NEW DELHI, 13 Nov 2025 — An interview video that went viral and said Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman, was providing monthly payments of up to ₹243,000 to Indian citizens through a platform called “Prompt Cipro Opt” has already been proven false by a number of official fact-checkers and police divisions dedicated to cybercrime.
The false claims
The video that’s to be seen in large numbers all over the internet along with social media and messengers, Mr. Rajat Sharma (who is supposedly the interviewer of the minister) queries how the entire population would be paid. The minister’s avatar answers saying that soon taxpayers will receive dividends from the tax pool, that 4,000 “social accounts” are being opened, and that the citizen can put in ₹25,000 to be earning ₹243,000 per month from the state-guaranteed scheme.
Official response & fact-check
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has mentioned that there is no such plan, the government has not allowed any platform that claims such returns, and the video is an outcome of digital manipulation.
The Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU) investigated the video and concluded that synthetic alterations to both the audio and video were done through AI tools: lip-movement mismatches, peculiar visual artifacts around the mouth and face, and synthetic voice-modelling.
The Cybercrime Police in Karnataka, Bangalore, took up a suo-moto case under the Information Technology Act when deepfake videos featuring the minister and other public persons were used to promote fraudulent trading schemes.
Reasons why the scam worked
Experts mention a variety of reasons:
- The video disrespected people’s trust in high-ranking government officials by showing a familiar face with attractive promises of high returns.
- Using AI technology/deep fake made the pictures look somewhat real, hence increasing the chances of people believing and acting on it.
- The fake scheme applied urgency (“limited spots remaining”), low investment (₹25,000), and high-income yields (₹243,000/month) —typical features of investment fraud.
- The public was first attracted through social media links then asked to deposit money through unauthorized apps or platforms, which sometimes resulted in losing both money and personal data.
Real-world consequences
A 57-year-old woman from East Bengaluru was one of the victims who lost ₹43.4 lakh while trying to invest in a trading app that was promoted using a deepfake video of the minister.
There are several cases across India where victims have reported to cybercrime units about scams where they were tricked into downloading fake investment apps or transferring money under the pretext of government-supported schemes.
What signs should viewers look out for?
Claims presenting “guaranteed high monthly yield” from small investments. Release of videos or posts asserting “approval by minister or government official” without any link to an official press release or reference to a government channel.
Immediate action pressure: “Only a few places are left”, “Register now”.
Need for advance payment or deposit into unregistered or trading apps before any genuine clearance or regulatory scrutiny.
What should you do?
Check the legitimacy of any scheme through official agencies: government websites (e.g.- MyGov), official social media profiles of ministries, or regulatory bodies such as Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Even if the investment video is from social media, do not trust it if it claims unrealistic returns.
In case of involvement, report to your local cyber-crime unit and if you transferred any money, report to your bank also.
Create strong passwords, activate two-factor authentication, and do not click on strange links that promise high returns.
This case exemplifies the development of a concerning trend: the use of AI/deepfake technology to impersonate high officials and deceive the public. Although the government’s promise of monthly payments may appear alluring, the actual situation in this particular case is that it was an elaborate scam disguised as a credible video. The government has been very clear: such a scheme does not exist. Rely on the official source; err on the side of skepticism regarding extraordinary claims.
