A Pune nurse was duped out of Rs 4 lakh after a deepfake video of the late industrialist Ratan Tata was exploited to promote a fraudulent share investment scheme, highlighting the rising misuse of synthetic media in scams.
A nurse at a Pune hospital was allegedly cheated out of Rs 4 lakh after a deepfake video of the late industrialist Ratan Tata was used to lure her into a share market scam, police said on Saturday. According to the FIR, the 38-year-old woman, who lives in Ambegaon, came across the video on Instagram in October 2024 and, believing it to be genuine, clicked on an advert attached to it and entered her personal details.
Police said she was then contacted by a person identifying himself as “Manumohan”, who persuaded her to invest in a company called “World Tradex” and promised strong returns. The case highlights how criminals are increasingly using synthetic videos of well-known public figures to build trust and push victims towards fraudulent investment schemes.
The deception echoes an earlier warning from Ratan Tata himself. In December 2023, Tata flagged a deepfake video circulating on Instagram that falsely showed him offering investment advice, and he described it as fake. Other fact checks and reports that year found similar clips using his image to promote betting apps and supposed risk-free investments, often directing viewers to Telegram channels or other outside platforms.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
