A deepfake video featuring industrialist Ratan Tata has emerged on social media, promoting an online betting scam. In the video, Tata endorses an online betting coach, encouraging viewers to join a Telegram channel operated by a person named Amir Khan. Amir Khan, who runs the Telegram channel “@aviator_ultrawin,” promises users the opportunity to earn a minimum of Rs 1 lakh daily through the “Aviator” betting game. However, the provided registration link leads to a different sports betting and casino platform called “1win,” which requests personal information such as phone numbers and email IDs—a common tactic used by scammers to harvest data.
The deepfake video of Ratan Tata was discovered as an advertisement posted multiple times on a Facebook page and is not visible as a regular post. It appears to be a manipulated version of a June 2015 video of Ratan Tata receiving an Honoris Causa degree at the HEC Paris Business School.
This incident highlights the potential risks associated with deepfake technology and underscores the importance of caution when encountering such videos online. Users are urged to verify the source of information and exercise caution when providing personal details online. Additionally, it serves as a reminder of the evolving legal landscape surrounding online betting games in India, where regulations vary from state to state. Last year, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory cautioning against the promotion of online/offline betting due to financial risks to consumers.
