#FactCheck -Misleading Social Media Claim Targets University Over Viral Video
Executive Summary
A video circulating on social media shows a woman using abusive language in front of a camera. Users sharing the clip claim that the woman is a professor at Galgotias University and that the video exposes her alleged reality. However, an research by CyberPeace found the claim to be misleading. The probe revealed that the woman seen in the viral video has no connection with Galgotias University and is not a professor there.Fact-checking further showed that the video is not recent but around seven years old. The woman featured in the clip was identified as Shubhrastha, who is a political strategist by profession.
Claim:
A user on X (formerly Twitter) shared the viral video on February 18, 2026, claiming: “A ‘class in abuse studies’ at Galgotias University? An obscene video of a professor teaching ethics has gone viral. Another shameful chapter has been added to the list of controversies surrounding Galgotias University.” The post further alleged that after falsely claiming a Chinese robot as its own, the university’s “Culture and Ethics” faculty member was seen publicly using abusive language in the viral clip. The post link and its archived version are provided below:
Fact Check:
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim, we extracted key frames from the video and conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens. During the research , we found the same video uploaded on the Indian Spectator’s YouTube channel on June 9, 2018
The video was also found on another YouTube channel, where it had been uploaded on June 12, 2018.
Conclusion
The research clearly establishes that the woman seen in the viral video has no association with Galgotias University and is not a professor there. The clip is also not recent but approximately seven years old. The woman in the video was identified as Shubhrastha, a political strategist.
Related Blogs
A video claiming to show a Hatha yogi performing extreme penance on a snow-covered mountain amid strong icy winds is going viral on social media. In the clip, the ascetic is seen balancing on one hand in a yoga posture, while users portray the visuals as a rare example of extraordinary spiritual endurance in harsh climatic conditions.
However, an investigation by the CyberPeace Foundation has found the claim to be false. Our analysis confirms that the viral video is AI-generated and does not depict a real person or an actual event.
Claim:
A Instagram user shared the video with the caption:
“Hatha yogi, what kind of soil are these people made of?” The post suggests that the visuals show a real yogi performing intense meditation on a frozen mountain.
- https://www.instagram.com/reels/DTK32TvDGIJ/
- (Archive link as provided) https://perma.cc/H84M-MGXZ
Fact Check:
To verify the claim, the CyberPeace Foundation conducted a detailed examination of the viral video.No credible or verifiable news reports were found to support the claim that such an incident ever occurred.
The viral video was analysed using the AI detection tool Deepfake-O-Meter.Its AVSRDD (2025) module flagged the video as AI-generated, confirming that the visuals were digitally created and not recorded in real life.
Multiple indicators within the footage,such as unnatural body balance, environmental inconsistencies, and visual artifacts are consistent with AI-generated content.
Conclusion
The viral video purportedly showing a yogi meditating on a frozen mountain is not real. It has been created using artificial intelligence and is being circulated on social media with a misleading narrative. Users are advised to exercise caution and verify content before sharing such sensational claims.
A video clip of journalist Palki Sharma is being widely shared on social media. Along with the video, it is being claimed that during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent Middle East visit, she questioned Jordan’s diplomatic protocol.
In the viral clip, Palki Sharma is allegedly seen asking why Jordan’s King Abdullah II did not come to the airport to receive Prime Minister Modi, and whether this indicated a downgrade in the level of welcome.
However, an investigation by the Cyber Peace Foundation found this claim to be misleading. The probe revealed that while the visuals in the viral video are genuine, the audio has been altered using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
On the social media platform ‘X’, a user named “Ammar Solangi” shared this video on 18 December. The post claimed that the video was related to questions raised about Jordan’s diplomatic protocol during Prime Minister Modi’s visit. According to the post, Palki Sharma questioned why King Abdullah II did not receive Prime Minister Modi at the airport. The archive link of the viral post can be seen here: https://ghostarchive.org/archive/26aK0
Verification
During the investigation, the fact-check desk noticed the ‘Firstpost’ logo in the top-left corner of the viral video. Based on this clue, a customized Google search was conducted, which led to the original news report.
The investigation revealed that the viral video was taken from an episode of journalist Palki Sharma’s show “Vantage with Palki Sharma”, which aired on 17 December.
Analysis of the video showed that the visuals appearing at the 33 minutes 30 seconds timestamp in the original report exactly match those used in the viral clip. However, in the original broadcast, Palki Sharma neither questioned Jordan’s protocol nor made any comment about King Abdullah II not being present at the airport.
In the original video, Palki Sharma says:
“Prime Minister Modi was on a diplomatic tour of Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman, and in Jordan he was received at the airport by the country’s Prime Minister…” The link to the original report can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VYZYe9l6Bs
AI Audio Examination
Further investigation involved separating the audio from the viral video and analyzing it using the AI voice detection tool ‘Resemble AI’. The tool’s results confirmed that fake, AI-generated audio had been added over the real footage in the viral clip to spread a misleading claim. A screenshot of the results from this examination can be seen below.
