#FactCheck-Mosque fire in India? False, it's from Indonesia
Executive Summary:
A social media viral post claims to show a mosque being set on fire in India, contributing to growing communal tensions and misinformation. However, a detailed fact-check has revealed that the footage actually comes from Indonesia. The spread of such misleading content can dangerously escalate social unrest, making it crucial to rely on verified facts to prevent further division and harm.
Claim:
The viral video claims to show a mosque being set on fire in India, suggesting it is linked to communal violence.
Fact Check
The investigation revealed that the video was originally posted on 8th December 2024. A reverse image search allowed us to trace the source and confirm that the footage is not linked to any recent incidents. The original post, written in Indonesian, explained that the fire took place at the Central Market in Luwuk, Banggai, Indonesia, not in India.
Conclusion: The viral claim that a mosque was set on fire in India isn’t True. The video is actually from Indonesia and has been intentionally misrepresented to circulate false information. This event underscores the need to verify information before spreading it. Misinformation can spread quickly and cause harm. By taking the time to check facts and rely on credible sources, we can prevent false information from escalating and protect harmony in our communities.
- Claim: The video shows a mosque set on fire in India
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
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Executive Summary:
Cyber incidents are evolving along with time, they are designed to attract and lure people through social networking sites and/or messaging services. In the recent past a spate of messages alleging that TRAI is offering ‘3 months free recharge with free voice calls and internet for 4g/5g with 200 GB free data’. These messages display the TRAI logo with attractive offers to trick the users into revealing their personal details. This blog discusses the functioning of this free mobile recharge scheme, its methods and guidelines on how to avoid such fake schemes. This blog explains the importance of vigilance and verification when receiving any links, emphasizing the need to report suspicious activities and educate others to prevent identity theft and protect personal information.
Claim:
The message circulated an enticing offer: free mobile recharge for 3 months which provides unlimited free voice calls with 200GB 4G/5G data with TRAI logo. The key characteristics of the false claims are
- Official Branding: The logo of TRAI has been viewed as a deceptive facade of credibility.
- Unrealistic Offers: It is accompanied by a free recharge , which is intended for an extended period indefinite period, like most fraudsters’ bait.
- Urgency and Exclusivity: The offer is for a limited time to make urgency forcing the receiver to take the offer without confirmation.
The Deceptive Scheme:
Organized systematically, the fraudulent campaign usually proceeds in several steps, all of which aim at extracting the victim’s personal data. Here’s a breakdown of the scheme:
1. Initial Contact: Such messages or calls reach the users’ inboxes or phone numbers through social media applications such as WhatsApp or through text messages. These messages further implies that the user was chosen for the special offer from TRAI, which elicits the interest of the user.
2. Information Request: To claim the purported offer, users are directed to a website or asked to reply with personal details, including:
- Phone number
- State of residence
- SIM provider details
This is useful for the scammers as they harvest information which can be used to conduct identity theft or sold to others on the shady part of the internet known as the ‘Dark Web’.
3. Fake Confirmation: After providing all the information, a congratulatory message appears on the screen showing that their phone number is eligible for the offer. The user is compelled to forward the message to many phone numbers through whatsapp to get the offer.
4. Pressure Tactics: The message often implies a sense of time constraint or fear which psychologically produces pressure to provide all the user information. For example, users are given messages such as that if they do not ‘act now’, they will lose their mobile service.
Analyzing the Fraudulent Campaign
The TRAI fraudulent recharge scheme case depicts that social engineering is used in cyber crimes. Here are some key aspects that characterize this campaign:
- Sophisticated Social Engineering
Scammers take advantage of the holders’ confidence in official bodies such as TRAI. By using official TRAI logos, official language they try to deceive even cautious people.
- Viral Spread
The user is compelled to share the given message to friends and groups; this is an excellent strategy to spread the scam. It not only spreads the fraudulent message but also tries to extract the details of other people.
- Technical Analysis
- Domain Name: SGOFF[.]CYOU
- Registry Domain ID: D472308342-CNIC
- Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.hkdns.hk
- Registrar URL: http://www.hkdns.hk
- Updated Date: 2024-07-24T18:50:48.0Z
- Creation Date: 2024-07-19T18:48:44.0Z
- Registry Expiry Date: 2025-07-19T23:59:59.0Z
- Registrar: West263 International Limited
- Registrar IANA ID: 1915
- Registrant State/Province: Anhui
- Registrant Country: CN
- Name Server: NORMAN.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
- Name Server: PAM.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
- DNSSEC: unsigned
Cloudflare Inc. is used to cover the scam. The real website always uses the older domain while this url has been registered recently which indicates that this link is a scam.
