#FactCheck - Video Showing Sadhus in Ice Is Artificially Generated
Executive Summary
A video showing a group of Hindu ascetics (sadhus) allegedly performing intense penance while their bodies appear to be covered in ice is being widely shared on social media. Users are circulating the video as real and claiming that it represents an ancient tradition of Sanatan Dharma. CyberPeace research found the viral claim to be false.The research revealed that the video circulating on social media is not real but has been generated using artificial intelligence (AI).
Claim
On social media platform Facebook, a user shared the viral video on January 16, 2026. The video shows several ascetics engaged in penance, with their bodies seemingly covered in ice. Users shared the video while claiming that it depicts an authentic spiritual practice rooted in Sanatan Dharma.
Links to the post, archive link, and screenshots can be seen below.
Fact Check:
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim, CyberPeace searched relevant keywords on Google. However, no credible or reliable media reports supporting the claim were found. A close examination of the viral video raised suspicion that it may have been AI-generated. To verify this, the video was analysed using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation. According to the results, the video was found to be 99 percent AI-generated.
In the next step of the research, the same video was analysed using another AI detection tool, Sightengine. The results again indicated that the video was 99 percent AI-generated.
Conclusion
CyberPeace concludes that the video circulating on social media is not real. The viral video showing ascetics covered in ice was generated using artificial intelligence and does not depict an actual religious or spiritual practice.
Related Blogs
Executive Summary:
Social media is buzzing with a link that claims to offer an iPhone 15 as a gift from LuLu Hypermarket, presented as part of Holi celebrations. This article examines the deceptive tactics behind this fraudulent offer and provides guidance on recognizing and avoiding such scams.
False Claim:
The link being shared is misleading and falsely claims that LuLu Hypermarket is giving away free iPhone 15 phones. This is taking advantage of the Holi festival to trick unsuspecting people. When users click on the link, they are redirected multiple times and end up on a page with LuLu Hypermarket's photo and some simple questions. Fake comments are also used to make the offer seem genuine, but it is all a deception.
The Deceptive Scheme:
The plan uses psychological tricks by linking the offer to a famous brand and a popular celebration. The landing page's simplicity and phoney comments try to make users trust it and feel like they need to act fast, so they'll join the scam.
The Fraudulent Campaign Analysed:
The scammers are using psychological tactics to manipulate people. They're exploiting the trust people have in LuLu Hypermarket and the excitement around the new iPhone 15 during the Holi festival. The fake questionnaire serves no real purpose, but it's a way to engage users and make the scam seem legitimate. Testimonials claiming people have successfully received the iPhone 15 are also fake, designed to create a false sense of credibility. Users are prompted to select a "gift box," which adds an interactive element to draw them in further. When a user selects a box, they're falsely congratulated on winning the iPhone 15, giving them a sense of accomplishment. Finally, users are urged to share the link via WhatsApp to "claim" the gift, spreading the scam to more potential victims.
What do we Analyse? :
- We analyse the deceptive tactics employed by the scam, including psychological manipulation, false engagement techniques, and fake testimonials, all aimed at convincing users of the offer's legitimacy.
Link : (https://sophisticateddistort[.]top/nTiwpTTTT526?llue1696559991144)
- It is important to note that at this particular point, there has not been any official declaration or a proper confirmation of an offer made by Lulu Hypermarket So, people must be very careful when encountering such messages because they are often employed as lures in phishing attacks or misinformation campaigns. Before engaging or transmitting such claims, it is always advisable to authenticate the information from trustworthy sources in order to protect oneself online and prevent the spread of wrongful information
- The campaign is hosted on a third party domain instead of any official Website of LuLu Hypermarket, this raised suspicion. Also the domain was registered last year.
- The intercepted request revealed a connection to a China-linked analytical service, Baidu in the backend.
- Domain Name: sophisticateddistort.top
- Registry Domain ID: D20230629G10001G_04181852-top
- Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.west263.com
- Registrar URL: www.west263.com
- Updated Date: 2023-07-01T02:55:34Z
- Creation Date: 2023-06-29T06:05:00Z
- Registry Expiry Date: 2024-06-29T06:05:00Z
- Registrar: Chengdu west dimension digital
- Registrant State/Province: Shan Xi
- Registrant Country: CN (China)
- Name Server: curt.ns.cloudflare.com
- Name Server: harlee.ns.cloudflare.com
Note: Cybercriminal used Cloudflare technology to mask the actual IP address of the fraudulent website.
