Now Reading: Mumbai woman loses Rs 12 lakh to deepfake Vijay video scam
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Mumbai woman loses Rs 12 lakh to deepfake Vijay video scam
A 66-year-old woman from Vasai, Mumbai, was cheated out of Rs 12 lakh after cyber fraudsters used an AI-generated deepfake video of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay to promise financial assistance. The woman saw the fake Instagram reel on July 27 and contacted the number provided.
She was asked to pay a Rs 5,000 processing fee for Rs 5 lakh aid, and later told she would receive Rs 77 lakh from abroad after paying taxes. Over 10 days, the woman took a loan, pledged jewellery, and withdrew from her daughter's account to transfer Rs 12 lakh to the fraudsters' accounts.
When the promised aid did not arrive, she filed a complaint. Police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act at Waliv police station.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Deepfake scams are rising as AI tools become cheaper. Here, the fraudsters exploited trust in a popular leader. Victims often hesitate to report due to embarrassment, but swift police action is critical. The case highlights how loan sharks and jewellery pledging can amplify losses for elderly victims. Watch for similar scams targeting vulnerable groups during festive seasons.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