The graph indicates that some of the communicated files and websites are malicious.
CyberPeace Advisory and Best Practice:
In light of the growing threat posed by such scams, the Research Wing of CyberPeace recommend the following best practices to help users protect themselves:
1. Verify Communications: It is always advisable to visit the official site of the organization or call the official contact numbers of the company to speak to their customer care and clarify about the offers.
2. Do not share personal information: No genuine organization will call the people for personal information. Step carefully and do not provide personal information that will lead to identity theft when dealing with such offers.
3. Report Fraudulent Activity: If one receives any calls or messages that seem to be suspicious, then the user can report cyber crimes to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on www. cybercrime. gov. in or call on 1930. Such scams are reportable and assist the authorities in tracking and fighting the vice.
4. Educate Others : Always raise awareness among friends by sharing these kinds of scams. Educating people helps to avoid them falling prey to such fraudulent schemes.
5. Use Reliable Resources : Always refer to official sources or websites for any kind of offers or promotions.
Conclusion:
The free recharge scheme for 3 months with the logo of TRAI is a fraudulent scam. There is no official information from TRAI or in their official website about this free recharge scheme. Though the scheme looks attractive, it is deceptive. Through this, the scammers are trying to collect personal details of the individual. Before clicking any links, it is necessary to check the authenticity of the information, report these kinds of incidents to spread awareness among people. Always be safe and be vigilant.
Executive Summary:
A viral post on X (formerly twitter) shared with misleading captions about Gautam Adani being arrested in public for fraud, bribery and corruption. The charges accuse him, his nephew Sagar Adani and 6 others of his group allegedly defrauding American investors and orchestrating a bribery scheme to secure a multi-billion-dollar solar energy project awarded by the Indian government. Always verify claims before sharing posts/photos as this came out to be AI-generated.
Claim:
An image circulating of public arrest after a US court accused Gautam Adani and executives of bribery.
Fact Check:
There are multiple anomalies as we can see in the picture attached below, (highlighted in red circle) the police officer grabbing Adani’s arm has six fingers. Adani’s other hand is completely absent. The left eye of an officer (marked in blue) is inconsistent with the right. The faces of officers (marked in yellow and green circles) appear distorted, and another officer (shown in pink circle) appears to have a fully covered face. With all this evidence the picture is too distorted for an image to be clicked by a camera.
A thorough examination utilizing AI detection software concluded that the image was synthetically produced.
Conclusion:
A viral image circulating of the public arrest of Gautam Adani after a US court accused of bribery. After analysing the image, it is proved to be an AI-Generated image and there is no authentic information in any news articles. Such misinformation spreads fast and can confuse and harm public perception. Always verify the image by checking for visual inconsistency and using trusted sources to confirm authenticity.
- Claim: Gautam Adani arrested in public by law enforcement agencies
- Claimed On: Instagram and X (Formerly Known As Twitter)
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
Executive Summary
An image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being widely circulated on social media. The picture is being shared with the claim that during an election campaign in Assam, a full-fledged shooting set was arranged in a tea garden where Modi interacted with women workers, complete with cameras, microphones, lights, and a director-led production team. However, research by the CyberPeace has found the claim to be false. Our research reveals that the viral image is AI-generated and is being shared with a misleading narrative.
Claim
An Instagram user shared the viral image with the caption suggesting that such a large-scale “shoot” setup had been arranged and questioned the cost involved.
Post link:
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we conducted a keyword-based search on Google. However, we did not find any credible media reports supporting the claim that such a shooting setup was arranged during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Assam. Upon closely examining the viral image, we noticed several visual inconsistencies that raised suspicion about it being artificially generated. To confirm this, we analyzed the image using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation, which indicated that the image is approximately 99% AI-generated.
To further validate the findings, we also tested the image using another AI detection tool, NoteGPT, which similarly classified the image as 99% AI-generated.
For context, ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been on a campaign visit to the state. According to a report by DD News, he visited a tea garden in Dibrugarh, where he interacted with women workers and even plucked tea leaves himself.
Conclusion
Our research clearly establishes that the viral image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not authentic and has been digitally created using AI tools. There is no evidence to support the claim that a staged shooting setup involving cameras, lights, and a production crew was arranged during his visit. The image is being circulated with a misleading narrative to create a false impression. This case highlights how AI-generated visuals can be used to distort real events and spread misinformation.
