The Government of India has debunked a deepfake video falsely portraying Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as endorsing an investment scheme promising extraordinary daily and monthly returns. The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check Unit has confirmed that the viral video is entirely fake, cautioning citizens against falling prey to sophisticated online scams that misuse AI technology to exploit public trust.
The fabricated video, circulating widely through social media advertisements, particularly on Facebook, falsely claims that an investment of Rs 22,000 can generate an assured income of Rs 70,000 per day and Rs 22 lakh per month. The government has categorically dismissed these claims as fraudulent.
Issuing an official clarification, the PIB Fact Check Unit stated that the viral video has been created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and does not represent any genuine communication from the Union Finance Minister or the Government of India.
💰 Beware of Online Investment Scams ⚠️
A #Facebook advertisement is circulating an AI-generated video of Union Finance Minister @nsitharaman falsely promoting an investment scheme that promises an assured income of ₹70,000 per day and ₹22 lakh per month on an initial… pic.twitter.com/7Pnvapin2C
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 30, 2026
The agency emphasised that Nirmala Sitharaman has neither endorsed nor authorised any such investment scheme or platform, and warned citizens not to rely on manipulated videos or fabricated advertisements circulating online.
The clarification comes amid an alarming rise in AI-generated deepfakes being used by cybercriminals to impersonate public figures and lend credibility to fraudulent financial schemes. According to the PIB, scammers are increasingly leveraging AI-generated videos, fabricated endorsements and manipulated visuals of well-known personalities to make fraudulent schemes appear legitimate.
By impersonating trusted public officials and promising unrealistic financial returns, fraudsters seek to lure unsuspecting individuals into transferring money or sharing sensitive banking and personal information. The government cautioned that promises of guaranteed high returns with minimal investment are among the most common warning signs of financial fraud.
The fake advertisement claims that investors can turn a one-time investment of Rs 22,000 into earnings of Rs 70,000 every day and Rs 22 lakh every month claims that have no basis in reality. Financial experts have consistently warned that schemes promising guaranteed, exceptionally high returns in a short period are classic indicators of investment scams.
The PIB urged citizens to exercise caution and avoid making investment decisions based solely on viral videos, social media advertisements or celebrity endorsements that have not been verified.
Reiterating its advisory, the government urged the public to verify all investment-related claims through official government websites, recognised financial regulators and authentic communication channels before investing money.
It also advised people not to share personal, banking or financial information based on claims made in social media posts, messaging apps or AI-generated promotional videos. The emergence of increasingly realistic deepfake technology has made it easier for cybercriminals to impersonate politicians, business leaders and celebrities, making digital verification more important than ever.
