A cyber fraud racket that used AI-generated deepfake videos to secretly hijack Aadhaar-linked identities and siphon off loans has left investigators stunned, exposing how rapidly evolving technology is now being weaponised for financial crime.
What once sounded like science fiction has now become a full-fledged cyber nightmare.
The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has busted an inter-state gang accused of changing mobile numbers linked to Aadhaar cards without victims ever realising it. Police have arrested three more accused from Assam and Uttar Pradesh, taking the total number of arrests in the case to seven.
Investigators say the gang quietly slipped into people’s digital lives, took control of their Aadhaar-linked banking access and secured loans in their names – all with the help of AI, deepfake videos and stolen personal data.
One accused, identified as Oli Ullah from Assam, is still absconding.
A PHOTO FROM SOCIAL MEDIA WAS ENOUGH
Police said the gang’s methods were so sophisticated that even cyber experts were shocked during the investigation.
The accused allegedly began by hunting for financially stable targets online. Using platforms such as “Master India”, they accessed GST and PAN details to check a victim’s CIBIL score and financial eligibility.
Once a target was selected, the gang allegedly turned to Telegram bots and other digital tools to collect Aadhaar-linked information and photographs from social media accounts.
That single photograph became the gateway to the fraud.
Using AI software, the accused allegedly created “blinking deepfake videos”, fake clips designed to mimic real human facial movement and fool online identity verification systems.
The fake videos were then allegedly used to bypass Aadhaar-linked biometric and online authentication systems.
Within minutes, the victim’s registered mobile number would be changed.
And once that happened, the gang effectively took over the victim’s digital identity.
COMPLETE ACCESS TO BANKING, DIGILOCKER
Investigators said changing the Aadhaar-linked mobile number unlocked access to DigiLocker accounts, banking alerts, OTPs and financial services connected to the victim’s identity.
Police said the accused then purchased fresh SIM cards, opened new bank accounts and applied for instant personal loans ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.
The money was later routed through multiple accounts to avoid detection.
The banking trail in the investigation includes IDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, City Union Bank and Jio Payments Bank.
According to police, the racket generated nearly Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh every year through fraudulent loans.
SCAM EXPOSED AFTER BUSINESSMAN STOPS RECEIVING OTPs
The operation finally unravelled after a businessman from Ahmedabad suddenly stopped receiving OTPs connected to his Aadhaar-enabled payment system.
Initially, he believed it was a technical glitch.
But the truth was far more alarming.
Investigators later discovered that his Aadhaar-linked mobile number and biometric details had already been changed, allegedly without any OTP verification at all.
Loans had also been taken in his name.
Police alleged that local Aadhaar kit operator Kanu Parmar helped facilitate the illegal changes.
Cyber Crime DCP Lavina Sinha said the gang exploited CSC centres to manipulate Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers.
“Once the mobile number was changed, they gained full access to DigiLocker and banking services. They then opened bank accounts, took personal loans and transferred the money across multiple accounts,” she said.
MASTERMINDS TRACKED ACROSS STATES
The investigation began with digital tracking, technical surveillance and human intelligence inputs, leading police to four accused earlier.
Interrogation later exposed a much wider inter-state network operating across multiple regions.
Police then launched coordinated raids in Assam and Uttar Pradesh and arrested Rabbul Hussain, allegedly the gang’s technical mastermind who handled AI tools and digital identity theft operations.
Krishna Prajapati, a cyber cafe operator from Uttar Pradesh, allegedly worked as an agent helping change Aadhaar-linked details for commission.
Another accused, Kazimuddin Ali, allegedly allowed loan money to be routed through his bank accounts.
‘SERIOUS LOOPHOLES’ IN SYSTEM
The case has now triggered serious concern over vulnerabilities in India’s rapidly expanding digital identity ecosystem.
Police said they have alerted the Aadhaar department about what investigators described as “serious loopholes” that were exploited by the gang.
Meanwhile, interrogation of the arrested accused is continuing as investigators attempt to uncover how many people across the country may have unknowingly become victims.
For many, the case has become a chilling warning of how a simple photograph online can now be turned into a weapon in the age of AI-powered cybercrime.
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