Home / Crime and Justice / Engineer Fakes Kidnapping With AI for Family Cash
Engineer Fakes Kidnapping With AI for Family Cash
31 Oct
Summary
- An engineer used AI to create fake abduction images and videos.
- The man faked his kidnapping to extort money from his family.
- Police tracked him across multiple cities to Rishikesh.
A city-based engineer, aged 22, allegedly staged his own kidnapping to extort money from his family. He employed Artificial Intelligence to generate convincing photographs and videos of himself allegedly being held captive and receiving medical treatment. These fabricated visuals were sent to his relatives via mobile phone, claiming a ransom was necessary for his release.
Following a complaint from his brother-in-law, police launched an investigation. The engineer, identified as Deepak Kumar Mali, was traced through a multi-city search utilizing footage from approximately 200 CCTV cameras. His movements were tracked across Jaipur, Mathura, Ujjain, Delhi, Haldwani, Nainital, Haridwar, and finally Rishikesh, where he was located.
Investigators examining his mobile phone and messages confirmed the kidnapping was fabricated. Mali, who works in the IT software sector, had reportedly borrowed money from friends to fund personal indulgences and was unable to repay his debts. The elaborate AI-driven hoax was devised as a means to secure funds from his family.