CyberPeace Advisory:
- Do not open those messages received from social platforms in which you think that such messages are suspicious or unsolicited. In the beginning, your own discretion can become your best weapon.
- Falling prey to such scams could compromise your entire system, potentially granting unauthorised access to your microphone, camera, text messages, contacts, pictures, videos, banking applications, and more. Keep your cyber world safe against any attacks.
- Never, in any case, reveal such sensitive data as your login credentials and banking details to entities you haven't validated as reliable ones.
- Before sharing any content or clicking on links within messages, always verify the legitimacy of the source. Protect not only yourself but also those in your digital circle.
- For the sake of the truthfulness of offers and messages, find the official sources and companies directly. Verify the authenticity of alluring offers before taking any action.
Conclusion:
During the festive season, as we engage in merrymaking and online activities, we should be mindful of fraudster's exploitation strategies. Another instance is the illegitimate Lulu Hypermarket offer of the upcoming iPhone 15. With the knowledge and carefulness, we can report any suspicious actions to avoid being victims of fraud in this way. Keep in mind the fact that legitimate offers are usually issued by trustworthy sources while if, the offer looks too good to be true, then it is rather a scam.
Executive Summary
A video circulating on social media has sparked controversy, showing a man allegedly vandalising an idol of Lord Ram. Users sharing the clip claim that the incident recently took place in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The posts further allege that a Muslim individual climbed the idol and attempted to damage it. However, research by the CyberPeace found the viral claim to be misleading. The research revealed that the video is not recent but nearly three years old. At the time of the incident, the police had already arrested the accused. Social media users are now resharing the old video with false claims that it is a recent event.
Claim:
On February 14, 2026, a Facebook user shared the viral video claiming that the incident occurred in Ayodhya, where a large religious gathering was underway. The post alleged that a man identified as Mohammad Mukhtar Mandal climbed the idol of Lord Ram and attempted to break it. The post was widely circulated with inflammatory remarks. (Link and archived version of the post were provided along with a screenshot.)
Fact Check
To verify the authenticity of the claim, we extracted key frames from the viral video and conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens. During the search, we found a report published on January 30, 2024, on the Hindi website of Patrika, which carried visuals matching the viral footage. According to the report, a video had surfaced showing a man climbing an idol of Lord Ram in Ayodhya and attempting to damage it. The video had gone viral at the time, following which police registered a case against the accused, Mukhtar Ali Mandal, and arrested him.
Further research led us to another Facebook post featuring the same video. In the comment section of that post, Uttar Pradesh Police clarified that the incident dated back to January 2024. The Ayodhya police had registered a case against the accused shown in the video and sent him to jail.
Conclusion:
The research confirms that the viral video is not recent but an old incident from January 2024. The accused was arrested at the time. The video is being reshared with misleading claims falsely presenting it as a recent event.
Executive Summary:
A manipulated viral photo of a Maldivian building with an alleged oversized portrait of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the words "SURRENDER" went viral on social media. People responded with fear, indignation, and anxiety. Our research, however, showed that the image was manipulated and not authentic.
Claim:
A viral image claims that the Maldives displayed a huge portrait of PM Narendra Modi on a building front, along with the phrase “SURRENDER,” implying an act of national humiliation or submission.
Fact Check:
After a thorough examination of the viral post, we got to know that it had been altered. While the image displayed the same building, it was wrong to say it included Prime Minister Modi’s portrait along with the word “SURRENDER” shown in the viral version. We also checked the image with the Hive AI Detector, which marked it as 99.9% fake. This further confirmed that the viral image had been digitally altered.
During our research, we also found several images from Prime Minister Modi’s visit, including one of the same building displaying his portrait, shared by the official X handle of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). The post mentioned “His Excellency Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi was warmly welcomed by His Excellency President Dr.@MMuizzu at Republic Square, where he was honored with a Guard of Honor by #MNDF on his state visit to Maldives.” This image, captured from a different angle, also does not feature the word “surrender.
Conclusion:
The claim that the Maldives showed a picture of PM Modi with a surrender message is incorrect and misleading. The image is altered and is being spread to mislead people and stir up controversy. Users should check the authenticity of photos before sharing.
- Claim: Viral image shows the Maldives mocking India with a surrender sign
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
