Pune Nurse Loses ₹4 Lakh in Ratan Tata Deepfake Scam

Pune: A 38-year-old nurse from Pune has allegedly lost ₹4.09 lakh in an online investment scam after cyber fraudsters reportedly used a deepfake video featuring late industrialist Ratan Tata to promote a fake stock market investment scheme.

The incident has once again highlighted the growing threat of AI-generated deepfake videos and investment fraud on social media. Pune Cyber Police have registered a case against unidentified suspects and launched an investigation into the fraud.

Deepfake Ratan Tata Video Used to Attract Victim

According to the police, the woman, who lives in Ambegaon, Pune, came across a video on Instagram in October 2024. The video allegedly showed Ratan Tata discussing investment opportunities and promising attractive returns from the stock market.

Believing the video to be genuine, the woman reportedly clicked on an advertisement associated with the post and entered her personal information.

Soon after, she was contacted by individuals allegedly involved in the fraud. They reportedly persuaded her to create an account on an online platform that was presented as a legitimate investment website.

₹4.09 Lakh Sent in 11 Transactions

Police said the woman transferred a total of ₹4,09,100 in 11 separate online transactions between October 9, 2024, and June 13, 2025.

The accused allegedly showed her an online dashboard where her investment appeared to be generating substantial profits. This reportedly convinced her that the platform and investment scheme were genuine.

The trouble began when she tried to withdraw her money.

Instead of allowing the withdrawal, the alleged fraudsters reportedly demanded additional payments, claiming that the money was required to complete the withdrawal process.

As the demands for further payments continued, the woman became suspicious and eventually realised that she had allegedly fallen victim to a cyber scam.

Pune Cyber Police Register FIR

The woman approached the Pune Cyber Police and submitted a complaint on March 4, 2026. After examining the complaint and available digital evidence, police registered an FIR on Saturday against unidentified individuals.

The case has been registered under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, which deals with cheating through personation using computer resources.

Investigators are now examining the bank accounts, transaction records, digital payment trails and online platforms allegedly used by the fraudsters to identify the people behind the operation.

Deepfake Investment Scams on the Rise

The case serves as a warning about the increasing use of deepfake technology in online financial fraud. Fraudsters can use manipulated videos and artificial intelligence-generated content featuring well-known personalities to make fake investment schemes appear authentic.

Cyber officials have advised people not to make investments based solely on videos or advertisements seen on social media. Investors should independently verify investment platforms, check whether financial entities are authorised and avoid transferring money to unknown bank accounts.

Anyone receiving suspicious investment offers or being asked to pay additional money to withdraw supposed profits should immediately verify the scheme and report suspected cyber fraud to the authorities.