‘Trump Hotel Rental’ app rip-off defined: Karnataka residents lose crores in AI-backed fraud | Mint-OxBig News Network

In a complicated digital rip-off spanning a number of districts of Karnataka, over 800 people have allegedly been defrauded of practically ₹2 crore by means of a bogus cellular software namedTrump Hotel Rental. The app, which falsely used AI-generated pictures of former US President Donald Trump to look credible, promised exorbitant short-term returns beneath the guise of a luxurious lodge funding platform.

According to aOXBIG NEWS NETWORK report and corroborated by a number of police complaints, the now-defunct app lured customers by projecting itself as a high-profile lodge rental enterprise, exploiting Trump’s likeness to achieve trust and legitimacy. The platform gained momentum by way of focused social media commercials, notably throughout areas corresponding to Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mangaluru, Haveri, Hubballi, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Shivamogga, Ballari, and Bidar.

Speaking toIndia Today, Haveri Superintendent of Police Anshukumar revealed that the scam adopted a pyramid-style scheme. “By initially offering modest returns, they won over users’ confidence, then promised inflated returns at higher investment levels, before vanishing without a trace,” he mentioned.

The app required customers to pay a nominal registration price, sometimes round ₹1,500. In return, some had been paid preliminary quantities— ₹500 or small day by day sums like ₹30—to encourage additional funding. Once customers’ dashboards mirrored a steadiness of ₹300, withdrawals had been permitted, additional convincing victims of the scheme’s legitimacy. However, as customers invested bigger sums, usually reaching into lakhs, the app stopped functioning and the promoters disappeared.

One Bengaluru-based lawyer, in his grievance, said he had invested ₹6 lakh over a four-month interval. “They even demanded taxes on the so-called earnings before going silent,” he added.

According to the TOI report, the fraudulent operation was not restricted to pretend investments. Several customers had been assigned bogus ‘work-from-home’ jobs corresponding to drafting firm profiles, with inflated earnings mirrored on their dashboards—one other ploy to entice deeper engagement and monetary enter.

As of now, over 15 formal complaints have been registered in Haveri district alone. However, police imagine the precise variety of victims could possibly be considerably greater. SR Ganachari, Inspector on the Cybercrime, Economic Offences and Narcotics (CEN) unit, confirmed that investigations are underway, with officers analysing digital proof to trace the perpetrators. The app and its associated on-line infrastructure have since been dismantled.

Authorities have cautioned the general public to remain vigilant, warning that comparable scams might re-emerge beneath totally different branding.