AI Deepfake Video Impersonates Tamil Nadu CM in Financial Scam
An AI-generated deepfake video impersonating Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Vijay Joseph circulated on Facebook, allegedly used to scam people by offering fake financial assistance. The Cyber Crime Cell registered a case on September 1, 2026, after detecting the video, and initiated an investigation with requests to Meta for platform takedown.
What happened
The Cyber Crime Cell of the CB-CID registered a case on September 1, 2026, after detecting an AI-generated deepfake video circulating on Facebook with Hindi audio impersonating Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Vijay Joseph.
The video was created and circulated on social media platforms with the alleged intention of cheating people by offering financial assistance, with viewers asked to contact a WhatsApp number for aid.
Preliminary investigation revealed several similar AI-generated deepfake videos portraying the Chief Minister offering financial help circulating on Facebook and other social media platforms, with several videos shared through Facebook IDs purportedly based in Pakistan.
Reported impact
The deepfake scam targeted innocent members of the public who were deceived into contacting WhatsApp numbers for fake financial assistance.
Tamil Nadu Police issued a public warning urging people not to respond to phone numbers or join WhatsApp groups mentioned in such videos, stressing that the videos are fake and have been fabricated by scammers.
Index analysis
The incident demonstrates the misuse of AI deepfake technology to create synthetic video content impersonating a public official for financial fraud purposes.
The scam involved coordination across multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, with circulation links to accounts reportedly based in Pakistan.
Governance controls
Authorities approached Meta seeking information related to the fake social media account and relevant logs, and initiated a request to take down the fake video.
The investigation was underway to identify those behind the circulation of the fake content and ensure its removal from social media platforms.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.