Man arrested for CM Vijay deepfake fraud scheme in Rajasthan

A resident of Lakshmangarh in Alwar district, Rajasthan, has been apprehended in connection with an elaborate fraud scheme involving deepfake technology, Tamil Nadu Crime Branch-CID officials said. The suspect is accused of creating synthetic videos of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and using them to solicit money from the public under false pretenses.

Investigators from the Tamil Nadu police traced the accused through digital evidence gathered during their probe. The trail led them to Rajasthan, where the suspect was subsequently arrested. Police said the investigation relied heavily on digital forensics to identify and locate the perpetrator.

Mobile devices recovered from the accused allegedly contained the deepfake videos along with other materials connected to the fraud scheme. The seizure of these digital materials is expected to provide further insights into the scope and scale of the criminal operation. Police are continuing their investigation to identify additional victims and determine if other individuals were involved in the scheme.

The case highlights the growing misuse of artificial intelligence-based deepfake technology for financial fraud targeting the public. Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and verify suspicious requests for money, particularly those attributed to public figures.