Conclusion
The video being circulated in the name of journalist Palki Sharma has been tampered with. Her voice has been altered using AI technology, and the claim made regarding the Jordan visit is completely misleading.
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Executive Summary:
Cyber incidents are evolving along with time, they are designed to attract and lure people through social networking sites and/or messaging services. In the recent past a spate of messages alleging that TRAI is offering ‘3 months free recharge with free voice calls and internet for 4g/5g with 200 GB free data’. These messages display the TRAI logo with attractive offers to trick the users into revealing their personal details. This blog discusses the functioning of this free mobile recharge scheme, its methods and guidelines on how to avoid such fake schemes. This blog explains the importance of vigilance and verification when receiving any links, emphasizing the need to report suspicious activities and educate others to prevent identity theft and protect personal information.
Claim:
The message circulated an enticing offer: free mobile recharge for 3 months which provides unlimited free voice calls with 200GB 4G/5G data with TRAI logo. The key characteristics of the false claims are
- Official Branding: The logo of TRAI has been viewed as a deceptive facade of credibility.
- Unrealistic Offers: It is accompanied by a free recharge , which is intended for an extended period indefinite period, like most fraudsters’ bait.
- Urgency and Exclusivity: The offer is for a limited time to make urgency forcing the receiver to take the offer without confirmation.
The Deceptive Scheme:
Organized systematically, the fraudulent campaign usually proceeds in several steps, all of which aim at extracting the victim’s personal data. Here’s a breakdown of the scheme:
1. Initial Contact: Such messages or calls reach the users’ inboxes or phone numbers through social media applications such as WhatsApp or through text messages. These messages further implies that the user was chosen for the special offer from TRAI, which elicits the interest of the user.
2. Information Request: To claim the purported offer, users are directed to a website or asked to reply with personal details, including:
- Phone number
- State of residence
- SIM provider details
This is useful for the scammers as they harvest information which can be used to conduct identity theft or sold to others on the shady part of the internet known as the ‘Dark Web’.
3. Fake Confirmation: After providing all the information, a congratulatory message appears on the screen showing that their phone number is eligible for the offer. The user is compelled to forward the message to many phone numbers through whatsapp to get the offer.
4. Pressure Tactics: The message often implies a sense of time constraint or fear which psychologically produces pressure to provide all the user information. For example, users are given messages such as that if they do not ‘act now’, they will lose their mobile service.
Analyzing the Fraudulent Campaign
The TRAI fraudulent recharge scheme case depicts that social engineering is used in cyber crimes. Here are some key aspects that characterize this campaign:
- Sophisticated Social Engineering
Scammers take advantage of the holders’ confidence in official bodies such as TRAI. By using official TRAI logos, official language they try to deceive even cautious people.
- Viral Spread
The user is compelled to share the given message to friends and groups; this is an excellent strategy to spread the scam. It not only spreads the fraudulent message but also tries to extract the details of other people.
- Technical Analysis
- Domain Name: SGOFF[.]CYOU
- Registry Domain ID: D472308342-CNIC
- Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.hkdns.hk
- Registrar URL: http://www.hkdns.hk
- Updated Date: 2024-07-24T18:50:48.0Z
- Creation Date: 2024-07-19T18:48:44.0Z
- Registry Expiry Date: 2025-07-19T23:59:59.0Z
- Registrar: West263 International Limited
- Registrar IANA ID: 1915
- Registrant State/Province: Anhui
- Registrant Country: CN
- Name Server: NORMAN.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
- Name Server: PAM.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
- DNSSEC: unsigned
Cloudflare Inc. is used to cover the scam. The real website always uses the older domain while this url has been registered recently which indicates that this link is a scam.
The graph indicates that some of the communicated files and websites are malicious.
CyberPeace Advisory and Best Practice:
In light of the growing threat posed by such scams, the Research Wing of CyberPeace recommend the following best practices to help users protect themselves:
1. Verify Communications: It is always advisable to visit the official site of the organization or call the official contact numbers of the company to speak to their customer care and clarify about the offers.
2. Do not share personal information: No genuine organization will call the people for personal information. Step carefully and do not provide personal information that will lead to identity theft when dealing with such offers.
3. Report Fraudulent Activity: If one receives any calls or messages that seem to be suspicious, then the user can report cyber crimes to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on www. cybercrime. gov. in or call on 1930. Such scams are reportable and assist the authorities in tracking and fighting the vice.
4. Educate Others : Always raise awareness among friends by sharing these kinds of scams. Educating people helps to avoid them falling prey to such fraudulent schemes.
5. Use Reliable Resources : Always refer to official sources or websites for any kind of offers or promotions.
Conclusion:
The free recharge scheme for 3 months with the logo of TRAI is a fraudulent scam. There is no official information from TRAI or in their official website about this free recharge scheme. Though the scheme looks attractive, it is deceptive. Through this, the scammers are trying to collect personal details of the individual. Before clicking any links, it is necessary to check the authenticity of the information, report these kinds of incidents to spread awareness among people. Always be safe and be vigilant.
