'Trump Hotel Rental' app: How 200 people lost over Rs 2 crore in this online investment scam
In a shocking online fraud, around 200 people across Karnataka have fallen victim to an investment scheme involving a fake 'Trump Hotel Rental' app. The victims lost more than Rs 2 crore collectivity. The investment scam lured the victims by using AI-generated images and videos of US President Donald Trump and promising high returns with remote job opportunities.
How the Trump Hotel Rental app scam worked
The fraudulent operation leveraged a seemingly legitimate-looking mobile application, falsely branded as a "Trump Hotel Rental" platform. Victims were enticed to invest money with the assurance of earning daily returns by "renting out" virtual hotel rooms or properties.
The app operated for 5–6 months before being exposed. It initially allowed users to withdraw small amounts, such as Rs 300, to build trust. However, as victims invested larger sums—sometimes exceeding Rs 10 lakh—the app stopped functioning, and the scammers disappeared.
A Bengaluru-based lawyer reported losing Rs 6 lakh between January and April 2025, stating that the fraudsters demanded tax payments on earnings before vanishing. Many victims were also assigned fake work-from-home tasks, such as writing company profiles, with inflated earnings displayed on their dashboards to encourage deeper investment.
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'I was paid Rs 30 every day, and I was allowed to withdraw it after the total earnings crossed Rs 300. As the money was being paid on time and I could withdraw it, they started asking me to invest more. It started with Rs 5,000 and ended at Rs 1,00,000. Finally, they asked me to pay taxes to withdraw the money. But, they did not return it,' states a victim's complaint seen by TOI.
Police investigation and warnings
The police has resisted around 15 FIRs in Haveri district alone, with cases also surfacing in Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Shivamogga, Ballari, and Bidar. Cybercrime officials are now tracking the digital footprint of the scam's organisers and urging more victims to come forward.
Police claimed the scam took more than 800 investors for a ride, adding some had invested upwards of Rs 10 lakh hoping quick returns.
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