Pune nurse duped of Rs 4 lakh using Ratan Tata’s deepfake video

A 38-year-old nurse from Ambegaon, Pune, has been duped of Rs 4 lakh by a deepfake video of the late industrialist Ratan Tata, leading to the filing of a police complaint. According to the FIR, the victim saw a fraudulent Instagram video featuring a voice resembling Ratan Tata's discussing investment opportunities in the share market.

Unaware it was fake, she clicked on an advertisement accompanying the video, disclosing her personal details. Subsequently, she received a call from someone claiming to be "Manumohan" who urged her to invest in the "World Tradex" company, promising substantial returns. Over the course of six months, from October 9, 2024, to June 13, 2025, the victim transferred a total of Rs 4,09,100 to various bank accounts specified by the fraudsters through 11 online transactions.

The fraudsters had directed her to a deceptive online portal, which displayed impressive profit returns on her investments. Upon discovering the scam, she lodged a complaint with the Cyber police station in Pune on March 4, 2026. Following a verification of her complaint, an FIR was registered against unidentified cybercriminals under sections 318(4), 319(2), and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act for allegedly employing Ratan Tata's deepfake video to defraud the nurse.