The victim in Kozhikode was lured by an AI-generated Facebook video purportedly featuring the Union Finance Minister.
A 45-year-old woman from Thamarassery allegedly lost Rs 49.2 lakh in an online trading fraud after watching a fake Facebook video of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, according to India Today.
The video falsely showed Sitharaman claiming that online trading could produce high returns. After seeing the post, the woman clicked a link and followed directions from the scammers to invest her money.
Between July 15 and September 22 this year, she moved the total amount from her State Bank of India and Puthuppadi Service Cooperative Bank accounts into various accounts held by the accused.
The Kozhikode Rural Cyber Crime Police registered a case on Wednesday after the woman reported that the promised profits and her initial investment were never returned.
Police stated they are currently tracing the recipient bank accounts and attempting to freeze them. They noted that AI-generated videos of union ministers promoting investment schemes have been circulating on social media.
Authorities have issued repeated advisories warning the public to stay cautious of such cyber frauds on social media platforms.
