A deceptive app called Trump Hotel Rental has reportedly scammed more than 800 individuals across Karnataka, promising exaggerated returns via a pyramid scheme. With losses nearing Rs 2 crore, authorities have launched an investigation and cautioned that similar frauds may resurface.
The app posed as a hotel rental and investment platform, offering unusually high and quick returns, sometimes over 100%. It targeted users across several districts, including Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mangaluru, Haveri, Hubballi, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Shivamogga, Ballari, and Bidar.
Over 200 victims have come forward, claiming they lost close to Rs 2 crore through the bogus app, which misused images of former US President Donald Trump to gain credibility, as per reports.
According to Haveri police officer Anshukumar, the app gained traction through social media advertisements that lured users with the promise of easy money. It functioned like a pyramid scheme, requiring a Rs 1,500 registration fee. Initially, it paid small sums, like Rs 500, to win trust, then urged users to invest larger amounts before vanishing.
Several victims, including a Bengaluru-based lawyer who invested Rs 6 lakh between January and April 2025, reported being asked to pay “taxes” on fake earnings before the scammers disappeared. The app also featured bogus work-from-home tasks, like writing company profiles, and displayed fake earnings to encourage further investment.
Despite more than 15 complaints filed in Haveri, police believe many victims are yet to come forward. Inspector SR Ganachari of the Cybercrime Unit confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
While the app and its linked accounts have been taken down, authorities warn that similar scams could emerge under different names. No arrests have been made so far, and the probe continues across multiple districts.