Rajasthan Police Warns Public About Rising Cyber Fraud Schemes

The Rajasthan Police’s Cyber Crime Branch has alerted the public to a surge in cyber fraud cases involving AI-generated deepfake videos, fake stock market apps, and deceptive social media ads. Rajasthan’s Additional Director General of Police (Cyber Crime) V.K. Singh highlighted that cybercriminals are exploiting artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to produce fake videos of well-known investors, industrialists, and celebrities. These manipulated videos are shared on social media to lure individuals into fraudulent investment schemes. Cybercriminals promote these schemes through appealing ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram. They entice users to join groups with names such as “Elite Investment Group” or “Super Trading Club,” where most members are fake accounts controlled by fraudsters. To gain victims’ trust, cybercriminals showcase fabricated screenshots of substantial profits and fake testimonials. Victims are then tricked into downloading trading apps through suspicious links. While the apps initially display profits, when users try to withdraw funds, they are asked for additional payments under various pretexts like taxes or fees. Ultimately, the fraudsters vanish, leaving victims with significant financial losses. The Rajasthan Police Cyber Crime Branch advises citizens to take precautions, including downloading apps only from official stores, verifying companies with SEBI before investing, avoiding transferring money to unverified accounts, and reporting cyber fraud promptly. Victims are urged to report incidents through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or by calling the national cyber helpline number 1930. The public is also encouraged to contact the Rajasthan Police Cyber Helpdesk for assistance and to refrain from investing in online platforms without proper verification, emphasizing vigilance and verification as crucial defenses against cyber fraud.