Viral AI-Generated Video Falsely Claims President Anura Endorsed Investment Plan

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Social media users are frequently exposed to posts promoting investment schemes that promise extraordinary returns—often featuring well-known public figures. But do these schemes actually deliver what they claim? Factcrescendo investigated the truth behind these viral posts.

Social Media Posts :

A video currently circulating on social media shows President Anura Kumara Dissanayake allegedly making an announcement during a television program, claiming that this is a government-backed initiative. According to the video, Sri Lankan citizens can invest Rs. 75,000 and receive returns of up to Rs. 750,000 per month. The post also includes a Sign up link, urging users to join the scheme.

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We took steps to verify whether President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had actually made such a statement about an investment opportunity, and whether any official scheme offering these kinds of high monthly returns through monetary investments was being launched.

Fact- Check: 

No Mainstream Media Coverage of the Alleged Government Investment Scheme

There are no mainstream media reports supporting the existence of a government-backed investment scheme offering such unbelievable returns. If the President had genuinely made a statement about such a program, it would have been widely covered by credible media organization. However, we found no reports from any mainstream media sources confirming the launch of such an investment initiative.

No Official Confirmation from Government Authorities

Neither the Ministry of Finance nor the Presidential Media Division has issued any announcement about such a government investment program being launched. 

Dubbed or AI-Generated Voice Raises Red Flags

Furthermore, upon closer examination of the circulating video, the voice heard does not match the President’s actual voice. The pronunciation and tone also appear unnatural, indicating signs of manipulation or AI generation.

No Investment Claims in May 3rd ‘Satana’ Broadcast

Further investigation revealed that the video in question is purportedly from the ‘Satana’ program aired on Sirasa TV, in which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake participated on May 3rd. However, upon reviewing the program, we confirmed that the President did not make any statement related to the alleged investment scheme. Additionally, the program was conducted in Sinhala, not English, as suggested by the video. To verify this, we contacted Gayan Sampath, one of the journalists who hosted the program that day, and he confirmed that no such statement about the investment opportunity was made by the President.

Scam Uses Fake Interview as a Cover

The registration link provided in the post directs users to an article published in the Daily Mirror. It features a conversation between Derana Channel journalist Kalindu Karunaratne and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the Derana 360 program, where the journalist asks about the alleged investment scheme. Archived Link

However, it was discovered that the web URL used in the post does not belong to the official Daily Mirror website.

Fake Daily Mirror Website

Real Daily Mirror Website

When we reviewed the actual program aired on May 3rd, hosted by journalist Kalindu Karunaratne with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, we confirmed that the President did not make any statements regarding the alleged investment scheme.

We also reached out to journalist Kalindu Karunaratne for further confirmation. He confirmed that the President did not make any statements about the alleged investment scheme and stated that the article circulating in this context is fake.

Presidential Media Division Denies Investment Claims

We also contacted the Presidential Media Division regarding this matter. They confirmed that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake did not make any statements about the investment opportunity circulating on social media. They further stated that the video was created using artificial intelligence and emphasized that the government has no plans to launch such an investment program.

This video has been created using artificial intelligence by manipulating real footage. Our Factcrescendo Sri Lanka team has previously alerted the public about similar fake posts generated with AI, which falsely claim that famous figures and prominent businessmen are promoting investment platforms promising unbelievable returns.

Fact-Check: Yohani’s Alleged Millions & Danu’s Interview – The Truth Behind the Viral Claim!

AI-Generated Deepfake Video of Billionaire Dhammika Perera Goes Viral on Facebook!

Expert Analysis 

Sri Lanka CERT (Computer Emergency Readiness Team) has also confirmed that this is a scam, warning the public to be cautious of such fraudulent online schemes.

Cybersecurity expert Mr Asela Widyanakara has analyzed the fraudulent nature of such viral posts and issued a warning:

“Clicking on these misleading links can redirect users to external applications designed to compromise personal details, including Facebook credentials. Such posts are crafted to appear credible but ultimately aim to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information or investing in non-existent schemes.”

This type of fraud is commonly linked to Immediate Flex scams, which use fake celebrity endorsements to gain trust and attract victims. These scams often promise easy, high investment returns but result in financial loss for unsuspecting users.

Warning Signs of Such Scams:

Too Good to Be True Promises: The claim of effortlessly making LKR 75,000 to 750,000 per month is unrealistic.

Fake News Articles: Scammers often create doctored newspaper clippings to make their claims seem legitimate.

External Links: Clicking on suspicious links may lead to phishing websites that steal login credentials or personal information.

Urgency and Pressure: Fraudsters often use time-sensitive language like “Limited Offer” or “Act Fast” to push people into acting without verification.

Recommendations for the Public

Do not trust sensationalized financial claims tied to celebrities without verification from reliable sources.

Avoid clicking on suspicious links or entering personal information on unverified platforms.

Report misleading or fraudulent social media posts to relevant authorities.

Always verify news articles by visiting the official websites of reputed media outlets.

Join us to learn about our investigative reporting.

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