Hyderabad Senior Loses ₹25.6 Lakh in Elaborate Deepfake Stock Trading Scam
In a distressing case of digital fraud, a 79-year-old retired government employee from Chikkadpally, Hyderabad, has been cheated of ₹25.6 lakh after falling victim to a sophisticated stock trading scam. The fraudulent operation utilized fake video advertisements featuring deepfake impersonations of prominent public figures to lure investors with promises of guaranteed high returns.
How the Elaborate Scam Unfolded
The victim, whose identity has been protected, first encountered the scam in November 2025 through advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. These ads promoted stock market investment platforms that claimed to offer assured daily profits. What made these advertisements particularly convincing was the use of manipulated videos featuring well-known personalities like Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, philanthropist Sudha Murthy, and spiritual leader Sadhguru, falsely endorsing the investment schemes.
Upon clicking the advertisements, the senior citizen was redirected to two suspicious websites: www.vi****a**.net and www.main.q*****-ai.com. He was then added to WhatsApp groups where fraudsters, posing as stock market experts under the aliases Rohit Sinha, Kapil Saini, and Karan Agarwal, initiated contact. These individuals used phone numbers registered in both the United Kingdom and India to establish credibility.
The Systematic Financial Drain
The scammers employed a methodical approach to extract money from their victim. They first introduced basic concepts of web-based trading to build trust, then encouraged investments through online video conference meetings. Following these virtual sessions, the victim was instructed to transfer funds to various bank accounts for purported stock investments.
Between November 26, 2025, and January 21, 2026, the retired employee transferred a total of ₹25.6 lakh across multiple transactions. The realization of fraud only dawned when he attempted to withdraw his invested amount. At this point, the fraudsters began demanding additional payments for various taxes and fees, using this as a tactic to extract more money while preventing any actual withdrawal.
Police Investigation and Legal Action
After recognizing the deception, the victim approached the Hyderabad Cyber Crime police on March 21, 2026. Based on his detailed complaint, authorities have registered a formal case under multiple sections of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The charges include:
- Section 66-C and 66-D of the IT Act (related to identity theft and cheating by personation using computer resources)
- Section 318(4) of BNS (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property)
- Section 319(2) of BNS (Cheating by personation)
- Section 336(3) of BNS (Forgery for purpose of cheating)
- Section 340(2) of BNS (Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record)
Cyber Crime officials have launched a comprehensive investigation into the matter, focusing on tracking the digital footprints, bank transactions, and the sophisticated use of deepfake technology in the fraudulent advertisements.
A Growing Threat to Digital Investors
This case highlights the increasing sophistication of online financial scams targeting vulnerable populations, particularly senior citizens who may be less familiar with digital security protocols. The use of deepfake technology to create convincing endorsements from trusted public figures represents a dangerous evolution in cyber fraud techniques.
Authorities have warned citizens to exercise extreme caution when encountering investment opportunities promoted through social media advertisements, especially those promising guaranteed returns. They recommend verifying the authenticity of any investment platform through official regulatory bodies before transferring funds and being skeptical of celebrity endorsements in digital advertisements that seem too good to be true.
