How Scammers Hijack Media Platforms To Promote Fraudulent Investment Schemes?
Scams are evolving, using increasingly sophisticated techniques to exploit innocent people. One of the most alarming trends is scammers impersonating reputable media outlets or celebrities to promote fraudulent platforms.
Scammers often hijack media outlets or use camouflage to advertise fraudulent platforms that promise easy money, fast returns, or investment opportunities that seem too good to be true.
Recently, a fake and fabricated story surfaced, purporting to be from The Indian Express, where it was claimed that renowned singer Shreya Ghoshal had revealed her involvement in a secret, lucrative money-making platform, “Lovarionix Liquidity.”
The scammers’ URL is different from the original.
The article suggested that Shreya had disclosed a source of income that could lead ordinary people to rapid wealth. However, upon closer inspection, this was nothing more than a scam designed to lure individuals into financial traps.
This news story began circulating an interview of Kareena Kapoor with Shreya Ghoshal on the Mirchi Plus program, where she allegedly revealed her success with a platform called “Lovarionix Liquidity.”
The fabricated texts made it sound like she was endorsing the platform.
According to the fake article, Shreya Ghoshal claimed that this AI-driven platform allowed users to make substantial daily profits with minimal effort, citing her own experience of generating significant income from a modest initial investment of 21,000 rupees.
The article, which was reportedly published by The Indian Express, even claimed that this part had been aired live on television along with the candid conversation between both.
The publication implied that the singer’s casual conversation led to the exposure of a secret money-making opportunity that could change the lives of ordinary individuals.
In the case of Shreya Ghoshal’s interview, scammers pretended that the singer had revealed her participation in this secret investment platform. The fabricated dialogue made it sound like she was endorsing the platform, creating a false sense of legitimacy.
However, Timeline’s investigation revealed that The Indian Express page was not a genuine news website but a fake clone specifically designed to mislead and impersonate the brand.
Despite the claims made in the ads, where her name was prominently displayed as an endorser, Shreya Ghoshal herself did not speak about any involvement with the platform or promote any financial opportunity in the original interview.
Scammers often replicate news websites with slight URL variations, such as using a “.com” instead of “.in” for The Indian Express, to deceive readers into thinking the source is legitimate.
To further build the illusion of credibility, scammers in this case even went so far as to provide a fabricated photo of an Indian Express editor who supposedly invested in the same platform.
The fake editor was shown endorsing the “Lovarionix Liquidity” platform as an investment opportunity, presenting it as an idea backed by an experienced journalist from a respected media outlet.
Fake Editor
This was the key red flag in the article: that similar news popped up with the frequent appearance of a fictional news editor, ‘Aamir Palekar,’ who was falsely claimed to have successfully tested these platforms.
However, our quick investigation revealed no such journalist at The Indian Express, confirming that this was a completely fabricated testimonial.
The use of made-up endorsements is one of the most effective ways scammers convince victims to invest, as they rely on the trust the public places in well-known media outlets and public figures.
While the core approach remained consistent, scammers varied the platforms they promoted across different fraudulent articles, using different URLs to mask the real purpose.
Each article would feature a celebrity endorsement, but interestingly, the name of the celebrity was the only thing that changed in each version of the ad. This technique created the illusion that multiple well-known personalities were involved in these dubious ventures.
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Also, the fraudulent comments section revealed that the same set of comments appeared across different versions of the articles, reinforcing the appearance of legitimacy.
Fake Comment Section
These comments often suggested that people who invested in the so-called trading platforms achieved substantial profits, further enticing potential victims to engage with the scam.
They often disguise their promotions as genuine media formats, such as video interviews, news reports, or testimonials, in an attempt to build trust. They use professional-looking websites, logos, and graphics that mimic established media outlets, making it difficult for users to distinguish between authentic content and scam propaganda.
Scammers often create a sense of urgency by making it seem like the opportunity is rare or exclusive, which was evident in the claims about people rapidly earning thousands of rupees.
This isn’t the first time that scammers have hijacked reputable media outlets to promote fraudulent schemes.
In early 2024, similar tactics were used to circulate fake articles on the BBC website, which were also designed to promote fraudulent trading platforms.
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These articles carried the same hallmarks of deception: celebrity endorsements, fake testimonials, and the promise of high returns on minimal investments. The scammers exploited the BBC’s name and credibility to lend their fake platforms an air of legitimacy, fooling many people into parting with large sums of money.
In another incident, scammers targeted India Today, one of India’s most trusted news platforms, by running similar deceptive ads.
These ads were designed to look like genuine content from the India Today editorial team, complete with fabricated testimonials and fake success stories.
Many of these scam ads were found on Facebook, with pages bearing names associated with categories like “beauty, cosmetic and personal care” or “recreation and sport.”
In several reported cases, individuals lost large sums of money after being duped by these fake platforms. For example, between July and December 2024, a Bengaluru resident lost Rs 6.4 crore to a scam advertised on Facebook. Another victim, a retired IAF group captain, lost nearly Rs 77 lakh to a similar fraudulent investment opportunity.
Despite some pages having negligible followings, the ads reached vast numbers of individuals through the platform’s ad system. The platforms targeted by scammers often asked people to deposit a fixed amount with promises of exorbitant returns.
Steps to Recognise and Avoid Scams Using Media Camouflage
Now that we’ve explored the deceptive tactics used by scammers, it’s important to know how to recognise and avoid falling victim to these schemes:
- Verify the Source: Always check the legitimacy of the media outlet. Look for official verification symbols or try to visit the main website to confirm the article’s authenticity. A small discrepancy in the URL or domain could be a sign of a fake website.
- Look for Red Flags: Be wary of articles that promise unrealistic returns on investment or that seem to encourage immediate action. Scammers often create urgency to rush users into making hasty decisions.
- Check for Official Statements: Before believing any celebrity endorsement, verify whether the celebrity has made an official statement. If they haven’t, it’s likely a scam.
- Investigate the Platform: Always research platforms before making any financial commitment. Look for reviews from verified sources, not just glowing testimonials that could be fabricated.
- Be Cautious with Links: Never click on suspicious links, especially those that are included in emails or fake news articles. These links could lead to phishing sites or fraudulent platforms designed to steal your personal information.
