Quick Heal warns of AI trading scams targeting Indian investors

Fraudsters use deepfake videos and professional dashboards to cheat investors

Quick Heal Technologies Limited has issued an alert about sophisticated AI-driven trading scams that have defrauded Indian investors of crores of rupees. The cybersecurity company’s research team at Seqrite Labs documented how fraudsters use deepfake videos, professional dashboards and strategic small payouts to build trust before disappearing with large deposits.

The scammers deploy polished advertisements on social media featuring forged endorsements from prominent figures to redirect users to counterfeit trading platforms.

These sites simulate real-time market data and allow initial small withdrawals to establish credibility before demanding larger investments and blocking access to funds.

Multiple cases

Two significant cases occurred in June 2025. A 79-year-old Bengaluru retiree lost ₹34.6 lakh after responding to a Facebook ad featuring a deepfake video of Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy.

In Hyderabad, a retired IAS officer was defrauded of ₹3.37 crore through a WhatsApp invitation to an “AI-powered” trading app.

Quick Heal’s AntiFraud.AI solution intercepts these schemes by filtering malicious SMS and WhatsApp messages, issuing real-time browser warnings on suspicious websites, and employing behavioural analysis to detect spoofed pages.

The company advises investors to verify regulatory credentials, demand transparent documentation and remain sceptical of platforms promising guaranteed high returns. Suspicious activities should be reported to cybercrime.gov.in or the national helpline 1930.

Published on August 18, 2025