The Trump App Scam: How Over 200 Investors in Karnataka Lost Rs 2 Crore

In a case of cyber deceit, more than 200 investors from Karnataka have been duped in an online fraud investment racket conducted through a spurious mobile app titled Trump Hotel Rental. The racket, which ran for almost six months, has caused total losses of Rs 2 crore.

The Duplicitous Scheme

The scam app mimicked videos and images of ex-US President Donald Trump generated through AI to make it seem real, tricking innocent investors with assurances of astronomical returns and working from anywhere. The app showed a dashboard with what appeared to be increasing earnings from every task done, including ad clicking and providing personal information. These profits shown on the dashboard were all fictional.

The victims were initially permitted to withdraw small amounts, i.e., Rs 300, to gain the confidence of investors. Pleased with such initial payouts, several investors went on to deposit larger sums, thinking they were making a lucrative investment. A few even invested more than Rs 10 lakh with the expectation of speedy returns.

The Victims and Their Losses

One of the victims was a Karnataka lawyer who lost Rs 6 lakh between April and January 2025. He was initially remitted Rs 30 per day, which he could withdraw once his cumulative earnings exceeded Rs 300. But when he kept investing, the fraudsters asked him for more payments in terms of taxes to release his returns, which never happened.

The scam affected investors across multiple districts, including Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi, Dharwad, Kalaburgi, Shivamogga, Ballari, Bidar, and Haveri. Authorities have registered 15 FIRs in Haveri district alone, and police investigations are underway across Karnataka.

The Investigation and Warnings

Cybercrime authorities are now following the online trail of the scammers and working with experts to track the movement of funds. The Trump Hotel Rental app has been subsequently removed, but the authorities caution that such scams may return in different guise.

Police have also called on victims to report, as many have been said to remain quiet for fear of embarrassment. Authorities note that they should thoroughly check investment opportunities prior to investing and also warn against apps with fake promised returns.

Lessons Learned

This scam is a grim reminder of the risks of online investment fraud. Scammers are already making use of AI-created content to craft believable scams, so it is imperative that investors take due care prior to making financial deals.

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