Alert: Deepfake Video Falsely Shows Finance Minister and Ex‑RBI Governor Endorsing ₹1 Million Monthly Return Scam

A video circulating on social media falsely shows India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das endorsing an investment scheme. The fraudulent clip claims investors can earn ₹1 million per month from an initial investment of just ₹22,000.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check Unit has confirmed the video is fake. According to the team, scammers are using digitally altered, AI‑generated sponsored ads on Instagram to mislead the public.

In its statement issued on X, the PIB Fact Check stressed: “Neither the Finance Minister, nor the Government of India has endorsed any such investment scheme or advertisement.”

PIB Fact Check issued a warning on X

It has urged citizens to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to suspicious promotional claims.

Safety Tips from PIB Fact Check

• Be wary of “too-good-to-be-true” returns
• Verify claims through official government or financial institution websites
• Avoid clicking on suspicious or unknown links
• Never share personal or banking details on unverified platforms
• Report such scam ads or videos on the platform where they appear

Fraudulent investment schemes using deepfake videos of Nirmala Sitharaman continue to circulate on social media, with multiple cases already exposed. In one recent incident, a 54‑year‑old woman from Bengaluru lost more than ₹3.3 million after being misled by a Facebook video falsely portraying the minister endorsing a trading platform.

With scammers increasingly exploiting AI technology to deceive investors, BrokersView urges heightened vigilance online. If you’re uncertain about an investment, ask before you act.