The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has issued a public advisory warning citizens about fake investment advertisements circulating on Facebook and Instagram. The agency said cybercriminals are using social media, AI-generated deepfake videos and fake investment platforms to trick people into fraudulent investment schemes.
According to I4C, fraudsters misuse the names, photographs and videos of the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, leading industrialists, investment experts, film celebrities and other well-known personalities to make fake advertisements appear genuine. These ads often promise “Guaranteed Returns”, “Double Money”, “Daily Profit” and “Limited Time Investment Offer” to attract victims.
The agency said scammers first direct users to fake websites or invite them to WhatsApp and Telegram groups, where they encourage investments of Rs. 500, Rs. 1,000 or Rs. 5,000 by displaying fabricated profits on fake dashboards. Once victims invest larger amounts, fraudsters demand additional payments for taxes, processing fees, security charges or Know Your Customer (KYC) verification before disappearing with the money.
I4C warned that cybercriminals are increasingly using Artificial Intelligence to create convincing deepfake videos that falsely show public figures endorsing investment schemes. It clarified that the Government of India, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and other government institutions do not promote investment opportunities through social media advertisements.
The agency advised people to watch for warning signs such as promises of 100% guaranteed returns, pressure to invest immediately, requests to join WhatsApp or Telegram groups, investment advice without SEBI registration and demands for direct bank transfers or UPI payments.
Before investing, I4C urged citizens to verify whether the company is registered with SEBI, confirm the authenticity of the website, check if the investment scheme appears on the company’s official website and verify its contact details. The agency also advised users never to share banking information, OTPs, UPI PINs or passwords.
If anyone becomes a victim, I4C advised them to immediately inform their bank, call the National Cyber Helpline at 1930, file a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and preserve screenshots, payment receipts, chat records and copies of the fraudulent advertisements to improve the chances of recovering lost funds.
Experts also called on social media platforms to strengthen the monitoring and removal of fraudulent advertisements to reduce the growing threat of online investment scams.
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