An AI-generated video of Donald Trump was used in a major investment scam across Karnataka, tricking over 200 people into losing ₹2 crore in bogus Trump Hotel rental schemes. Police have launched a cybercrime probe.
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AI Deepfake of Donald Trump Used in ₹2 Crore Scam Across Karnataka; 200 Victims Defrauded
Bengaluru | June 1, 2025 — In a shocking case of high-tech deception, cybercriminals have used an AI-generated deepfake video of former U.S. President Donald Trump to lure unsuspecting investors in Karnataka into a bogus hotel investment scheme, causing financial losses amounting to over ₹2 crore across the state.
The scam, which operated through social media platforms and messaging apps, reportedly targeted individuals in Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mangaluru, and Haveri, with more than 200 people falling victim over the past three months.
AI Deepfake of Donald Trump Used in ₹2 Crore Karnataka Scam, Over 200 Duped
The Bait: “Trump Hotel Rentals with High Returns”
According to cybercrime officials, the victims were shown a high-quality AI-generated video featuring what appeared to be Donald Trump endorsing a global Trump Hotel investment plan tailored for Indian citizens.
The video, complete with Trump's voice and mannerisms, claimed that participants could earn monthly rental income and exclusive returns by “owning” shares in Trump-branded hotel properties.
“The video looked extremely authentic. It had Donald Trump explaining the model in English, subtitled in Kannada and Hindi, with background visuals of luxury resorts and New York City skylines,” said M. Ramesh, a 38-year-old businessman from Tumakuru who lost ₹3.2 lakh.
Modus Operandi: Grooming via WhatsApp and Fake Portals
Once intrigued by the video, victims were redirected to a slick-looking website titled “Trump Global Rental Network,” where they were encouraged to register with their Aadhaar and PAN card details. After “onboarding,” they were added to WhatsApp and Telegram groups, where self-proclaimed financial advisors pitched the scheme in local languages.
They were then asked to transfer money in multiple tranches to digital wallets and UPI IDs under the guise of “booking fees,” “membership costs,” and “rental initiation deposits.”
Investigations revealed that the funds were routed through multiple mule accounts, often using proxy IDs, making the trail hard to trace.
The Fallout: Victims Left Stunned
For many victims, the realization came only after their returns never materialized and the platform became inaccessible in late May.
“I even received a digital certificate with Trump’s signature and a QR code. I thought it was legitimate,” said Savita Hegde, a retired school teacher from Haveri who invested ₹1.8 lakh from her retirement corpus.
Authorities estimate that the smallest losses were around ₹10,000, while larger individual losses exceeded ₹6 lakh.
Police Action: FIR Registered, AI Experts Called In
The Bengaluru Cyber Crime Division has registered an FIR under:
IT Act Sections 66D (cheating by impersonation using computer resources)
“We are collaborating with cybersecurity specialists to analyze the AI-generated video and trace the backend infrastructure of the fraudulent platform,” said DCP (Cybercrime) B.S. Lokesh Kumar.
Officials suspect that the scammers used commercial AI video synthesis tools accessible on the dark web or through overseas services to generate the deepfake of Trump. The source video is believed to be a 2020 campaign clip, altered using lip-sync AI and voice cloning.
Expert Speak: A New Era of Cybercrime
Cybersecurity experts have warned that this case marks a worrying trend of deepfake-driven financial fraud in India, combining AI tools with traditional phishing tactics.
“This is India's first publicly confirmed case of an AI deepfake being used at scale to defraud people financially,” noted Kiran Raj, Chief Analyst at Digital Risk Labs. “It shows how fast fake narratives can be built and scaled using AI.”
Precautionary Measures Advised
In response, the Karnataka Cyber Security Cell has issued the following guidelines:
Verify investment opportunities via official channels
Avoid sending money to unknown UPI IDs or wallets
Be skeptical of celebrity endorsements in private groups
Report any suspicious links or videos to cybercrime.gov.in
Meanwhile, social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube are being urged to strengthen content moderation, especially involving synthetic media featuring political figures.
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for the Digital Age
This AI-driven scam has left Karnataka reeling, not just for its financial toll but for the psychological impact of seeing trusted global figures misused to manipulate public trust. As deepfake technology becomes more accessible, India’s digital citizens must remain alert, informed, and skeptical—even when the source looks presidential.
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