Narayana Murthy, Sundar Pichai, Sudha Murty investment scam
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Contents |
The scam
Indpaedia.com asked GROK AI
- There are constant advertisements on YouTube featuring videos of Narayana Murthy, Sundar Pichai, and Sudha Murty, urging people to deposit ₹21,000 with the promise of receiving huge amounts of money in return. These ads even claim that the scheme is government-backed. Is this a scam or genuine? Are the images of these three business luminaries deepfakes? If so, why is no action being taken against this persistent stream of YouTube advertisements?
GROK AI replied:
Yes, these YouTube advertisements are a well-documented scam involving AI-generated deepfake videos that falsely depict Narayana Murthy, Sundar Pichai, and Sudha Murty endorsing fraudulent investment platforms like "Google Invest," "Go Invest," or "Cryptify Flows." These schemes promise unrealistically high returns (e.g., over ₹10 lakh per month or daily payouts of ₹1.9 lakh) on an initial deposit of ₹21,000, while falsely claiming government backing and affiliations with entities like the State Bank of India, Microsoft, IBM, and even the Times of India (via cloned fake articles). No such legitimate scheme exists, and these platforms redirect users to shady portals often hosted outside India (e.g., in Turkey with Russian DNS servers) to steal money or data.
The videos are indeed deepfakes: They use AI for manipulated lip-sync, voice cloning, and synthetic endorsements to make the figures appear to speak directly about the "opportunity," exploiting public trust in these luminaries. Fact-checks and cybersecurity reports have confirmed this, with no evidence of real involvement or endorsements from Murthy, Pichai, or Murty—Google and Infosys have not issued formal public denials in the reports reviewed, but the content is unequivocally fabricated.
Actions are being taken, but they're limited by the scam's scale and sophistication: Victims and watchdogs report ads to YouTube (via the "Report ad" button for fraud/scam), leading to some removals, and Indian authorities urge complaints at cybercrime.gov.in for investigations. However, scammers rapidly create new ads using VPNs, bot networks, and international servers to evade detection, while YouTube's ad review process struggles with the volume (millions of ads daily) and evolving AI tactics. In 2024-2025, such deepfake financial scams surged in India, contributing to over ₹1,750 crore in reported losses early in the year alone, prompting calls for stronger AI regulations and platform accountability. To protect yourself, avoid clicking, report every ad, and verify schemes directly via official RBI or government sites.
The Times of India website
When unsuspecting users click the “Visit Website” button on a YouTube video advertisement, they are redirected to a page that mimics the Times of India website., which might look like this:
The fake Times of India web page
Scammers are mocking their victims. If you look closely at the menu at the top of the page, you will notice the words Mad, Mad World. This is their not-so-subtle hint that the site is fake.
Perplexity AI warns:
That link is very likely unsafe and should be treated as a scam or malicious page.
Why it looks unsafe
The URL path points to __MACOSX/assets/lib/plugins/win/databaseconnect.php, which resembles a hidden or internal folder plus a PHP script often used in malware or phishing kits rather than a normal public page.
The query string is long, with tracking style parameters and no clear relation to any legitimate bank, government, or well known company, which is typical of phishing or drive by download links.
What you should do
Do not enter any personal, banking, or login details on that site, and avoid downloading or running any files it offers.
If you already clicked it, run a full antivirus/malware scan, change passwords for important accounts, and enable two factor authentication wherever possible.
Bandhan Bank/ MF?
Google AI warns:
There is (a) general investment fraud targeting people using Bandhan's name, alongside regulatory issues and probes into Bandhan Bank's lending, with Bandhan itself warning customers about scams (fake apps, phishing, fake promises). Scammers use fake profiles, promised high returns, and deepfakes, while Bandhan Bank faced RBI penalties for compliance failures and is investigated for potential loan irregularities (evergreening).
What's Happening (Key Issues)
Investment Scams (External): Cybercriminals impersonate entities like Bandhan Bank/MF to trick people into fake investments (crypto, quick profits) via phishing, fake apps, or deepfakes.
How to Protect Yourself
Verify Investments: Be wary of "risk-free" or high-return promises; research thoroughly.
Spot Scams: Watch for new profiles, generic photos, deepfakes, or unusual messages.
Check Apps: Only download apps from official sources (official websites/stores).
Guard Info: Never share PIN, OTP, CVV, or passwords.
Report Fraud: Report to cybercrime portals (like cybercrime.gov.in or sancharsaathi.gov.in) and your bank.
In essence: Bandhan entities are victims and subjects of scams/regulatory issues, so staying vigilant against digital fraud while understanding the bank's compliance challenges is key.
It could be some other bank as well
Sometimes the video advertisement mentions the National Bank of India, a bank that does not exist
Summary
Scammers may not always use a fake Times of India website — they could mimic any well-known site. A key sign to watch out for is that when you click the tabs at the top of such websites, they don’t actually take you to new sections. Instead, they simply scroll you down to bottom of the page you are already on.
They might also change the name of the bank or the website they claim to represent, but the pattern is always the same:
• They promise unusually high returns.
• They insist the scheme is “backed by the Government of India.”
• They pressure you to act quickly by showing that the day you visit is either the last or second-to-last day of the scheme.
Once you’re on their site, they will ask you to enter personal details. The entire setup is designed to make you feel rushed and anxious, so you invest immediately without thinking, afraid of missing the so-called deadline.
