I4C flags fake govt scheme ads on Meta, calls from Pakistan numbers

I4C has warned about manipulated Facebook and Instagram advertisements that falsely appear to promote government benefits. They use the names, faces, videos, or apparent endorsements of well-known political leaders. The goal is to make a scam look official and persuade people to pay money or share payment details.

One version advertises a fake welfare scheme and asks viewers to call or message a number. The victim is then told they were selected for money but must first pay a fee or tax. Another version promises cashback through a scratch card or spin-and-win contest. It can lead victims toward a fraudulent payment page or UPI request.

The advisory was issued on October 19, 2026, by I4C’s National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit. It named leaders including Narendra Modi and Nirmala Sitharaman. I4C urged people to check schemes on official department websites and verify anyone claiming to represent the government through official channels.

In general, a deepfake is media altered with digital tools so a person appears to speak, move, or act differently from reality. Edited videos, photographs, and voice recordings can imitate a public figure’s appearance or speech. This can create a convincing but false impression that the person supports a product, scheme, or request for money.

For example, a scam advertisement may show a chief minister appearing to promote a welfare programme. The viewer is directed to call or message a number, then told that a payment is needed before benefits can be released. A fake voice or video can make the request seem more trustworthy, even though the leader or office did not make it.

The I4C advisory specifically warned people not to trust videos and voice recordings of public officials automatically. The wider implication is that appearance and sound are no longer reliable proof of endorsement. People should verify claims through official government websites and channels before responding.

The scam begins with an advertisement on Facebook or Instagram that appears to show a chief minister promoting a government welfare scheme. The ad tells viewers to call or message a number to register. Its official-looking presentation is designed to make the promised benefit seem genuine and urgent.

When the victim makes contact, the person answering claims the victim has been selected to receive money. They then demand a fee before the benefit can be released. The payment may be described as a processing charge, tax, or another requirement. Once the victim pays, the fraudster invents additional reasons to demand more money.

I4C advised people to check welfare schemes on the concerned department’s official website before acting on a social-media advertisement. People should also verify the purpose and recipient of any requested fee. If someone claims to represent a government department, identity should be confirmed through official channels or by visiting the office.

I4C described a broad pattern centered mainly on Meta platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Many of the fraudulent advertisements fall under political advertising. They falsely promote government welfare schemes or cashback rewards, using the names and faces of prominent political figures to appear credible.

The advisory listed PM Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay, and Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar. The scams also extend beyond advertisements. Victims may receive calls from foreign numbers beginning with +92, with callers claiming they were randomly chosen to receive money.

The warning shows that the fraud combines manipulated media, social-media targeting, fake registration contacts, and international phone calls. I4C issued its advisory on October 19, 2026, through the National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit. It urged people to verify claims through official department websites and government channels rather than social-media content or unsolicited calls.

The financial harm depends on which version of the scam the victim encounters. In the fake welfare-scheme version, the first payment is presented as a fee or tax needed to release a benefit. After receiving it, the fraudster demands further payments for additional invented reasons, increasing the victim’s loss.

In the cashback version, a fake scratch-card or spin-and-win page announces that the victim has won money. The page then sends them to a payment screen. A UPI collect request may ask the victim to approve a payment to a fraud merchant, even though the victim thinks they are receiving a reward. If the request is approved, money is transferred to the fraudster.

The advisory also warns that adding bank details or entering a UPI PIN on the fake page can result in money going to the scammer. I4C says people must inspect the recipient and purpose of every collect request. It stresses that a UPI PIN authorises payments; it does not receive money.

The advisory says many victims receive calls from foreign numbers beginning with +92. That country code identifies Pakistan. Callers reportedly tell people they were randomly chosen to receive money, creating a tempting story that can lead to requests for fees, bank details, or other sensitive information.

I4C specifically said that calls from +92 should be treated with extreme caution if the caller claims to be a public figure or represent a public figure’s office. The number itself does not prove every caller is fraudulent, but the unexpected money offer and claimed official identity are strong reasons not to engage casually.

People should confirm the caller’s identity through official government channels. They can check the relevant department’s official website, contact an office using independently found details, or visit the office in person if uncertain. They should not share Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, OTPs, or UPI PINs during an unverified call.

A UPI collect request is a payment request sent to a user for approval. The user should review who is requesting the money and why before accepting it. In the scam described by I4C, a supposed cashback prize leads the victim to a payment page, where approving a collect request can transfer money to a fraudulent merchant.

The UPI PIN is the security step that authorises the payment. It confirms that the account holder intends to send money from the linked bank account. A scam page may falsely suggest that entering the PIN is necessary to receive a prize or cashback, but doing so can authorise an outgoing transfer instead.

I4C’s central warning is simple: a UPI PIN is used to authorise payments, not to receive money. People should inspect every collect request’s details before approving it and should never enter the PIN on a suspicious page. Victims can report scams to 1930 or the national cybercrime website.