Karnataka investors lose ₹2 crore to "Trump Hotel Rental" investment app fraud featuring AI-generated Donald Trump content

Summary

Over 200 investors in Karnataka fell victim to a fraudulent investment app named "Trump Hotel Rental," losing a total of nearly Rs 2 crore over the past 5-6 months. The app, which featured AI-generated videos and photos of Donald Trump, promised high returns, including over 100% profits in some cases. Investors were lured with fake earnings displayed on a dashboard and asked to complete tasks, which were used to entice further investments. The scam affected victims across multiple districts, including Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mangaluru, and Haveri, with cases filed at local police stations. Some victims lost over Rs 1 lakh, and one lawyer reported a loss of nearly Rs 6 lakh between January and April. Police registered 15 cases in Haveri alone, though many victims have not come forward to file complaints.