While there is no fixed number that can be pointed to in order to understand the rise of deepfakes in India or even globally. Still, a December 2024 report by KPMG showed that deepfake-driven cyber incidents worldwide surged by 245% year-on-year between the first quarters of 2023 and 2024. The latest victim to fall prey to deepfakes was Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty. An artificial intelligence-generated video circulating on social media falsely used her face and voice to promote an investment scheme promising “20 to 30 times” returns.
Taking note of the viral video, Murty issued a public warning, cautioning people against falling for these fraudulent investment pitches driven by artificial intelligence and “cunning minds” behind such scams. She urged citizens to think independently and verify information before investing their money.
‘Driven by a cunning mind’
Sudha Murty told news agency PTI, “I am really concerned about fake messages using my face and my voice to promote investments promising 20 or 30 times returns. This is all fake and driven by AI and a cunning mind behind it.”
The founder-chairperson of the Infosys Foundation made it clear that she does not endorse or promote any investment schemes. “I will never talk about investments anywhere, anytime. If you see my face or hear my voice promoting investments, do not believe it,” she said.
Advising people to exercise caution, Murty stressed that investment decisions should be based on personal assessment and verified through trusted institutions. “This is hard-earned money. Please think carefully, verify with a bank or a trusted source and only then decide,” she said.
Not a first for Murthy
This is not the first time Murty has been targeted by fraudsters. In September this year, she was reportedly targeted in a separate scam attempt involving a hoax phone call. According to a police complaint, the call originated from a number that appeared as ‘Telecom Dept’ on the Truecaller application.
The caller, posing as an official from the telecommunications department, allegedly threatened that Murty’s mobile services would be disconnected due to misuse. The individual also reportedly claimed that obscene videos were being broadcast or accessed using her number.
The caller, described as rude and using a fake identity, attempted to extract sensitive personal information from Murty. She has since filed a complaint and sought legal action against the caller over the threats and attempts to obtain confidential data, Times of India reported.