Scammers impersonating Nirmala Sitharaman
Incidents involved as Deployer
Incident 14541 Report
Purported Deepfake Video Reportedly Portrayed Nirmala Sitharaman Endorsing Investment Scheme
2026-04-16
A purported deepfake video reportedly portrayed Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as endorsing an investment scheme claiming Rs 22,000 (about $236 USD) could yield Rs 5.5 lakh (about $5,900 USD) in a week. PIB Fact Check publicly debunked the video on April 16, 2026, stating it was fake and AI-generated and warning that neither the Government of India nor the minister endorsed the scheme.
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Purported AI-Manipulated Video of Nirmala Sitharaman Reportedly Promoted High-Return Investment Scam
2025-06-30
A purported AI-manipulated video reportedly depicted Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman endorsing an investment platform that claimed a ₹22,000 deposit could generate returns of up to ₹25 lakh per month. Genuine webinar footage was reportedly altered with synthetic audio and added text, and the advertisement circulated under the name "Trust India." Available evidence did not identify the perpetrators or establish whether viewers invested money or suffered financial losses.
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