A shocking cyber fraud case has emerged from Bengaluru, where a 57-year-old retired woman lost ₹3.75 crore after falling victim to a sophisticated deepfake scam using an AI-generated video of spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev promoting a fake trading platform.
How the Deepfake Scam Worked
Varsha Gupta, a resident of CV Raman Nagar, was scrolling through YouTube videos on February 25, 2025, when she encountered what appeared to be a genuine video of Sadhguru. In the AI-generated clip, the spiritual leader seemed to endorse investing in stocks through a trading platform with just $250 for massive financial gains.
“I watched a video of Sadhguru stating that he had been trading with the firm, for which a link is provided below, and if you click it and input your name, email, and phone number for an amount of $250, your finances will improve greatly,” Gupta stated in her police complaint.
Completely unaware of deepfake technology, Gupta believed the video was real and clicked on the link provided in the description, entering her personal details, including name, email, and phone number.
The Elaborate Trading Scam
After clicking the link, Gupta was contacted by a man calling himself Waleed B, who claimed to represent a company called “Mirrox App.” Using multiple UK-based phone numbers and email addresses, he instructed her to download the Mirrox trading application.
Waleed conducted convincing trading lessons through Zoom calls, while another accomplice named Michael C provided guidance whenever Waleed was unavailable. The scammers employed sophisticated psychological tactics to build trust and legitimacy.
Gupta was added to a WhatsApp group with approximately 100 members, where other “investors” regularly shared fabricated profit screenshots and fake account credits. These staged testimonials convinced her that the platform was generating real returns.
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The Devastating Financial Loss
Between February 25 and April 23, 2025, Gupta transferred money in multiple installments from her bank accounts and credit cards to various accounts provided by the fraudsters. The total amount stolen reached ₹3,75,72,121 (₹3.75 crore).
The scam only became apparent when Gupta attempted to withdraw her supposed profits. The fraudsters demanded additional processing fees and taxes before any withdrawals could be made. When she refused to pay more money, all communication from the scammers suddenly stopped.
Realizing she had been duped, Gupta approached the police with a complaint nearly five months after the last transaction. This significant delay has made recovery of the stolen funds extremely challenging.
Sadhguru’s Legal Battle Against Deepfakes
This incident highlights a growing problem that has already prompted legal action. In June 2025, Sadhguru and the Isha Foundation approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection against unauthorized AI-generated content misusing his image and voice.
The Delhi High Court ordered the takedown of AI-doctored content featuring Sadhguru after multiple deepfake scams began circulating on social media platforms. The court recognized the serious threat these fake videos pose to both the spiritual leader’s reputation and public safety.
Isha Foundation issued a public warning on social media: “PLEASE NOTE: Sadhguru does not – and will never – endorse or promote any financial scheme, or any other product. Various scams are circulating on social media platforms using Sadhguru’s videos and images, and also cloning his voice”.
Police Investigation and Recovery Challenges
Bengaluru police have registered a case under the Information Technology Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (cheating). Authorities are coordinating with banks to freeze accounts linked to the fraudsters.
However, a senior police officer warned that recovery of the lost money would be difficult due to the delayed reporting and the sophisticated nature of the international scam. The fraudsters used multiple foreign phone numbers and routed money through various accounts.
“Authorities believe this is part of a larger cybercrime racket” and are investigating all angles of the case, according to police statements.
Growing Threat of Deepfake Scams
This case represents a dangerous new frontier in cybercrime where AI technology is being weaponized to create convincing fake endorsements from trusted public figures. The sophisticated nature of these scams makes them particularly effective against people unfamiliar with deepfake technology.
During the February-April period, multiple fake advertisements featuring AI-generated voices of Sadhguru flooded social media platforms, suggesting this was part of an organized campaign targeting his followers specifically.
The case highlights the urgent need for digital literacy education and stronger consumer protection measures as AI-generated content becomes increasingly realistic and accessible to cybercriminals.
