#FactCheck - AI-Generated Image Falsely Linked to US Court Appearance of Venezuelan First Lady
A photo showing Cilia Flores, wife of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with visible injuries on her face is being widely shared on social media. Users claim the image was taken during her court appearance in the United States on January 5, alleging that she was beaten before being produced before a judge. Cyber Peace Foundation’s research found that the viral image was created using AI tools and is not real.
Claim:
A Facebook user shared the image claiming it shows Venezuelan President Maduro’s wife during her US court appearance, alleging physical assault prior to her arrest. The post also makes political and religious allegations in connection with the incident.Link, archive link and screenshot
Fact Check:
The viral image appeared suspicious due to unnatural facial details and injury patterns. Given the increasing use of artificial intelligence to generate fake visuals, Vishvas News analysed the image using AI image detection tools.TruthScan assessed the image as 93% likely to be AI-generated.
Sightengine flagged the image as 77% likely to be AI-generated.
The results indicate that the image is not authentic and has been created using AI tools.
What Official Reports Say
According to a CBS News report published on January 6, Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were produced before a federal court in Lower Manhattan, where they pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other charges. They are currently lodged at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn The report states that the couple was detained during a US military operation. Following this, Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as the acting president. While Cilia Flores did appear before a Manhattan court, there is no authentic image showing her with injuries during the court proceedings. Link and Screenshot
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-trump-maduro-charges/
Conclusion:
The image being circulated as a photo of Cilia Flores during her US court appearance is AI-generated and fake. The claim that it shows injuries inflicted on her before being produced in court is false and misleading. The viral image has no connection with real court visuals.
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Introduction
The Chairman of Vardhman Group, Mr SP Oswal, an India-based textile manufacturer, fell victim to a cyber fraud scheme that cost him ₹7 crore. The scam unfolded on August 28 and 29, conning Mr Oswal into transferring Rs 7 crore into multiple bank accounts. As per the recent reports, the Police have managed to freeze these accounts and recover over Rs 5 crore as of now. The fraudsters convinced Mr SP Oswal that he was a suspect in a money laundering investigation and held on a “Digital Arrest”. These are sophisticated cyber frauds where cyber-criminals impersonate law enforcement officials or other authorities and target innocent individuals with manipulative tactics. The scam targets are often contacted out of the blue, on Instant messaging apps like WhatsApp and informed that their bank accounts, digital identities, or other online assets have been compromised. Criminals play into the victims' fear by threatening them with imminent arrest, legal consequences, or public humiliation if they don't cooperate with a series of urgent demands.
Posing as Officials, Fraudsters Orchestrate ₹7 Crore Scam
The investigation revealed that the fraudsters posed as members of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They had contacted Mr Oswal and claimed that his Aadhaar had been misused in a case involving fake passports and financial fraud. The imposter conducted a video call in a police uniform using a background with the CBI logo. The fraud escalated further, Mr Oswal got a fake "arrest warrant" on WhatsApp allegedly authorised by the Supreme Court. Fraudsters convinced Mr Oswal to transfer ₹7 crores to facilitate bail proceedings, claiming he was under "digital arrest". The meticulously planned scam involved fake documents, a virtual courtroom, and relentless intimidation tactics leaving Mr Oswal effectively under "digital arrest" for two days. While the police have successfully recovered over Rs 5 crore so far, this case highlights the alarming threat of digital impersonation of law enforcement authorities.
Legal Outlook on the Validity of Digital Arrests
In India, the main laws governing cyber crimes are the Information Technology Act, of 2000 and the rules made under therein, and the newly enacted Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Recently enacted new criminal laws do not provide for any provision for law enforcement agencies conducting a digital arrest. The law only provides for service of the summons and the proceedings in an electronic mode. Hence, there are no provisions for conducting 'digital arrests' as per the laws of the country.
Further, It should be noted that the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, coordinates the activities related to combating cybercrime in the country. MHA works closely with other ministries to counter these frauds. The I4C also provides technical support to the police authorities of states/UTs for the identification and investigation of these cases.
Best Practices to Avoid Digital Arrest Scams
- To protect yourself from scams, it is crucial to verify the identity of individuals claiming to be law enforcement or government officials and use official contact channels to confirm their credentials.
- Be cautious of pressure tactics used by fraudsters, especially demands for quick payment over unverified communication platforms like WhatsApp.
- Cross-check official documents with legal advisors or relevant authorities.
- Never share sensitive personal information, such as your Aadhaar number, over phone calls, emails, or messages without verifying the request's authenticity.
- Avoid untraceable payments, such as cryptocurrency or prepaid cards, without validating the transaction's legitimacy, especially under duress.
- Stay informed on scam techniques, particularly those involving impersonation and digital threats.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for sensitive online accounts to prevent misuse.
