Jaipur Police Issue Cybercrime Advisory Against AI-Generated Video Scams and Fake Welfare Schemes

Cybercrime Branch Warns of AI-Powered Deception

Law enforcement authorities in Jaipur have issued a formal advisory warning the public about a sharp rise in digital financial scams utilizing artificial intelligence, manipulated video footage, and fraudulent government welfare schemes. According to the state's cybercrime branch, bad actors are actively exploiting social media platforms—specifically Facebook and Instagram—to circulate deceptive advertisements designed to trick individuals into parting with personal and financial data.

Additional Director General of Police (Cyber Crime) V K Singh noted that fraudsters are leveraging the names, images, and likenesses of prominent public and political figures. In some cases, sophisticated AI-generated or manipulated videos are deployed to create the false impression that elected officials or public representatives are personally endorsing or announcing direct financial assistance programs.

Common Tactics: Fake Schemes and UPI Traps

The advisory outlines two primary methods utilized by perpetrators to execute these financial frauds:

• Bogus Government Schemes: Victims are targeted with claims that they are eligible for monetary benefits under official government programs. They are subsequently directed to communicate via specific phone numbers, WhatsApp accounts, or unverified websites. Investigators highlighted that some communications originate from international phone numbers, including those bearing the +92 country code. Targets are often pressured to pay upfront fees categorized as registration, processing, tax, or verification charges, with the promised financial aid never materializing.
• Cashback and Contest Scams: Separate operations utilize digital engagement hooks such as scratch cards and spin-and-win games offering attractive cashback rewards. To claim these rewards, victims are tricked into approving Unified Payments Interface (UPI) collect requests or entering their UPI PIN. Police explicitly reiterated that a UPI PIN functions strictly to authorize outgoing fund transfers rather than to receive money.

Practical Implications and Prevention

The advisory emphasizes critical cybersecurity hygiene to prevent unauthorized financial losses. Citizens are urged never to disclose their UPI PIN, One-Time Passwords (OTPs), bank account credentials, Aadhaar numbers, or PAN details to unknown callers or unverified digital entities.

To help readers navigate similar online offers safely, the following practical comparisons and verification steps apply:

• Official Verification vs. Social Media Claims: Legitimate government welfare programs are announced through official government department channels and gazetted notifications, not via sponsored social media advertisements or unverified video clips on consumer platforms.
• Incoming vs. Outgoing Transactions: Legitimate cashback offers or government disbursements never require the recipient to transfer money or input a secure authorization PIN to receive funds.
• Actionable Reporting: Residents encountering suspicious advertisements are advised to report them directly to the hosting social media platforms while preserving digital evidence, such as screenshots, for potential law enforcement review.

What Is Confirmed Versus Unknown

Confirmed: The Jaipur cybercrime branch has officially issued a public advisory detailing the use of manipulated media, fake welfare schemes, and deceptive UPI requests on social networks.

Unknown: Specific financial loss totals, the exact scale of the active campaigns, and the identities or precise locations of the individuals operating the fraudulent networks have not been publicly disclosed.

Readers can review the original coverage and monitor ongoing updates via the Times of India official report.