The government’s fact-checking unit, PIB Fact Check, has debunked a viral video falsely depicting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman endorsing a high-return investment scheme. The video, circulating on social media, claims that investing Rs 22,000 could result in returns of Rs 5.5 lakh within a week, but PIB Fact Check clarified that it is fake and AI-generated. The agency emphasized that neither the Government of India nor the Finance Minister is associated with or promoting such a scheme, cautioning the public against misinformation online.
PIB Fact Check urged citizens to verify investment claims through official government channels before making any financial decisions. It also encouraged users to report suspicious content to help combat the spread of misinformation. Last month, PIB flagged another fake message on social media warning State Bank of India’s YONO app users of blocked accounts if they did not immediately update their Aadhaar details, cautioning against sharing sensitive information due to potential phishing attempts.
