Your feed shows the Prime Minister or a Chief Minister announcing a new scheme that puts money in your account. It looks real and the voice sounds right. The Ministry of Home Affairs has now warned that many of these videos are fakes made with deepfake tools, and that they are being used to steal money through UPI.
The warning was issued on 19 October 2026 by the unit that tracks online crime trends for the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre. It says fraud linked to fake welfare scheme ads on Facebook and Instagram has risen sharply. No figures on cases or losses have been shared.
How the Fake Welfare Scheme Ad Scam Works
The scam runs in a few simple steps, and each one is built to make you act before you think.
- The ad. A video that looks like the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister or a Chief Minister seems to announce financial help. The footage is edited or created by AI.
- The contact. The ad gives a phone number, or links to a website with scratch cards, spin-and-win games or cashback offers.
- The hook. A caller, often on WhatsApp, says you have been randomly selected for aid. Many of these calls come from numbers starting with +92, which is Pakistan’s country code.
- The fees. You are asked to pay a tax, a registration charge, a processing fee or a verification fee. Then another one. The money never comes.
The UPI PIN Trick You Must Know
Some victims are sent to a payment app and told to enter their UPI PIN to receive prize money. That is not how UPI works. Your PIN is only for sending money. The moment you type it in, you approve a payment from your account to the fraudster.
A second trap is the collect request. On a scratch-card or spin-and-win website, you may get a request from an unknown merchant. If you tap approve, money leaves your account.
Why This Scam Works on So Many People
People trust a face they know. A video of a national leader promising help feels official, and the offer is easy to believe when prices are high. Small fees also look harmless. Asking for ₹500 now and ₹1,500 later does not feel like a scam until the total is large.
Deepfake videos are getting harder to spot. The mouth may move a little off, the voice may sound flat, or the clip may be short and badly cut. But you cannot rely on spotting these signs. Treat any video of an official as unverified until an official source confirms it.
What You Can Do Right Now
- Check any scheme on the official website of the government department concerned, not through a social media link.
- Ask yourself why a real scheme would need you to pay a fee before it gives you money. It will not.
- Never share your Aadhaar or PAN details, bank details, OTP or UPI PIN with someone you do not know.
- Read every UPI request carefully. Check who is asking and what the amount is before you approve.
- Do not answer calls or messages from +92 numbers that claim to represent a leader or a government scheme.
- If you want to be sure about a caller, visit the government office in person.
If You Have Already Paid or Shared Details
Act fast. Call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or report on www.cybercrime.gov.in as soon as you can. Tell your bank at the same time, so it can try to stop or trace the payment. Keep screenshots of the ad, the chat, the phone number and the payment details. Quick reporting gives you the best chance of stopping the money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any government scheme that gives money after a social media ad?
Government schemes are announced on official government websites and through the departments themselves. A random ad that asks you to call a number, pay a fee or enter a PIN is a warning sign. Check the department website before you respond.
Do I need my UPI PIN to receive money?
No. Your UPI PIN is only needed to send money. If anyone asks you to enter it to receive a prize or a refund, stop. You are about to approve a payment.
How can I tell a deepfake video of a leader from a real one?
Look for odd lip movement, a flat voice or sloppy editing, but do not depend on this. The safer rule is to treat any video promising money as unverified until an official source confirms it.
What should I do if I approved a UPI collect request by mistake?
Call 1930 and tell your bank right away. Also report on www.cybercrime.gov.in. Keep screenshots of the request and the payment so that the details are ready.
Why do scammers ask for small fees again and again?
Small fees look harmless, and once you have paid, you feel you must pay more to get your money. The total can grow large. A real benefit does not ask you to pay before you receive it.
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