FACT-CHECK: Viral Video Shows FM Nirmala Sitharaman Promoting ‘Quick Rich Scheme: But Here's the Truth

A video has recently gone viral on social media, where it can be seen that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman supposedly endorses a new government programme. At first look, the video looks real, but it's actually fake.

The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check team has officially clarified that the video is digitally altered and completely false. PIB has warned people not to fall for such scams and to stop spreading the video further to mislead the public.

Fake Video Alert

The video claims that the Finance Minister announced or endorsed a new scheme. Scammers and fraudsters have taken a real video and edited it using digital AI tools to make it appear as if Nirmala Sitharaman is promoting the scheme. In reality, the Finance Minister never made this announcement.

The PIB fact-check team said in their Twitter post, "Chance to earn Rs. 60,000 in 24 hrs & up to Rs. 55 lakhs a month. Exciting, right? Think Again. A video circulating on Facebook claims that the Union Finance Minister is promoting an investment program that can help citizens earn easy money daily!

This is a SCAM! It is a digitally altered #fake video. No such programme has been launched or endorsed by the Finance Minister or the Government of India. Don't fall prey to any such suspicious investment claims!. Stay alert. Verify before you share."

How You Can Spot Fake Videos

In order to avoid being scammed, here are some simple checks that you can do:

1. Always verify any news with official sources, because if the government launches a scheme, it will be announced on official websites, press releases, or verified social media accounts.

2. Check for signs of editing, as sometimes the lip-syncing, background, or audio doesn't match perfectly in fake videos.

3. Cross-check with news reports because a genuine program or announcement will be covered by multiple trusted news agencies.

4. Also use common sense. If a scheme looks too good to be true, double-check it before you trust it; don't forward it to friends or family without verifying.

5. Make sure to report the video on the platform where you saw it.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe

Scammers often use the names and faces of well-known leaders to gain people's trust, as many believe anything said by a senior leader or minister must be true. These fake schemes can confuse people and create unnecessary panic. Just for the sake of some clicks and likes, these scammers trick people into clicking links, sharing personal details, or even investing money in fake programmes. This is why checking authenticity before believing or sharing such videos is very important.