Bengaluru woman duped of ₹3.75 crore through Sadhguru deepfake scam

Bengaluru police have reported one of the city’s biggest cyber fraud cases involving artificial intelligence deepfakes. A 57-year-old retired woman from CV Raman Nagar was tricked into transferring ₹3.75 crore to international fraudsters who used an AI-generated video of spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev to promote a fake investment scheme.

The victim first encountered the video on Instagram between February 25 and April 23 this year. Believing it to be genuine, she clicked the link provided, entered her details, and invested $250 as instructed. Soon after, she was contacted by a man identifying himself as “Waleed B” from a company called Mirrox, who added her to a WhatsApp group with nearly 100 others.

Psychological manipulation

The scammers conducted Zoom tutorials, showcased fake profits, and introduced another accomplice, “Michael C,” as a trading instructor. Members of the group frequently posted fabricated screenshots of account credits to create a false sense of legitimacy. Convinced by these tactics, the woman began transferring large sums of money to multiple bank accounts linked to the fraudsters.

By late April, she had transferred her entire ₹3.75 crore. When she attempted to withdraw her “profits,” the fraudsters demanded additional payments for taxes and processing fees. After she refused, all communication ceased.

The woman filed her complaint this Tuesday, nearly five months after the fraud ended. Police acknowledged that the delay makes recovery difficult, though efforts are underway to freeze accounts linked to the scam.

Deepfake dangers

This case highlights the growing misuse of deepfake technology — AI-generated videos that convincingly mimic real people. Earlier this year, Sadhguru and his Isha Foundation approached the Delhi High Court seeking action against such misuse.

High-profile Indians have already been targeted. Actor Rashmika Mandanna’s manipulated video went viral in January 2024, leading to an arrest in Andhra Pradesh. Similar AI forgeries have targeted journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and Infosys Foundation chairperson Sudha Murty, underscoring how cybercriminals weaponize emerging technologies to defraud unsuspecting victims.