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I4C flags fake govt scheme ads on Meta, calls from Pakistan numbers
India🏛️ PoliticsCenter4 hr. ago

I4C flags fake govt scheme ads on Meta, calls from Pakistan numbers

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has raised concerns about increasing fraud through deepfake and edited advertisements on Facebook and Instagram, which misuse the images and voices of prominent political leaders to promote fake government welfare schemes and cashback offers. These ads often direct users to pay fees or taxes to access supposed benefits, with some employing scratch-card or spin-and-win contests to trick individuals into approving UPI collect requests and transferring funds to fraudsters. The advisory highlights that these deceptive campaigns frequently originate from Pakistani phone numbers (+92) and warns against engaging with such calls. I4C advises the public to verify welfare schemes via official government websites, scrutinize UPI collect requests carefully, and avoid sharing sensitive personal information like Aadhaar, PAN, or UPI PINs. Victims are encouraged to report scams through designated cybercrime helplines.

2 reports

The Indian Express logoThe Indian ExpressIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 903 days ago
Rs 86 lakh duped: Police invoke MCOCA against BHMS, CA aspirants, techie with Cambodia links

In Pune, India, local police have arrested six individuals and are seeking three more, including foreign nationals linked to Cambodia and Dubai, under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The group is accused of defrauding a 60-year-old resident of Rs 86 lakh by convincing him to invest in the stock market with promises of high returns. The arrested suspects include a BHMS dropout, a CA aspirant, and a techie, among others. According to police, the gang used mule accounts to receive funds from victims and later converted the stolen money into USDT cryptocurrency. Authorities managed to freeze Rs 28 lakh of the victim's money and obtained a court order to return it. This marks the second time MCOCA has been invoked in a cybercrime case by Pimpri Chinchwad police in 2026.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a criminal investigation involving cyber fraud and organized crime, focusing on legal actions taken by law enforcement. There is no overt ideological framing, and the content remains focused on factual details of the case, such as the charges, the individuals involved, and the

Why factuality (95): The article provides specific details such as the amount stolen (Rs 86 lakhs), the names and backgrounds of the accused, and the legal framework (MCOCA) used. These facts align with the cross-source consensus, though minor details like exact dates or locations may not be fully confirmed.

Why objectivity (90): The article presents the information in a neutral manner, focusing on the facts of the arrest and the nature of the crime. There is no overt bias or emotional language, though the emphasis on the scale of the fraud may subtly highlight the severity of the crime.

Hindustan Times logoHindustan TimesIndependentCenter4 hr. ago
I4C flags fake govt scheme ads on Meta, calls from Pakistan numbers

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has raised concerns about increasing fraud through deepfake and edited advertisements on Facebook and Instagram, which misuse the images and voices of prominent political leaders to promote fake government welfare schemes and cashback offers. These ads often direct users to pay fees or taxes to access supposed benefits, with some employing scratch-card or spin-and-win contests to trick individuals into approving UPI collect requests and transferring funds to fraudsters. The advisory highlights that these deceptive campaigns frequently originate from Pakistani phone numbers (+92) and warns against engaging with such calls. I4C advises the public to verify welfare schemes via official government websites, scrutinize UPI collect requests carefully, and avoid sharing sensitive personal information like Aadhaar, PAN, or UPI PINs. Victims are encouraged to report scams through designated cybercrime helplines.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a warning issued by an official government body regarding fraudulent activities involving political leaders and fake government schemes. The content is factual, based on an advisory from the I4C, and does not exhibit clear bias toward any political ideology. It presents the sc

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