A Bengaluru woman was conned out of ₹3.75 crore (AED 1.65m) after falling for an AI deepfake video of Sadhguru endorsing a fake stock platform.
BENGALURU: Police in Bengaluru are investigating a major cyber fraud after a woman lost ₹3.75 crore (AED 1.65 million) in an artificial intelligence–driven scam. The fraudsters used a deepfake video of spiritual leader Sadhguru, tricking the victim into believing he was promoting a stock trading platform.
Convinced by the fake endorsement, the woman invested heavily in the scheme, only to later discover she had been deceived. The incident has sparked widespread alarm about the misuse of AI deepfakes in financial scams.
Cyber experts warn that such scams are becoming increasingly common, with AI-generated videos and voices making it harder for victims to tell real from fake. Bengaluru Police confirmed they are tracing the digital trail of the scammers and urged citizens to remain vigilant about online investment offers.
Authorities highlighted that unofficial trading apps, viral videos, and unverified promotions pose serious risks, even when they appear to feature respected public figures. They advised users to always verify platforms through official financial regulators, use trusted apps, and avoid offers that promise unusually high returns.
Experts also pointed out that electronic frauds involving deepfakes are on the rise globally, and India is emerging as a hotspot for such crimes. The case underscores the urgent need for stronger digital awareness campaigns and tighter cybercrime enforcement to protect individuals from losing life savings to high-tech deception.
