I4C warns of surge in fake government scheme scams on social media

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has issued an alert regarding a growing menace of fraudulent advertisements circulating on Meta platforms, warning citizens to exercise caution when encountering offers related to government welfare schemes online.

The scams typically involve manipulated or artificially generated images of well-known political leaders endorsing non-existent government programs. Perpetrators use deepfake technology and photo editing to lend credibility to false claims, creating a convincing façade that tricks unsuspecting users into clicking malicious links or sharing personal information.

Investigations by the I4C indicate that coordinated calling campaigns originating from Pakistan numbers are being used in conjunction with the fake advertisements to further persuade victims. These follow-up calls attempt to extract sensitive data or financial details from targets who have already engaged with the deceptive social media content.

The coordination centre has advised the public to verify all government scheme information directly through official government websites and helplines. Users are cautioned against clicking on ads featuring political figures endorsing schemes, particularly those directing traffic outside authenticated government platforms. Social media users are encouraged to report suspicious advertisements immediately to Meta and local law enforcement authorities.