#FactCheck- Viral Video Falsely Claims Iranian Strike Destroyed Israeli Army Headquarters

Introduction

After the tragic bomb blast at RedFort on November 10, 2025, there is a trail of misinformation and false narratives spread rapidly across social media platforms, messaging and news channels. It can not only unfold into a public misunderstanding but can also incite panic, communal tensions and endanger lives. To prevent all of these from happening, we, as responsible citizens, can play a critical role by verifying information before sharing it with friends, family, or colleagues. This article provides guidance on practical, evidence-based strategies to navigate the information landscape and protect yourself and your community from the harm caused by misinformation and disinformation.

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Digital Scams in the Aftermath of the Blast

Cybercriminals increased their activity in the hours after the Red Fort explosion, using the country’s sorrow as a chance to take advantage of fear.

Numerous allegations surfaced of residents receiving threatening calls that falsely claimed they were “digitally arrested” or that their phones, bank accounts, or Aadhaar were being “seized for investigation”, accusing them of being involved in the explosion. These fictitious intimidation calls sent innocent people into worry, anxiety, and doubt spirals.

The pattern is common after major national crises:

• Fear rises.
• People seek urgent answers.
• Cybercriminals exploit the confusion.

Knowing this makes it easier for us to remain watchful. No law enforcement organisation uses phone conversations, WhatsApp communications, or threats of “digital detention” to make arrests or conduct investigations. 

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Verify breaking news from trusted official channels

Whenever a crisis like bomb blasts occurs, people look for information on social media, news channels, and YouTube channels to stay fully informed about the situation. This is a very chaotic moment, and due to the lack of government verification of the initial information, false news spread rapidly.

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Where to seek verified information:

a. Press Information Bureau (PIB): The official government news agency that, from time to time, clarifies viral news.

b. Delhi Police Official Channels: Check social media handles of Delhi Police.

c.  Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): MHA is responsible for internal security, and gives information about this information through official press releases and notifications.

d. Major Credible news outlets: Some news channels can be trusted with news, as they typically verify information before publishing, like The Hindu, Indian Express.

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What to do:

Cross-check every unverified social media post and news that you come across from credible news channels and official government press releases.

Verify Images and videos using reverse search tools

Recently, many social media handles have been sharing old photos of different bomb blasts from Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine in the name of the Red Fort blasts. While it can create a false narrative, the same should be verified before sharing.

Reliable fact-checking resources and how to use them.

Every country has dedicated fact-checking organisations that systematically verify viral claims.

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Fact-checking organisations based in India:

a. PIB Fact Check (https://factcheck.pib.gov.in/ )

·   It is the official fact-checking unit of the PIB, which focuses on demystifying government-related misinformation.

·   WhatsApp +918799711259 

·   email: socialmedia@pib.gov.in

·   Telegram: http://t.me/PIB_FactCheck

·   Follow it on: Twitter (@PIBFactCheck), Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and WhatsApp.

How to use these resources:

· Whenever you come across any viral post, use exact keywords or quotes to find those on these resources.

· Look for the verdict (true, false, misleading), then share the verified fact-checks with your network to debunk false narratives.

Practice Digital Hygiene and Be Cautious When Sharing

Digital hygiene refers to the practices and habits individuals adopt to maintain a healthy and secure digital lifestyle. Simple digital practices can restrict the spread of misinformation. A vigilant individual can reduce the spread of misinformation. It can be done by below steps

i.                 Check URLs and Links: We can verify the URLs and links of any news and websites using different tools to check the credibility of any news

ii.               How to Evaluate the Trustworthiness of Sources:

·   Verify if the account sharing the information has a blue checkmark on most platforms.

·   Examine the account's background, whether it is a recognised media source, an official government profile, or a newly created anonymous account?

·   Approach posts featuring intense emotional language ("URGENT!", "SHOCKING!", "MUST SHARE!") with scepticism.

·   Refrain from posting screenshots of tweets or posts while providing a link to the source, allowing others to confirm its validity.

iii.             Before You Distribute:

·   Question yourself: "Am I certain this is accurate based on a reliable source?"

·   Avoid the temptation to share breaking news immediately; hold off until it has been confirmed by government sources.

·   If you're uncertain, include a comment such as "I haven't confirmed this yet; please consult reliable sources" instead of sharing unverified information.

·   Reflect on the consequences, as it might lead to panic, provoke communal violence, or damage an individual's reputation

6. How to report misinformation to platforms and authorities?

While it is important to verify news before sharing it to prevent fake news, it is also important to report it to reduce misinformation and the violence caused due to it. On social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, WhatsApp, and Telegram, anyone can report the same on the platform.

