52 minutes agoCrime
42LENS
3 SourcesBelgaum, India
thebalanced.newsAuthorities Warn Against 'Quantum AI' Scam Using Deepfake Video of Finance Minister
A scam involving a fake 'Quantum AI' investment scheme falsely claims Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's endorsement, promising high returns with no risk. Authorities confirmed no government backing for such schemes. In one case, a man from Belagavi lost Rs 7.9 lakh after responding to a deepfake video of the minister. Police warn the public to avoid such fraudulent offers, highlighting the use of AI-generated deepfake technology and advising investments only through legitimate channels.
Political Bias
3%95%2%
Sentiment
33%
AI Analysis
Political bias across 3 sources
● Left 3%● Center 95%● Right 2%
The articles present a factual account focusing on the scam and official responses without political framing. They include government sources like the PIB Fact Check and police statements, emphasizing public safety and fraud prevention. No partisan viewpoints or political interpretations are evident, maintaining a neutral stance on the issue.
Sentiment — Negative (33/100)
The overall tone is cautionary and informative, highlighting the risks of fraudulent schemes and the misuse of deepfake technology. While the coverage exposes deceptive practices, it remains neutral without sensationalizing, focusing on warnings and preventive advice to protect the public.
How 3 sources covered this story
Each source's own headline, political lean, and sentiment — so you can see framing differences at a glance.
| Source | Their headline | Bias | Sentiment |
|---|---|---|---|
| thehindu | Senior citizen in Belagavi duped of investment using fake video | Center | Negative |
| theprint | Deepfake video of Nirmala Sitharaman used to dupe Belagavi man in Rs 7.9 lakh scam | Center | Negative |
| economictimes | Rs 40 lakh return from Rs 22,000 investment? How 'Quantum AI' scam is misusing Nirmala Sitharaman's name to lure investors - The Economic Times | Center | Neutral |
Coverage timeline
economictimes broke this story on 6 May, 08:57 am. Other outlets followed.
- 1economictimes6 May, 08:57 amRs 40 lakh return from Rs 22,000 investment? How 'Quantum AI' scam is misusing Nirmala Sitharaman's name to lure investors - The Economic Times
- 2theprint6 May, 01:26 pmDeepfake video of Nirmala Sitharaman used to dupe Belagavi man in Rs 7.9 lakh scam
- 3thehindu6 May, 02:30 pmSenior citizen in Belagavi duped of investment using fake video
Lens Score breakdown
42/100
Public interest16/100
Coverage gap100%
Story is receiving appropriate media attention relative to public interest.
Accountability flags
TBN's analysis identified the following accountability dimensions in this story.
- financial irregularity
This story involves alleged financial misconduct — unexplained transactions, procurement irregularities, or misuse of public/shareholder funds.
Who's involved
Institutions and figures named across source coverage.
Government
Ministry of FinancePress Information Bureau
Corporate
State Bank of IndiaAU Small Finance Bank
Political
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
Enforcement
Police
Story context
- Category
- Crime
- Location
- Belgaum, India
- Sources analysed
- 3
- Last analysed
- 6 May 2026
- Key entities
- Indian rupeeLakhNirmala SitharamanMinistry of Finance (India)Artificial intelligenceSocial mediaInternetElectoral fraudViral videoPress Information BureauTwitterGovernment of India
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