#FactCheck - Visuals of Jharkhand Police catching a truck load of cash and gold coins is an AI-generated image
Executive Summary:
An image has been spread on social media about the truck carrying money and gold coins impounded by Jharkhand Police that also during lok sabha elections in 2024. The Research Wing, CyberPeace has verified the image and found it to be generated using artificial intelligence. There are no credible news articles supporting claims about the police having made such a seizure in Jharkhand. The images were checked using AI image detection tools and proved to be AI made. It is advised to share any image or content after verifying its authenticity.
Claims:
The viral social media post depicts a truck intercepted by the Jharkhand Police during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It was claimed that the truck was filled with large amounts of cash and gold coins.
Fact Check:
On receiving the posts, we started with keyword-search to find any relevant news articles related to this post. If such a big incident really happened it would have been covered by most of the media houses. We found no such similar articles. We have closely analysed the image to find any anomalies that are usually found in AI generated images. And found the same.
The texture of the tree in the image is found to be blended. Also, the shadow of the people seems to be odd, which makes it more suspicious and is a common mistake in most of the AI generated images. If we closely look at the right hand of the old man wearing white attire, it is clearly visible that the thumb finger is blended with his apparel.
We then analysed the image in an AI image detection tool named ‘Hive Detector’. Hive Detector found the image to be AI-generated.
To validate the AI fabrication, we checked with another AI image detection tool named ‘ContentAtScale AI detection’ and it detected the image as 82% AI. Generated.
After validation of the viral post using AI detection tools, it is apparent that the claim is misleading and fake.
Conclusion:
The viral image of the truck impounded by Jharkhand Police is found to be fake and misleading. The viral image is found to be AI-generated. There has been no credible source that can support the claim made. Hence, the claim made is false and misleading. The Research Wing, CyberPeace previously debunked such AI-generated images with misleading claims. Netizens must verify such news that circulates in Social Media with bogus claims before sharing it further.
- Claim: The photograph shows a truck intercepted by Jharkhand Police during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which was allegedly loaded with huge amounts of cash and gold coins.
- Claimed on: Facebook, Instagram, X (Formerly known as Twitter)
- Fact Check: Fake & Misleading
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Introduction
The 2023-24 annual report of the Union Home Ministry states that WhatsApp is among the primary platforms being targeted for cyber fraud in India, followed by Telegram and Instagram. Cybercriminals have been conducting frauds like lending and investment scams, digital arrests, romance scams, job scams, online phishing etc., through these platforms, creating trauma for victims and overburdening law enforcement, which is not always the best equipped to recover their money. WhatsApp’s scale, end-to-end encryption, and ease of mass messaging make it both a powerful medium of communication and a vulnerable target for bad actors. It has over 500 million users in India, which makes it a primary subject for scammers running illegal lending apps, phishing schemes, and identity fraud.
Action Taken by Whatsapp
As a response to this worrying trend and in keeping with Rule 4(1)(d) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, [updated as of 6.4.2023], WhatsApp has been banning millions of Indian accounts through automated tools, AI-based detection systems, and behaviour analysis, which can detect suspicious activity and misuse. In July 2021, it banned over 2 million accounts. By February 2025, this number had shot up to over 9.7 million, with 1.4 million accounts removed proactively, that is, before any user reported them. While this may mean that the number of attacks has increased, or WhatsApp’s detection systems have improved, or both, what it surely signals is the acknowledgement of a deeper, systemic challenge to India’s digital ecosystem and the growing scale and sophistication of cyber fraud, especially on encrypted platforms.
CyberPeace Insights
- Under Rule 4(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021, significant social media intermediaries (SSMIs) are required to implement automated tools to detect harmful content. But enforcement has been uneven. WhatsApp’s enforcement action demonstrates what effective compliance with proactive moderation can look like because of the scale and transparency of its actions.
- Platforms must treat fraud not just as a content violation but as a systemic abuse of the platform’s infrastructure.
- India is not alone in facing this challenge. The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), for instance, mandates large platforms to conduct regular risk assessments, maintain algorithmic transparency, and allow independent audits of their safety mechanisms. These steps go beyond just removing bad content by addressing the design of the platform itself. India can draw from this by codifying a baseline standard for fraud detection, requiring platforms to publish detailed transparency reports, and clarifying the legal expectations around proactive monitoring. Importantly, regulators must ensure this is done without compromising encryption or user privacy.
- WhatsApp’s efforts are part of a broader, emerging ecosystem of threat detection. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) is now sharing threat intelligence with platforms like Google and Meta to help take down scam domains, malicious apps, and sponsored Facebook ads promoting illegal digital lending. This model of public-private intelligence collaboration should be institutionalized and scaled across sectors.
Conclusion: Turning Enforcement into Policy
WhatsApp’s mass account ban is not just about enforcement but an example of how platforms must evolve. As India becomes increasingly digital, it needs a forward-looking policy framework that supports proactive monitoring, ethical AI use, cross-platform coordination, and user safety. The digital safety of users in India and those around the world must be built into the architecture of the internet.
