Fake ‘Isha Ambani’ account exposed: Online scammers target public with phony investment pitch
By Tajul Islam
A criminal network impersonating Isha Ambani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has been caught attempting to lure unsuspecting individuals into a fraudulent investment scheme. The scam involves a fake account on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), exploiting Ms. Ambani’s name and reputation to gain credibility and mislead potential victims.
The incident came to light when a suspicious account – created in June 2024 – began following Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, Editor of Blitz. The account bore an official-looking profile image of Ms. Ambani and mimicked stylistic elements of her authentic online identity, creating an illusion of legitimacy.
An unusual encounter
Soon after following Mr. Choudhury, the fake account sent him a direct message that read:
“Hello sir, how are you doing today? Namaste great citizen of India. It’s a thing of joy having the best fans in the world. Do you know anything about me or my company Reliance Industries around India?”
The awkward language and tone were immediately suspicious. “The phrasing was uncharacteristic of a corporate executive”, said Mr. Choudhury. “It lacked professionalism and read like something produced by automated scripts or individuals with limited command of English”.
When the editor questioned the sender’s authenticity, the imposter replied:
“Yes brother, it’s really me, Isha Ambani, the daughter of Shri Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani, the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries. As you know, I am a very big and busy person, but I came here to share brief information about my company with you”.
The message then shifted toward an “investment opportunity” purportedly connected to a renewable energy project in Andhra Pradesh, with promises of unusually high profits – a classic hallmark of financial scams.
The scam deepens
The imposter then wrote:
“I actually came to share brief information about the Andhra Pradesh renewable solar energy investment project with you that will make you earn good profit from Reliance Industries”.
When asked to communicate further, the fake account directed the Blitz editor to Telegram, providing the username @Isha_Ambani_001, and added:
“Or you can contact my manager on WhatsApp if interested in participating on this project. No. +1 (619) 602-8005. Mr. Arghya Harder is the Reliance finance and investment manager”.
When pressed for an in-person meeting, the imposter replied evasively:
“Sorry, I don’t think he will be vacant for any meet up now, everyone currently concentrating on the ongoing project”.
The scammer then sent a document outlining a supposed investment plan offering extravagant returns – a pattern typical of organized cyber-fraud groups that prey on individuals unaware of such online deception tactics.
Clues point to an international scam network
The imposter’s poor command of English, grammatical inconsistencies, and use of generic language patterns strongly suggest the involvement of cybercrime groups based in Nigeria, Ghana, Nepal or Pakistan, which are known hubs for online financial fraud.
These transnational scam syndicates often impersonate high-profile individuals, including corporate leaders, diplomats, and philanthropists, to build credibility and manipulate victims into parting with their money. Communication through encrypted apps such as Telegram and WhatsApp helps them evade detection.
According to cybersecurity experts, scammers rely on a combination of psychological manipulation, social engineering, and identity theft to carry out these schemes. They prey on curiosity, greed, and misplaced trust – often presenting “exclusive investment opportunities” or “charitable causes” under the guise of famous personalities.
Investment and profit scheme shared by scammer
A wider trend of digital deception
India, with one of the world’s largest social media user bases, has become a prime target for digital fraud. Fake profiles impersonating public figures – from business magnates and celebrities to government officials – are increasingly being used to trick people into making payments or sharing personal information.
Despite repeated warnings, social media platforms have been slow to act against impersonation accounts. Many lack robust identity verification systems, allowing imposters to exploit the names and likenesses of renowned individuals without consequence.
Experts argue that tech companies must be held legally accountable for negligence in monitoring impersonation accounts and facilitating fraud through their platforms.
Commenting on the scam attempt, Blitz editor Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury said:
The digital age, while transformative, has also become a breeding ground for deception and manipulation. What we have uncovered through this investigation is not a trivial act of online mischief – it is a deliberate, organized attempt to weaponize identity, reputation, and public trust for criminal profit.
Cyber fraud and impersonation pose profound risks not only to individuals but also to the credibility of global institutions and markets. When criminals misuse the names of respected figures like Ms. Isha Ambani, they are not merely deceiving individuals – they are eroding the foundations of public trust that underpin both commerce and communication in the modern world.
This alarming incident underscores the urgent need for legislative intervention, international cooperation, and technological safeguards. Social media companies must adopt stricter identity verification protocols and respond more swiftly to reports of impersonation. Law enforcement agencies should strengthen cross-border information-sharing frameworks to trace and prosecute cybercriminals operating under the veil of anonymity.
At Blitz, we remain committed to exposing such digital crimes and advocating for greater cybersecurity awareness. I call upon policymakers, regulators, and digital platforms to treat impersonation not as a minor nuisance, but as a serious cyber threat capable of destabilizing public confidence in digital communication.
Call for investigation
The Blitz newsroom has preserved full documentation of the communication between the imposter and the editor. The evidence points to an organized, possibly transnational cybercrime operation.
India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Cyber Crime Division should investigate the case urgently and coordinate with Interpol and relevant foreign agencies to trace and dismantle this network.
Stronger regulations governing digital identity verification, cross-border data cooperation, and platform accountability are urgently needed to prevent the misuse of names and reputations of prominent individuals.
Let this case be a reminder: in an era where truth and deception coexist within the same digital space, vigilance is not optional – it is essential.
The fraudulent use of Isha Ambani’s name exemplifies a broader and dangerous trend in global cybercrime. Scammers are no longer content with targeting the naïve – they are now systematically exploiting public trust in established figures to execute financial frauds. This incident should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers, regulators, and technology companies to take coordinated, immediate, and decisive action against digital impersonation.
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