Several videos are circulating on social media claiming that the Indian government is offering ₹10,000 to all bank account holders as a Diwali gift. The clips feature an anchor announcing the so-called scheme and urging viewers to fill out a form on a website to claim the money.
The anchor further directs viewers to “search the website on Google, click the link, and apply” to receive the money.
The anchor says: “दिवाली से पहले सरकार ने दिवाली जैसा मौका दे दिया है और सब कुछ सस्ता कर दिया है। अब ये जो पैसा दिया जा रहा है ये आपके हक़ का है। कोई इसको वापिस नहीं ले सकता है। दोस्तों आपका इसमें से किसी भी बैंक में खाता है और आप इस रील को पंद्रह अक्टूबर से पहले देख रहे हैं। तो आप लकी है क्योंकि आपको मिल रहे हैं दस हजार रूपए बिल्कुल फ्री सीधे बैंक खाते में और ये पैसे आपको रिटर्न भी नहीं करना होगा। अभी तक आपने नहीं लिया है खाते में। तो कैसे लेना है मैं बताता हूँ लेकिन पहले फॉलो करके कमेंट में ओके लिखिए। फॉर्म भरने के लिए गूगल पर सर्च करें। पहले website पर click करके आवेदन करें”
(English translation: (“Before Diwali, the government has given a Diwali-like opportunity and made everything cheaper. Now, the money that is being given is your right. No one can take it back. Friends, if you have an account in any of these banks and you are watching this reel before 15th October, then you are lucky because you are getting ten thousand rupees absolutely free directly in your bank account and you will not have to return this money. You have not yet taken it in your account. So, I will tell you how to take it, but first follow and write OK in the comment. To fill the form, search on Google. First, click on the website and apply.”)
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FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the viral claim and found it to be false and part of a scam.
A keyword search revealed no official announcement or credible media report of any such government scheme. Neither the Finance Ministry nor the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has issued any statement about a Diwali cash transfer program.
The link mentioned in the video — https://smtai.net/ — redirects users to a suspicious website that asks for personal and banking information, a major red flag indicating a phishing attempt.
Further analysis of the viral video showed clear signs of AI-generated manipulation, including lip-sync mismatches, synthetic audio, and overly smooth visuals.
Verification using Hive Moderation’s AI detection tool confirmed that the footage was AI-manipulated.
The claim that the government is giving ₹10,000 to all bank account holders as a Diwali gift is fake. The circulating video is AI-generated and part of a phishing scam aimed at stealing personal and financial data.
Citizens are advised to avoid clicking on suspicious links and verify any government-related announcements through official channels.
