SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police have warned people against fraudulent advertisements on Facebook and Instagram that misuse the identities of ministers and other public figures through manipulated or deepfake videos to promote fake government welfare schemes, financial assistance and cashback offers.
In a cyber safety advisory, the police cautioned that the presence of a familiar public figure in an advertisement does not guarantee that the offer is genuine.
The advertisements may redirect users to fraudulent websites or prompt them to contact scammers through phone calls and WhatsApp messages. Fraudsters may then demand tax, registration, processing or verification fees from people seeking to claim the purported benefits.
The police also warned against fake scratch-card and spin-and-win offers that may trick users into approving UPI Collect Requests or entering their UPI PINs, potentially leading to financial losses.
People have been advised to verify such offers through official government channels and avoid sharing sensitive financial details or making payments to claim unverified benefits.
Anyone who falls victim to cyber fraud should immediately call the national cyber fraud helpline 1930 or report the incident through the official portal, cybercrime.gov.in, the advisory said.
