Bengaluru residents duped of Rs 95 lakh by deepfake videos of Narayana Murthy and Mukesh Ambani

In the digital age, technology has brought about numerous advancements, but it has also opened the door to sophisticated cybercrimes. Recently, Bengaluru witnessed a concerning instance of cyber fraud involving deepfake videos of two prominent Indian businessmen: Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani . As per reports, these fraudulent videos were used as bait to deceive two individuals, leading to collective financial losses amounting to approximately Rs 95 lakh. The incidents shed light on the increasing risks associated with deepfake technology and the importance of verifying online content before engaging with it. This detailed report covers the nature of the scam, the modus operandi of the fraudsters, and the ongoing investigation by authorities.


Deepfake videos of Narayana Murthy and Mukesh Ambani

Two separate cases have been reported to the Cyber Economic and Narcotics (CEN) South police station in Bengaluru. Both incidents involved fraudulent schemes where victims were misled by videos that appeared to feature Narayana Murthy and Mukesh Ambani, promoting lucrative investment opportunities.

Case 1: Banashankari resident defrauded

In the first instance, a woman from Banashankari encountered a video on social media that promoted a trading platform, promising substantial returns on investments. The video appeared credible, featuring Narayana Murthy, which increased her trust in the platform. Key details of this case include:

• Initial engagement: The woman clicked a suspicious link embedded in the video and provided her contact details on a fraudulent website.
• Fraudulent contact: She was contacted by an unknown individual claiming to be an agent from the platform. He persuaded her to invest money with promises of high returns.
• Initial investment and loss: Initially, she invested Rs 1.4 lakh and received a small return of Rs 8,000, which further solidified her belief in the scheme’s legitimacy. Encouraged by this initial success, she invested an additional Rs 6.7 lakh, which she ultimately lost without receiving any returns.
• Additional scam: The woman later fell victim to another fraudulent platform, losing Rs 67 lakh.

Case 2: Retired employee loses life savings

The second case involved a retired employee who also came across a video on a social media platform promoting a similar trading platform. The video seemed authentic and convincing, featuring Mukesh Ambani discussing investment opportunities. Details of this case include:

• Investment process: The retiree clicked the link and followed instructions that led to him transferring a total of Rs 19 lakh to two bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.
• Outcome: After transferring the funds, he received no further communication or response from the supposed representatives, realising too late that he had been scammed.

Modus operandi of the fraudsters

The fraudsters employed deepfake technology to create or misuse videos featuring well-known business leaders. These videos were designed to appear legitimate, using the likenesses and voices of respected figures to lend credibility to their scams. The tactics used included:

• Embedding suspicious links: The scammers used platforms that hosted these videos, embedding links that redirected victims to fake websites resembling legitimate trading or investment platforms.
• Initial payouts for trust building: To build trust, some victims, like the Banashankari resident, were given small initial payouts. This psychological tactic encouraged them to invest large sums, believing that the platform was genuine.
• Direct communication: The fraudsters would contact the victims directly, posing as agents or representatives of the investment platform to reinforce the authenticity of the scam.

Potential source of the deepfake videos

Authorities suspect that the fraudsters might have used actual video footage of Narayana Murthy and Mukesh Ambani from public events, such as stakeholder meetings or corporate addresses, and manipulated them to suit their narrative. Deepfake technology, which uses artificial intelligence to create hyper-realistic but falsified videos, allows scammers to make it appear as though prominent figures are endorsing products or schemes they have no connection to.


Role of verification and cyber awareness

These cases underscore the critical importance of verifying online content and exercising caution when approached with investment opportunities. Key recommendations include:

• Cross-checking information: Always verify investment opportunities by consulting official sources or directly contacting the company or individual purportedly involved.
• Avoiding suspicious links: Be wary of clicking on links from unverified sources, especially those promising unusually high returns.
• Recognizing deepfakes: Familiarise yourself with telltale signs of deepfakes, such as unnatural facial movements or audio-visual mismatches, to better identify manipulated media.

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