- Consult advice from legal professionals if you receive threatening communication involving digital arrest or legal actions and do not take any action on the asks of persons posing as legitimate authorities.
- In case of any cybercrime, you can file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in or helpline number 1930. You can also seek assistance from the CyberPeace helpline at +91 9570000066.
Conclusion
The digital arrest of Vardhman Group's CEO underscores the increasing sophistication of cyber fraud schemes, which exploit fear and urgency, leading to severe financial and reputational harm. No one is immune from cybercrime, vigilance is essential at all leadership levels. While laws like the IT Act and initiatives taken by the I4C help combat cybercrime, rapidly evolving threats demand proactive safety measures. Beyond the possibility of financial loss, incidents like this jeopardise brand reputation, investor confidence, and operational stability. Be cautious of such threats and exercise due care and caution while navigating the digital landscape. Be aware of such kinds of scams and the manipulative tactics used by fraudsters to avoid them. By staying vigilant and aware we can avoid the growing scam of digital arrests.
References
- https://www.business-standard.com/companies/news/digital-arrest-and-rs-7-crore-heist-how-vardhman-group-head-was-tricked-124100100832_1.html
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/vardhman-group-chairman-sp-oswal-duped-of-rs-7-crore-fraudsters-posed-as-cbi-101727666912738.html
- https://www.msspalert.com/native/digital-arrests-the-new-frontier-of-cybercrime
18th November 2022 CyberPeace Foundation in association with Universal Acceptance has successfully conducted the workshop on Universal Acceptance and Multilingual Internet for the students and faculties of Royal Global University under CyberPeace Center of Excellence (CCoE). CyberPeace Foundation has always been engaged towards the aim of spreading awareness regarding the various developments, avenues, opportunities and threats regarding cyberspace. The same has been the keen principle of the CyberPeace Centre of Excellence setup in collaboration with various esteemed educational institutes. We at CyberPeace Foundation would like to take the collaborations and our efforts to a new height of knowledge and awareness by proposing a workshop on UNIVERSAL ACCEPTANCE AND MULTILINGUAL INTERNET. This workshop was instrumental in providing the academia and research community a wholesome outlook towards the multilingual spectrum of internet including Internationalized domain names and email address Internationalization.
Date –18th November 2022
Time – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Duration – 2 hours
Mode - Online
Audience – Academia and Research Community
Participants Joined- 130
Crowd Classification - Engineering students (1st and 4th year, all streams) and Faculties members
Organizer : Mr. Harish Chowdhary : UA Ambassador Moderator: Ms. Pooja Tomar, Project coordinator cum trainer
GuestSpeakers:Mr. Abdalmonem Galila, Abdalmonem: Vice Chair , Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG) ,Mr. Mahesh D Kulkarni: Director, Evaris Systems and Former Senior Director, CDAC, Government of India, Mr. Akshat Joshi, Founder Think Trans First session was delivered by Mr. Abdalmonem Galila, Abdalmonem: Vice Chair , Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG) “Universal Acceptance( UA) and why UA matters?”
- What is universal acceptance?
- UA is cornerstone to a digitally inclusive internet by ensuring all domain names and email addresses in all languages, script and character length.
- Achieving UA ensures that every person has the ability to navigate the internet.
- Different UA issues were also discussed and explained.
- Tagated systems by the UA and implication were discussed in detail.
Second Session was delivered by Mr. Akshat Joshi, Founder Think Trans on “Universal Acceptance to the IDNsand the economic Landscape”
- What is Universal Acceptance?
- The internet has had standards that allow people to use domain names and email addresses in their native scripts. Software developers need to bring their applications up-to-date so that consumers can use their chosen identity.
- A typical problem is that an IDN email address is not recognised by a website form as a valid email address.
- The importance of adopting IDNs z Enable citizens to use their own identity online (correct spelling, native language) z Relates to language, culture and content z Promotes local and regional content z Allows businesses and politicians to better target their messages.
Third session was delivered by Mr. Mahesh D Kulkarni, ES Director Evaris on the topic of “IDNs in Indian languages perspective- challenges and solutions”.
- The multilingual diversity of India was focused on and its impact.
- Most students were not aware of what Unicode, IDNS is and their usage.
- Students were briefed by giving real time examples on IDN, Domain name implementation using local language.
- In depth knowledge of and practical exposure of Universal Acceptance and Multilingual Internet has been served to the students.
- Tools and Resources for Domain Name and Domain Languages were explained.
- Languages nuances of Multilingual diversity of India explained with real time facts and figures.
- Given the idea of IDN Email,Homograph attack,Homographic variant with proper real time examples.
- Explained about the security threats and IDNA protocols.
- Given the explanation on ABNF.
- Explained the stages of Universal Acceptance.
