Over the past few days, social media platforms have been flooded with posts claiming a “12 minutes 46 seconds” private video has been leaked online. Short clips, blurred screenshots and provocative captions
of the video are being circulated rapidly, especially on Instagram, Telegram and X (formerly Twitter).
Users are being told that the video shows a woman in a compromising situation and are asked to comment, follow certain pages or send direct messages to get the “full clip.” Soon after, another version labelled “9 minutes 44 seconds” also began doing the rounds online.
What Are These Viral Clips Actually Claiming?
Most of the posts promoting the alleged leak show a brief frame where a woman appears with her mouth covered, often accompanied by text teasing the full-length video. In many cases, Instagram users have been sharing screenshots on their stories and asking viewers to reply with a specific word to receive a download link.
The timestamps like 12:46 minutes and 9:44 minutes are repeatedly highlighted to make the content appear authentic.
Fact Check: No Original Private Video Exists
A closer investigation into these claims tells a very different story. A fact-check conducted by OneIndia found that no original private or leaked video exists under these time stamps. The content being circulated is either old travel vlogs, unrelated footage or heavily edited clips taken out of context.
In several instances, the visuals appear to be digitally manipulated or AI-generated, which means that the woman being discussed may not even be a real person.
A Cyber Scam In Disguise
Beyond misinformation, the investigation uncovered a more serious concern: this viral “leak” is part of a cyber scam. Users who engage with these posts by commenting or sending messages are often redirected to suspicious websites with domains like .xyz, .top or .click.
Once there, they may be prompted to enter login details, download a fake media player or install an app. Many users later reported malware infections and data theft after trying to access the so-called leaked video.
Cyber experts strongly advise users to avoid clicking on unknown links, especially those promoted using sensational or explicit claims. Any request to download an app, update or player should be treated as a red flag.
Why Such Fake ‘MMS Leaks’ Keep Returning?
This is not the first time such a trend has surfaced online. In recent months, similar fake leaks were promoted using titles like “19 minutes 34 seconds,” “7 minutes 11 seconds” and “40 minutes video.” These precise timestamps are deliberately chosen to make the claims seem believable.
In several cases, these fake trends were also used to target and defame public figures, YouTubers and social media influencers.
When Fake Videos Target Real People: The Payal Gaming Case
YouTuber Payal Dhare, popularly known as Payal Gaming, was among those caught in a similar controversy. An alleged intimate video began circulating online with several users falsely claiming that the woman in the clip was Payal. The unverified claims led to widespread speculation across platforms.
But many of her followers pointed out inconsistencies in the footage and suggested it appeared morphed or AI-generated. Despite repeated appeals to stop sharing the clip, it continued to circulate.
The matter was later examined by the Maharashtra State Cyber Department, which confirmed through forensic and technological analysis that the video had been digitally altered and tampered with.
