SRINAGAR: The Centre has issued a fresh advisory warning of an emerging wave of cybercrime in which artificial intelligence is being used to bypass security systems and infiltrate financial infrastructure across digital platforms.
The advisory, released by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, cautions that cybercriminals are increasingly deploying AI tools to generate highly realistic deepfake videos and synthetic identities. These are being used to defeat facial recognition systems, liveness checks, video-based Know Your Customer (KYC) verification processes, account recovery mechanisms, and other authentication protocols used by financial and digital service providers.
According to the advisory, fraud networks typically initiate contact through social media platforms, job portals, dating applications, or telephone calls. Victims are then manipulated into sharing facial data, often under the guise of routine verification, including actions such as blinking, turning the head, or speaking in front of a camera, which are later exploited for fraudulent access.
The government has cautioned that such techniques are becoming more sophisticated and are increasingly being integrated into organised cyber fraud operations targeting banking and fintech ecosystems.
Financial institutions, including fintech companies and digital payment platforms, have been advised to strengthen deepfake detection systems and enhance onboarding and verification protocols to prevent unauthorised access. The advisory also urges firms to upgrade risk monitoring mechanisms and improve real-time fraud detection capabilities.
Individuals have been asked to safeguard their biometric information, remain vigilant against suspicious login attempts, and closely monitor SMS and email alerts linked to financial transactions.
The Centre has further advised citizens to promptly report any suspected cyber fraud or unauthorised transactions through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, in order to enable swift investigation and mitigation measures.