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Reporting to the Government Authorities:

a. PIB Fact Check WhatsApp (+91 8799711259):

Send Screenshots or texts of suspected government-related misinformation for verification, and then an automated acknowledgement is generated.

b. Delhi Police Cyber Crime Unit

Cyber Crimes such as Email Frauds, Social Media Crimes, Mobile App-related crimes, Business Email Compromise, Data Theft, Ransomware, Net Banking/ ATM Frauds and fake calls frauds, insurance frauds, lottery scam, bitcoin, cheating scams, online transactions frauds can be reported to the Delhi Police Cyber Crime Unit.

7. Quick checklist: What to do When You See Breaking News

·   Wait before sharing any breaking news.

·   Go through official channels like PIB and other official channels like MHA.

·   If not available there, then cross-reference it from 2-3 credible news sources for the same information.

·   Check timestamps and metadata, and compare metadata dates with claims about when events occurred.

·   In case you find any information, news or any social media posts as misleading, then report the same.

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CyberPeace Resolves: Pause. Reflect. Then Respond

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Misinformation becomes the infection that spreads the fastest when people are confused and afraid. Every citizen is urged by CyberPeace to remain composed, stand tall, and not panic, particularly in times of national emergency.

Prior to experiencing an emotional response to any concerning call, message, or widely shared news:

Pause. Reflect. Acknowledge.

•  Pause before sharing or responding.
• Reflect on whether the information is from a credible source.
• Acknowledge what you know—and what is just rumour.

CyberPeace is still dedicated to helping people and communities deal with online dangers, safeguard mental health, and dispel false information with clarity and truth.

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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.

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• 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.

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As Generative AI continues to make strides by creating content through user prompts, the increasing sophistication of language models widens the scope of the services they can deliver. However, they have their own limitations. Recently, alerts by Apple Intelligence on the iPhone’s latest version have come under fire for misrepresenting news by news agencies.

The new feature was introduced with the aim of presenting an effective way to group and summarise app notifications in a single alert on a user’s lock screen. This was to enable an easier scan for important details amongst a large number of notifications, doing away with overwhelming updates for the user. This, however, resulted in the misrepresentation of news channels and reporting of fake news such as the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Luke Litter winning the PDC World Darts Championship even before the competition, tennis Player Rafael Nadal coming out as gay, among other news alerts. Following false alerts, BBC had complained about its journalism being misrepresented. In response, Apple’s proposed solution was to clarify to the user that when the text summary is displayed in the notifications, it is clearly stated to be a product of notification Apple Intelligence and not of the news agency. It also claimed the complexity of having to compress content into short summaries which resulted in fallacious alerts. Further comments revealed that the AI alert feature was in beta and is continuously being worked on depending on the user’s feedback. Owing to the backlash, Apple has suspended this service and announced that an improved version of the feature is set to be released in the near future, however, no dates have been set.

CyberPeace Insights

The rush to release new features often exacerbates the problem, especially when AI-generated alerts are responsible for summarising news reports. This can significantly damage the credibility and trust that brands have worked hard to build. The premature release of features that affect the dissemination, content, and public comprehension of information carries substantial risks, particularly in the current environment where misinformation is widespread. Timely action and software updates, which typically require weeks to implement, are crucial in mitigating these risks. The desire to be ahead in the game and bring out competitive features must not resolve the responsibility of providing services that are secure and reliable. This aforementioned incident highlights the inherent nature of generative AI, which operates by analysing the data it was trained on to deliver the best possible responses based on user prompts. However, these responses are not always accurate or reliable. When faced with prompts beyond its scope, AI systems often produce untrustworthy information, underlining the need for careful oversight and verification. A question to deliberate on is whether we require such services at all, which in practice, do save our time, but do so at the risk of the spread of false tidbits.

References

• https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/07/apple-update-ai-inaccurate-news-alerts-bbc-apple-intelligence-iphone
• https://www.firstpost.com/tech/apple-intelligence-hallucinates-falsely-credits-bbc-for-fake-news-broadcaster-lodges-complaint-13845214.html
• https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/08/apple-ai-fake-news-alerts-highlight-the-techs-misinformation-problem.html
• https://news.sky.com/story/apple-ai-feature-must-be-revoked-over-notifications-misleading-users-say-journalists-13288716
• https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/apple-to-pay-95-million-in-user-privacy-violation-lawsuit-on-siri-101735835058198.html
• https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/apple-denies-claims-of-siri-violating-user-privacy-after-95-million-class-action-suit-settlement-101736445941497.html#:~:text=Apple%20denies%20claims%20of%20Siri,action%20suit%20settlement%20%2D%20Hindustan%20Times
• https://www.google.com/search?q=apple+AI+alerts+misinformation&oq=apple+AI+alerts+misinformation+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigAdIBCTEyMzUxajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
• https://www.fastcompany.com/91261727/apple-intelligence-news-summaries-mistakes
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/siris-secret-listening-costs-apple-95m/articleshow/116906209.cms
• https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/17/apple-suspends-ai-generated-news-alert-service-after-bbc-complaint 

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