advertisements or messages.

Suspicious websites, requests for additional payments to withdraw profits and demands for personal banking details can also be warning signs of an investment scam.

The government has specifically advised people to verify investment claims through official sources and avoid clicking suspicious links or sharing sensitive information with unknown persons.

Deepfakes add a new challenge to cybercrime

The Bengaluru man’s reported loss shows how traditional investment fraud is evolving with artificial intelligence. By impersonating prominent figures through manipulated videos, scammers can attempt to exploit public trust and make fraudulent schemes appear more credible.

As AI-generated content becomes increasingly realistic, consumers may need to rely less on the appearance of a video and more on independent verification of the investment platform, regulatory status and financial claims before committing money.