Social media users might be led to believe that Anant Ambani is embroiled in a mix-up, but it is nothing more than fake news circulated by financial scammers.
These articles fabricate an entire interview featuring a conversation between Network18 anchor Anand Narasimhan and Ambani.
Multiple unverified platforms are spreading links with clickbait headlines designed to make readers think Ambani is involved in a controversy surrounding a Vantara interview.
Headlines like “CNBC-TV18 management refuses to comment on the scandal surrounding its interview with Vantara (Star of the Forest)” and “He didn’t realize the microphone was on” are being circulated to lead users to a full-fledged article impersonating leading media organization banners.
The article makes up the entire interview in text with controversial statements from Ambani and hyperlinks a URL to the words ‘link’ every few sentences that opens up an obscure crypto currency website.
Similar scams
Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani, launched a PR blitz for his pre-wedding celebrations with Radhika Merchant, attended by several prominent celebrities. The Ambani scion has also launched Vantara, an ambitious wildlife conservation project in Jamnagar, Gujarat, aiming to rescue and rehabilitate animals, with a special focus on elephants.
The non-stop coverage of the Ambani festivities by news channels has led to several scammers jumping on the bandwagon. A dubious link is being shared on Facebook with the caption, “CNBC-TV18 management refuses to comment on the scandal surrounding its interview ‘Vantara (Star of the Forest)’”
Clicking on the link in the viral post takes users to a fake webpage impersonating a BBC news story with the headline, “Bank of India sues Anant Ambani for his remarks on live television shows”.
