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3 min readBhopalUpdated: Feb 26, 2026 01:42 PM IST
The family allegedly received a video call from unknown people who claimed they had kidnapped the child. (Photo generated using AI)
In what Madhya Pradesh police believe is the first known case of deepfake technology being used for criminal extortion in the city, a family in Indore was cheated of Rs 1 lakh after fraudsters staged a fake kidnapping through a morphed video call showing their minor son in distress.
The incident began when a Class X student did not return home after his tuition class. According to police, the family had earlier scolded the child, and when he remained untraceable for several hours, they lodged a missing person complaint at the local police station. In an attempt to locate him quickly, the family also shared the boy’s photograph and contact details on social media.
Later that evening, the family allegedly received a video call from unknown people who claimed they had kidnapped the child. During the call, the boy allegedly was shown on screen and appeared to be under threat.
The callers allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh for his release and asked the family to transfer the money through a QR code. Believing the video to be genuine and fearing for the child’s safety, the family transferred the amount, police said.
The case took a dramatic turn the next day when the boy returned home on his own. He allegedly told his family that he had gone to a local temple for darshan and was never abducted. He also allegedly denied being harmed or threatened, prompting the family to alert the police about a possible cyber fraud, police said.
Additional DCP (Crime) Rajesh Dantodiya said the case appears to be a sophisticated instance of cybercrime involving manipulated visuals. He explained that the “family was convinced because they saw what looked like their own child in the video call. Such videos can now be convincingly morphed using advanced technology”.
Dantodiya said the video showed the child being threatened, but preliminary findings suggest it was not a real kidnapping. Police have strong reasons to believe that deepfake technology was used to create the extortion video. He added that the crime branch has taken up the “investigation to identify those behind the fraud and to trace the digital trail linked to the QR code payment”.
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The senior officer also issued a public warning, advising citizens not to blindly trust video calls or visual content received from unknown sources. He said people should verify such claims from multiple channels before making any payment, as cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting fear and new technologies to carry out frauds.
Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More
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