Executive Summary:
The internet has become a hub for fraudsters, and a new fraudulent scheme has been circulating, stating a free 84-day recharge of ₹719 given by the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi in celebration of the BJP Government formation in 2024. This is yet another scam that uses tricks to lure the users, for instance by fake questionnaires, fake promises and the use of the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image to give a fake impression of legitimacy. The following blog post analyzes the scam and offers recommendations on how to recognize similar frauds and avoid them.
False Claim:
A viral link trending on various social media platforms states that Narendra Modi, the Honourable Prime Minister of India, is giving a free 84-day free recharge worth ₹719 to all users in India and this is an Election Bonus in celebration of the BJP government formation in 2024. The claim insists the users are required to click on the link (https://offerraj.in/Congress2024-Recharge/id=9jMiaeN1) and complete a questionnaire to get the offer.
The Deceptive Scheme:
- Mobile-Only Access: The malicious link (https://offerraj.in/Congress2024-Recharge/id=9jMiaeN1) is designed to open only on mobile devices; this makes it easier for more people to be affected.
- Multiple Redirects: After clicking the link, the users are led through a sequence of other links in order to conceal the actual source of the deception, and probably a try of making it difficult to track the notorious activity.
- Fake Comments & Images: First, the landing page contains a banner with the photo of India’s Honourable Prime-Minister Narendra Modi which gives the site’s visitors the impression of the official source. Also, fake comments can be made for the same reason, stating that the author has received a free recharge and supporting the so-called initiative.
- Fake Prize Notifications: For instance, after responding to the questions in the questionnaire, users may be presented with messages such as ‘Congratulations, you have won a free recharge’; this further creates an impression of a genuine offer.
- Social Sharing Requirement: To collect the so-called ‘prize’, the users are requested to share the link in the WhatsApp or other social networks, thus contributing to the spread of the scam.
Analyzing the Fraudulent Campaign:
- No Official Announcement: The internet and other social platforms are the only places where such an offer has been mentioned, and there is no official announcement from the Government or any other authorized body.
- Multiple Redirects: After clicking the link, users are taken through multiple redirects to obfuscating the source of the deception and to trace the malicious activity.
- Suspicious Domain and Hosting: The campaign is hosted on a third-party domain (offerraj.in) instead of any official government website, raising suspicion about its authenticity.
- Personal Data Collection: The questionnaire prompts users to provide personal information, which legitimate Government initiatives would not typically request through unofficial channels.
- Insecure HTTP Link: The link provided is an insecure HTTP link, whereas legitimate government websites employ secure HTTPS encryption.
Domain Analysis:
The actual url is hosted on a third party domain instead of the official website of the BJP or any Government website. This is the common way to deceive users into falling for a Phishing scam. Whois information reveals that the domain has been registered recently i.e on 28-03-2023 and the domain is registered with godaddy.com and state is from Rajasthan, India. Cybercriminals used Cloudflare technology to mask the actual IP address of the fraudulent website.
- Domain Name: offerraj.in
- Registry Domain ID: D9483D0EB38264263958C9609D2DCEA70-IN
- Registrar WHOIS Server:
- Registrar URL: www.godaddy.com
- Updated Date: 2024-05-03T07:30:03Z
- Creation Date: 2023-03-28T04:33:12Z
- Registry Expiry Date: 2026-03-28T04:33:12Z
- Registrar: GoDaddy.com, LLC
- Registrar IANA ID: 146
- Registrant State/Province: Rajasthan
- Registrant Country: IN
- Name Server: johnathan.ns.cloudflare.com
- Name Server: braelyn.ns.cloudflare.com
Similar offer surfing with different links: Several similar kind of offers through various links such as https://offerintro.com/BJP2024-Recharge/id=QYntPBDU, https://mahaloot2.xyz, https://mahaloot3.xyz, https://pmoffer4.online, are available in the social media. All these links are analysed and validated to be malicious or phishing links.
CyberPeace Advisory and Best Practices:
- Stay Informed: Be aware of potential scams and rely on official government channels for verified information.
- Verify Website Security: Do not click on links that have the ‘http’ at the beginning and focus on sites that have encryption (‘https’).
- Protect Personal Information: Be careful when there is any request to send some type of personal information, especially if it is done through informal companies.
- Report Suspicious Activity: When you notice that you have been scammed or a certain activity is fraudulent, ensure to report the incidents to the necessary authorities and the platforms to prevent others from being scammed.
Conclusion:
The claim of 84 day free recharge worth ₹719 to all users in India as an “Election Bonus” is false and similar kinds of various links are consistently surfing through the internet. The deceptive practices employed in these kinds of links are insecure and it has multiple redirects to false promises which highlights the need for heightened awareness and caution among internet users. In this digital world, it is important to stay informed, verify the authenticity of resources to protect personal information. Individuals can safeguard themselves against such fraudulent schemes and contribute to a safer online environment.
