Actor Aju Varghese flags fake loan scheme using his image circulated on social media

Actor Aju Varghese on Monday flagged a fake loan scheme that used his image and was circulated on social media platforms. Varghese shared the poster on his official social media accounts and disassociated himself from the entity behind it. ''It has come to my notice that an unauthorised banking entity is using my name and image for their promotions without my consent. I have no association with this scheme; please do not fall for these fake promises and risk your hard-earned money,'' he said. The poster, shared by Varghese, carried his image and was put out in the name of AM Trust Loan Service. It claimed to offer personal loans ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The advertisement did not carry any phone number, website or office address. Instead, it asked interested persons to send personal messages through social media accounts to avail the loan. Though Varghese has not lodged a complaint, officials at Kerala Police's Cyberdome said they would conduct a preliminary probe into the entity that circulated the poster and check whether it was involved in unauthorised financial activities. Police will also contact Varghese to advise him to lodge a complaint so that a case can be registered and a detailed probe initiated, officials said.