Gemini To Meta: How A Deepfake Gang Used AI To Hijack Identities In Gujarat

Four people were arrested in Gujarat in a case involving a criminal syndicate that used advanced AI and deepfake technology to bypass biometric security and commit identity-based financial fraud. The group allegedly used AI platforms such as Gemini AI and Meta AI to produce high-quality deepfake videos with eye-blink animations. By projecting these videos during official verification processes, they bypassed liveness detection protocols to gain unauthorized access to update the mobile numbers linked to victims' Aadhaar profiles via Common Service Center (CSC) kits. With hijacked identities, they gained control over DigiLocker and several banking services. Once mobile numbers were changed, OTPs were delivered to the perpetrators' devices, enabling them to open fraudulent bank accounts at IDFC, Kotak Mahindra, and Jio Payments Bank. They also applied for personal loans through lenders including RKBansal, True Credits, and EarlySalary. In response, Ahmedabad Police launched a dedicated Aadhaar security awareness campaign advising the public to lock biometric data using the mAadhaar app or the official UIDAI website to prevent unauthorized fingerprint, iris, or facial authentication.