A shocking case of cyber fraud has emerged from Karnataka, where over 200 people were reportedly duped of crores of rupees through an app falsely linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The app, named Trump Hotel Rental, used AI-generated images and videos of Trump to deceive users, promising high returns in a short period of time.
The now-defunct app allegedly lured victims by offering fake investment opportunities, with some users being promised returns of over 100 percent. Cybercrime police say more than 800 people may have fallen for the scam, with some investing upwards of ₹10 lakh.
The fraud spanned across several districts including Haveri, Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Shivamogga, Ballari, and Bidar.
According to the Cyber, Economic, and Narcotics (CEN) crime unit, the app displayed a dashboard showing fake earnings to encourage users to invest more money. However, in reality, no actual income was being generated or credited. The scam took place over several months, with the earliest known case dating back to January.
One lawyer from Haveri reportedly lost ₹6 lakh between January 25 and April 4. So far, 15 FIRs have been filed in Haveri alone, and many more victims are suspected to be silent.
Superintendent of Police Anshu Kumar confirmed that multiple complaints had been received regarding the fraudulent app. He warned the public against falling for such money-doubling schemes and urged people to stay cautious of apps offering unrealistically high returns.
Authorities have launched a full investigation and are appealing for more victims to come forward.
Trump Hotel Rental Scam: 800 भारतीयों से करोड़ों की ठगी#DonaldTrump #ATDigital pic.twitter.com/uo4fvDyEad
— AajTak (@aajtak) May 28, 2025