References
- https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.8562-6/486805827_1197340372070566_282096906288453586_n.pdf?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=b8d81d&_nc_ohc=BRGwyxF87MgQ7kNvwHyyW8u&_nc_oc=AdnNG2wXIN5F-Pefw_FTt2T4K6POllUyKpO7nxwzCWxNgQEkVLllHmh81AHT2742dH8&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent.xx&_nc_gid=iaQzNQ8nBZzxuIS4rXLOkQ&oh=00_AfEnbac47YDXvymJ5vTVB-gXteibjpbTjY5uhP_sMN9ouw&oe=67F95BF0
- https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.8562-6/217535270_342765227288666_5007519467044742276_n.pdf?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=b8d81d&_nc_ohc=aj6og9xy5WQQ7kNvwG9Vzkd&_nc_oc=AdnDtVbrQuo4lm3isKg5O4cw5PHkp1MoMGATVpuAdOUUz-xyJQgWztGV1PBovGACQ9c&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent.xx&_nc_gid=gabMfhEICh_gJFiN7vwzcA&oh=00_AfE7lXd9JJlEZCpD4pxW4OOc03BYcp1e3KqHKN9-kaPGMQ&oe=67FD6FD3
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/whatsapp-is-most-used-platform-for-cyber-crimes-home-ministry-report-101735719475701.html
- https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/whatsapp-bans-over-97-lakhs-indian-accounts-to-protect-users-from-scam-2702781-2025-04-02
Executive Summary:
Our team has come across a recent social media post highlighting a report on fraudulent activities involving deceptive websites and emails impersonating India’s Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). These phishing scams falsely promise LPG distributorships and retail outlet dealerships, aiming to extract money and personal information from unsuspecting individuals. We strongly urge the public to exercise caution and verify all information exclusively through official OMC channels to avoid falling victim to such fraudulent schemes.
Claim:
It has been reported that fraudsters are impersonating Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum through fake websites and emails, promising LPG distributorships and seeking money from victims.
Fact Check:
After our research, we came upon more information about this topic and found out that the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has released an official notice confirming that fraudulent websites and emails are impersonating India's Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), which include Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. The scams falsely promise LPG distributorships and retail outlet dealerships while demanding large sums of money from unsuspecting individuals. On June 19, 2019, this was confirmed. The PIB highlighted that OMCs have not allowed any person or organization to charge a fee for dealership selection. All authentic information on these offers is available at the websites of the OMCs: www.iocl.com, www.bharatpetroleum.com, and www.hindustanpetroleum.com. The general public is cautioned to rely only on these sources and report suspicious approaches to the offices of concerned OMCs. If someone finds such an approach, he should immediately contact the cybercrime branch. HPCL has issued alerts on fake websites and emails that promise LPG distributorships and jobs, mimicking official HPCL sites to deceive people.
On the official website of HPCL list down the malicious URLs. They are mentioned below:
- https://kskdealerchayan.com/
- bajajgas.com/index
- hindustanbiofuel.in
- petrolpumpchayanonline.com
- dealerchayanpetrolpump.in
- petrolpumpdealarchayan.com
- petrolpumpsdealerchayan.co.in
- petrolpumpdealershipchayan.org.in
- petrolpumpdealerchayangov.in
- petrolpumpdealership.info
- petrolpumpsdealershipchayan.in
- allindiagasdealership.com
- hindustanpetroleum.online
- hindustanpetroleumcorp.com
- hpcldelership.com
- ujjwalalpgvitarak.org
- ujjwaladealership.com
- lpgvitrakkendra.com
- kissansevakendra.org
- lpgvitarakchayanltd.org
- petrolpumpdelerchayan.in
- petrolpumpdealerschayan.in
- petrolepumpsdelearchayan.in
- kissansevakendra.org
- petrolpumpdealerchayanpro.com
- petrolpumchayanweb.com
- onlinepetrolpumpdealerchayan.com/
HPCL also shared an advisory for their applicants regarding Beware Of Fraudsters.
Conclusion:
It has been proven that fraud offers for LPG distributorships and retail outlet dealerships are being made through fake websites and emails. To avoid such scams, people are advised to be more vigilant, verify all information through official OMC platforms, and immediately report any suspicious activities to the concerned authorities. Being alert and informed is the key to preventing financial loss and protecting personal data from exploitation.
- Claim: Is this HPCL approval letter for an LPG agency dealership legit?
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
SVIMS Director and Vice-Chancellor B. Vengamma lighting a lamp to formally launch the cybercrime awareness programme conducted by the police department for the medical students in Tirupati on Wednesday.
An awareness meet on safe Internet practices was held for the students of Sri Venkateswara University University (SVU) and Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) here on Wednesday.
“Cyber criminals on the prowl can easily track our digital footprint, steal our identity and resort to impersonation,” cyber expert I.L. Narasimha Rao cautioned the college students.
Addressing the students in two sessions, Mr. Narasimha Rao, who is a Senior Manager with CyberPeace Foundation, said seemingly common acts like browsing a website, and liking and commenting on posts on social media platforms could be used by impersonators to recreate an account in our name.
Turning to the youth, Mr. Narasimha Rao said the incognito mode and Virtual Private Network (VPN) used as a protected network connection do not ensure total privacy as third parties could still snoop over the websites being visited by the users. He also cautioned them tactics like ‘phishing’, ‘vishing’ and ‘smishing’ being used by cybercriminals to steal our passwords and gain access to our accounts.
“After cracking the whip on websites and apps that could potentially compromise our security, the Government of India has recently banned 232 more apps,” he noted.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) B.H. Vimala Kumari appealed to cyber victims to call 1930 or the Cyber Mitra’s helpline 9121211100. SVIMS Director B. Vengamma stressed the need for caution with smartphones becoming an indispensable tool for students, be it for online education, seeking information, entertainment or for conducting digital transactions.
