Not too long ago, a viral video of popular actress Rashmika Mandanna was making the rounds online. Someone had used AI to swap Rashmika’s face onto another woman, creating an eerie deepfake. Deepfakes aren’t just fringe tech experiments anymore. With the rise of generative AI tools in the market, your privacy can be invaded by anyone with a smartphone and basic know-how of AI usage.
In another instance, a retired doctor from Hyderabad was duped of over ₹20 lakh in an online investment scam. The scam began in March, 2025, after the victim saw an advertisement online featuring the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman endorsing a supposed investment opportunity. The video, which was a deepfake, directed viewers to a trading website via a hyperlink embedded in the description. The Minister issued a warning to the public and revealed she had come across several deepfakes of her circulating online.
Image Credits: PIB Fact Check twitter
What are deepfakes ?
Deepfakes are videos, images, or audio recordings created using AI to mimic real people. They can be face swaps, voice cloning or completely fabricated videos that can look eerily real. Deepfakes are rampant in India According to a survey by McAfee in 2024, 75 percent of Indians have come across deepfake content in the last year. Like most technologies, deepfakes aren’t inherently malicious. They are often used in the creative and entertainment industry. They help enable new forms of storytelling and generate audio-visual content in cost-effective ways. They also find use in the education and medical sector by generating simulations of patient cases or creating interactive learning modules. As the technology evolves, its potential for use and misuse continues to grow, making awareness essential.
Types of deepfake deception
Image credits: Google Images
- Investment Scams: Deepfakes of business leaders/influencers are used to lure people into transferring money.
- Impersonation Fraud: Scammers use AI to clone voices of relatives, bosses, or government officials to request urgent fund transfers or sensitive information.
- Obscene and Defamatory Deepfakes: Photos of women and minors are morphed into explicit videos or images to harass, shame, or blackmail victims.
- Political Propaganda: Deepfakes of politicians are circulated to spread false statements, communal remarks, or doctored speeches to influence voter opinion.
- Fake News: AI-generated news clips are used to circulate fabricated ‘breaking news’ on social media and messaging apps.
- Kidnapping Schemes: Criminals use AI-generated voices or videos of children or family members to stage fake emergencies and demand ransom.
Who is at risk ?
Deepfakes can target anyone, whether public figures, professionals or social media users. Women and minors are particularly vulnerable as their morphed images are often used to harass, defame or blackmail. Spiritual figures, religious icons, and motivational leaders with massive online followings are impersonated to peddle fake schemes or spread manipulated messages. Recently, a woman from Bangalore lost over ₹3.75 crore after watching a fake video of spiritual leader Sadhguru promoting a trading app. In another instance, scammers used AI voice cloning to impersonate a child, convincing a Delhi man that his relative had been kidnapped and extorting ₹50,000. The risk of deepfakes are far-reaching as they can be customised to target varied demography.
How to spot Deepfakes ?
As AI tools become more user-friendly and affordable, the line between truth and deception keeps thinning. It’s increasingly important to stay alert, question what we see, and learn how to identify manipulated content before it misleads or harms us.
- Check the source: Always verify where a video or image originated. Be cautious of sensational clips shared only through forwards or obscure accounts.
Image Credit: PIB Fact Check twitter
- Look for visual inconsistencies: Watch for unnatural blinking, mismatched lighting, blurred edges, or awkward lip movements. These are common signs of manipulated digital content.
Image Credits: Google Images
- Listen carefully: Deepfakes often have odd intonation, inconsistent background noise, or slightly robotic tone shifts.
Image Credits: Google Images
- Cross-verify with official channels: For public figures or news clips, check if it’s been posted by verified pages or reported by credible outlets.
- Avoid instant reactions: Don’t forward or comment in outrage. Instead pause, verify, and report if needed.
- Educate your circle: Talk to family and friends, especially older or less tech-savvy members, about deepfakes and digital safety.
- Use detection tools: Platforms like Google Lens, Deepware Scanner, or InVID can help analyse suspicious videos or images.
In case of a fraud or scam, immediately report to the National Cybercrime Helpline by dialling 1930. You can also register your complaint online on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal by visiting cybercrime.gov.in.