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AI-Driven ‘Trump Hotel Rental’ Scam in Karnataka Defrauds 200+ Investors of Nearly ₹2 Crore

The app has been removed; authorities have frozen ₹1.5 lakh in linked accounts, tracing the fraudsters’ digital footprint to prevent further losses.

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The fraud has been reported across cities including Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mangaluru and Haveri.
38-year-old Karnataka lawyer duped by AI-made fake Trump video scam.

Overview

  • Cybercriminals used an AI-generated video of Donald Trump embedded in social media ads to lure victims into downloading the fraudulent ‘Trump Hotel Rental’ app
  • Over 200 investors across Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mangaluru and Haveri reported collective losses of nearly ₹2 crore between January and May
  • Users paid a ₹1,500 registration fee and received small, fabricated daily returns before being coaxed into larger deposits of up to ₹1 lakh
  • Fifteen FIRs have been filed in Haveri under the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with additional cases registered in multiple districts
  • The Cybercrime, Economics and Narcotics unit has frozen ₹1.5 lakh in a suspect bank account; officials urge the public to avoid clicking on suspicious investment links