Deepfake Money Request from Known Contact Scam — How to Identify & Stay Safe

INDIA — By BharatSecure Threat Intelligence Team · Updated Jun 10, 2026

Severity: Critical | View Full Scam Details

Deepfake Money Request from Known Contact Scam in India 2026: Beware of Fake Video Calls on WhatsApp

A new and highly dangerous fraud in India uses AI-powered deepfake videos to impersonate your family or friends and trick you into sending money via UPI or other digital payments.

What Is the Deepfake Money Request from Known Contact Scam?

The Deepfake Money Request from Known Contact Scam leverages cutting-edge artificial intelligence to create fake videos or voice calls that look and sound exactly like someone you know well—usually a close relative, friend, or trusted colleague. Criminals use these deepfake videos during WhatsApp or Telegram calls to simulate urgent financial emergencies, such as asking for a loan or emergency medical money. Because the call appears genuine, many victims trust the request without verifying it properly.

This scam specifically targets digitally active Indians aged 18–45, who regularly use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Scammers gather personal information from these platforms or even create fake profiles to study their victim's network of contacts. Public complaints to Indian cybercrime units, including the Ministry of Home Affairs’ I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre), have increased sharply in 2025-26.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) have both issued warnings about the rise of AI-enabled frauds, urging netizens to be extra cautious with video calls requesting money. This evolving threat shows how advanced technology can exploit human trust, making awareness crucial.

How This Scam Works — Step by Step

1. Research and Profile Building: Fraudsters create fake social media accounts or hack into public profiles to collect details about the target’s family and friends. This helps them choose the person to impersonate—someone the victim is likely to trust.

2. Deepfake Creation: Using AI tools, they generate a convincing video or audio clip mimicking the known contact’s face and voice. This can look like a distressed family member or manager calling for urgent financial help.

3. Initiating Contact: The victim receives a WhatsApp or Telegram video call from the deepfake account. The call appears real, with the “caller” speaking directly to the victim, explaining an emergency such as job loss, medical bills, or a delayed salary payment.

4. Creating Urgency: The scammer pressures the victim to quickly send money using UPI apps or bank transfers. They often request transactions to unfamiliar UPI IDs or accounts (e.g., us**@bank, account XXXX1234).

5. Closing the Call: After receiving the money, the “caller” abruptly ends the call. By the time the victim realises something is wrong, the fraudsters have already withdrawn funds or transferred them to other accounts.

6. Continued Exploitation: Sometimes, the scammers may use the deepfake identity again to solicit more money or extract sensitive information like Aadhaar details or OTPs for unauthorized access.

Real Warning Signs to Watch For

• The caller insists on immediate money transfer without giving time to verify.
• Requests for payment to a new or unknown UPI ID instead of a familiar bank account.
• Strange or inconsistent behaviour from the known contact later, after the call.
• Unusual grammar or language in accompanying text messages or WhatsApp chats.
• The “caller” refuses to switch to another communication method or meet in person.
• Any request to share sensitive information like OTPs, Aadhaar numbers, or bank details.
• Unexpected video calls from contacts during odd hours or unusual circumstances.

What Happens to Victims

Victims of this scam can suffer significant financial loss, especially since many transactions through UPI or IMPS are instant and irreversible. Unlike credit card chargebacks, UPI transfers cannot be easily reversed once confirmed, leaving victims with little recourse.

Emotionally, victims often feel betrayed and vulnerable as criminals exploit their trust in close relationships. Cases have been reported where victims lost lakhs of rupees at once, leading to financial distress and mental agony.

In some incidents, misuse of Aadhaar numbers or SIM swap frauds following the deepfake calls resulted in multiple fraudulent transactions, amplifying the damage. The scam also causes wider distrust in digital payment systems, which Indian authorities like RBI and CERT-In continuously seek to protect.

What RBI and CERT-In Say

RBI has repeatedly cautioned users against sharing sensitive banking information over phone and social media and warned about sophisticated impersonation frauds. They urge users to verify money requests through separate voice or video calls to the concerned contact.

CERT-In’s recent cybercrime advisories also emphasize the threat of AI-powered frauds, advising users not to trust unsolicited video calls demanding money. The Ministry of Home Affairs’ cybercrime helpline (dial 1930) is highlighted as a key channel for reporting such incidents promptly.

Both regulators stress the importance of strong authentication, vigilance while using payment apps, and reporting suspicious activities immediately to help track and prevent these scams.

How to Protect Yourself

1. Always independently verify money requests by calling the known contact on a different phone or messaging platform.
2. Never share One-Time Passwords (OTPs) or banking PINs during or after a video call.
3. Check UPI IDs carefully before sending money and avoid urgent payments without confirmation.
4. Be suspicious of video calls that create pressure or urgency to transfer funds immediately.
5. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all your digital payment and social media accounts.
6. Avoid sharing sensitive personal or financial details on social media or publicly visible platforms.
7. Regularly update your phone’s software and security apps to prevent malware hijacking that aids deepfake scams.

What to Do If You've Been Targeted

• Immediately contact your bank or UPI provider to freeze or block the transactions, if possible.
• Report the fraud at cybercrime.gov.in, India’s official portal to file complaints.
• Call the national cybercrime helpline on 1930 to inform authorities and seek guidance.
• Lodge a complaint at your local police station describing the incident with all call and transaction details.
• Change your SIM card immediately if you suspect SIM swap fraud.
• Inform family and friends to warn them against falling victim to deepfake impersonation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can I be sure a video call from a known contact isn’t a deepfake?
A: If the call pressures you for urgent money transfers and you feel unsure, hang up and call the known contact on a separate phone or platform to verify in person.

Q: Can these scams steal my Aadhaar or personal information?
A: Yes, some scammers try to elicit Aadhaar details or OTPs during these calls to commit identity theft or unauthorized transactions. Never share these details on calls or messages.

Q: Does RBI or UPI platforms provide any protection against such scams?
A: RBI mandates secure authentication for payments but UPI transactions are generally irreversible. However, flagging fraud early with your bank can sometimes limit losses, so report suspicious activity immediately.

Stay alert, follow verified protocols, and confirm money requests independently. If you suspect a deepfake call or message, do not respond or transfer money without careful checks.

Verify suspicious requests and learn more about the latest fraud patterns at BharatSecure.app, and always report online fraud at 1930.

Disclaimer: This article describes a pattern of fraud reported in public sources for public-safety awareness. It is not legal, financial, or medical advice. To request correction or removal of any content, write to hello@bharatsecure.app.