HYDERABAD: A 71-year-old woman doctor from Hyderabad was duped out of over ₹20 lakh in a cryptocurrency scam sparked by a fake AI-generated advertisement.
According to police, the incident began in March when the doctor came across an AI-generated video ad online featuring Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, promoting what appeared to be a government-backed investment opportunity. Intrigued by the offer, she clicked on the link embedded in the ad and soon received a WhatsApp call from an unknown number.
During the call, the woman was asked to share her personal information and was later connected to someone posing as a ‘financial advisor’. The individual convinced her to invest ₹20 lakh in a Bitcoin scheme, claiming she had already earned $80,000 in profits.
However, when the doctor attempted to withdraw the supposed returns, she was unable to access the funds. Realizing she had been duped, she approached the Cyber Crime wing and filed a formal complaint.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the scam, which they suspect is part of a larger cyber fraud network exploiting deepfake technology and fabricated endorsements to lure victims.
