AI-Generated Videos Of Chandrababu, Lokesh Used In ₹80,000 Cyber Fraud In Visakhapatnam

In a striking example of the growing misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybercrime, fraudsters allegedly used AI-generated videos featuring Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Minister Nara Lokesh to deceive a Visakhapatnam resident and swindle him out of ₹80,000.

The victim, Srinivasa Reddy of Seethampeta, had reportedly been facing a land dispute and sought help through social media. In an effort to draw the attention of authorities, he tagged Minister Lokesh in a post describing his grievance and requesting intervention.

According to the complaint, Reddy received a phone call the following day from an individual who appeared to be associated with the government. The caller had used the photograph of former minister Devineni Uma as a WhatsApp profile picture and claimed that Reddy’s issue had reached the attention of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) .

To convince him that the communication was genuine, the fraudsters allegedly arranged a video call and displayed AI-created visuals showing Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Minister Lokesh appearing to discuss his case. The sophisticated presentation convinced Reddy that senior officials were aware of his problem and willing to help resolve it.

The scammers then informed him that the land dispute involved complicated procedures and that certain payments were required to facilitate the process. Trusting the assurances given during the video interactions, Reddy transferred money in multiple installments. By the time the communication ceased, he had allegedly paid around ₹80,000 .

The victim became suspicious after repeated attempts to contact the callers went unanswered and no progress was made in resolving his issue. Realising that he had fallen victim to a scam, he approached the cybercrime police and lodged a formal complaint.

Police have begun investigating the case and are tracking the individuals behind the fraud. Officials have also urged citizens to remain vigilant against cybercriminals who exploit the names of public figures and government institutions to gain credibility.

The incident highlights the increasing threat posed by deepfake technology and AI-powered impersonation , which are making online frauds more convincing and difficult to detect. Authorities have advised the public to verify claims independently and avoid transferring money based solely on phone calls, messages or video interactions.