Table of Contents
Introduction
In one of the most alarming cases of artificial intelligence being used for crime, a 57-year-old woman from Bengaluru has lost a staggering ₹3.75 crore to a sophisticated online investment scam. The fraudsters used a highly convincing deepfake video of spiritual leader Sadhguru to lure her into a fraudulent stock-trading scheme. This incident serves as a chilling wake-up call about the new and evolving dangers of AI-powered fraud, where trusted faces are used as masks for elaborate criminal operations.
Key Takeaways: The Anatomy of a High-Tech Scam
- What: A Bengaluru woman was scammed out of ₹3.75 crore.
- The Bait: A deepfake video of Sadhguru, using his AI-generated voice to promote a fake investment app on social media.
- The App: A fraudulent trading platform named ‘Mirrox’.
- The Method: The app was manipulated to show fictitious high returns, encouraging the victim to invest more and more of her savings.
- The Warning: This is a powerful example of how criminals are now using AI to impersonate trusted figures for financial fraud.
The Social Media Trap: A Trusted Face Betrays
The scam began, as many now do, on a social media feed. The victim, identified as Sneha from CV Raman Nagar, came across a video featuring what appeared to be Sadhguru. In the video, an AI-generated voice, perfectly mimicking the spiritual leader’s tone and cadence, promoted a high-return stock-trading platform.
Trusting the endorsement from a well-known public figure, Sneha clicked on a link provided with the video. This led her to a webpage where she entered her personal details, unknowingly stepping into a meticulously planned digital trap.
How the Sophisticated Scam Unfolded
Shortly after providing her details, the victim was contacted by fraudsters using multiple UK-based phone numbers. Posing as representatives of a company called ‘Mirrox’, they began to build a relationship of trust through a highly sophisticated process:
- Creating False Community: She was added to a WhatsApp group with other “investors” (likely fake profiles) to create a sense of legitimacy and social proof.
- The Fake App: She was instructed to download the ‘Mirrox’ app, which was not on any official app store.
- Building Confidence: The scammers conducted trading sessions over Zoom, guiding her through the app and her initial investments.
- Displaying Fictitious Profits: The app’s interface was manipulated to show her investments generating massive, unrealistic profits, encouraging her to invest larger sums of money.
- The Final Trap: After investing a total of ₹3.75 crore over a period, she attempted to withdraw her supposed profits. The fraudsters then demanded additional fees and taxes to release the money. It was at this point that she realized she had been deceived and that her money was gone.
The Growing Danger of Deepfake Technology
This Sadhguru deepfake scam is a harsh illustration of how deepfake technology has evolved from a novelty into a dangerous weapon for criminals. By using AI to realistically simulate the voice and likeness of trusted celebrities, spiritual leaders, and even family members, scammers can bypass the natural skepticism of their victims.
Authorities have confirmed that an investigation is underway, and the victim has provided all transaction details to the police.
How to Protect Yourself from AI-Powered Scams
As this technology becomes more common, vigilance is the only defense.
- Be Skeptical of Celebrity Endorsements: Be extremely wary of any video, especially on social media, where a public figure promotes a specific financial product or a “guaranteed returns” scheme.
- Verify the Source: Never download financial or trading apps from a link in a message or an ad. Only use the official Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Check for Legitimacy: Verify if any investment company is registered with regulatory bodies like SEBI.
- “Too Good to Be True” is Always a Red Flag: Legitimate investments do not offer guaranteed, astronomically high returns.
- Never Pay to Withdraw: No legitimate company will ever ask you to pay additional fees or taxes to withdraw your own profits. This is a classic sign of a scam.
Conclusion
The heartbreaking loss of ₹3.75 crore in the Bengaluru Sadhguru deepfake scam is a cautionary tale for every Indian who uses social media. It marks a new era of financial fraud where seeing is no longer believing. As criminals become more technologically advanced, our awareness and skepticism must evolve even faster. This incident is a powerful reminder to question everything, verify independently, and protect our hard-earned money from the sophisticated digital illusions of modern-day scammers.
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Sources:
- Hindustan Times: For the initial report on the Bengaluru scam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a deepfake scam?
A deepfake scam uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create realistic but fake videos or audio of a person, often a trusted public figure, to deceive victims into believing a fraudulent message.
How did the Bengaluru woman lose her money?
She was lured by a deepfake video of Sadhguru into an investment scheme. She downloaded a fake app that showed fictitious profits, which encouraged her to keep investing until she had lost ₹3.75 crore.
