₹2 Crore Online Scam: ‘Trump Hotel Rental’ App Cheats 200+ People
Massive Online Fraud: Fake ‘Trump Hotel Rental’ App Scams Over 200 People Across Karnataka
In a startling case of cyber fraud, approximately 200 individuals across Karnataka have fallen prey to an investment scam linked to a fraudulent app named ‘Trump Hotel Rental’. Collectively, the victims have suffered losses exceeding Rs 2 crore.
The scamsters used AI-generated images and videos featuring US President Donald Trump to deceive users, promoting the app as a remote job platform that offered lucrative returns on investments.
How the Trump Hotel Rental App Scam Unfolded
The fraudsters launched a professional-looking mobile application, misleadingly branded as the “Trump Hotel Rental” platform. Users were encouraged to invest money with the promise of daily returns by “renting out” virtual hotel rooms or properties.
The app operated for five to six months before the scam was uncovered. Initially, users could withdraw small sums, such as Rs 300, to gain their confidence.
As users began to invest larger amounts—some exceeding Rs 10 lakh—the application abruptly stopped functioning, and the operators vanished without a trace.
One Bengaluru-based lawyer reported a loss of Rs 6 lakh between January and April 2025, revealing that the fraudsters had demanded tax payments on supposed earnings before disappearing.
Many victims were also assigned fake remote work tasks, such as writing company descriptions, with their dashboards showing inflated earnings to motivate further investment.
“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,”
Police Action and Warnings
Police have registered around 15 FIRs in Haveri district alone, with additional cases reported in Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Shivamogga, Ballari, and Bidar. Cybercrime officials are actively investigating the digital trail left by the perpetrators and are urging more victims to come forward.
According to police reports, the scheme may have duped over 800 people, with some individuals investing more than Rs 10 lakh in hopes of quick financial gains.