An investigation by NBC News has revealed a multi-faceted scam directed at diehard supporters of former President Donald Trump. According to their investigation, three companies based in Colorado have been scamming the reddest of the MAGA loyal by getting them to buy into a fake currency. There is no evidence that these companies are linked to Trump or his re-election.
Pro-Trump novelty items have been common since his election defeat in 2020. However, these items are more often than not clearly labeled as decorative or novelty items. Not Trump Bucks though. Pushed by three Colorado-based companies, Patriots Dynasty, Patriots Future, and USA Patriots, Trump Bucks were presented a something of a preparation for the future. Buying Trump Bucks allowed the purchaser to gain a standing in the "Trump Rebate Banking System" (TBR). This system, which Trump would purportedly announce upon retaking the White House in 2024, would turn the Trump Bucks into legal tender.
Trump Bucks Explained
The pitch was simple - buy Trump Bucks from one of the three companies and cash it in later. For example, $99.99 got you 10,000 Diamond Trump Bucks. Once the TBR was live, that card could be exchanged at any major bank or retailer for $10,000. The advertisements that the companies used in the scam claim that the Trump Bucks Membership Card can be used as legal tender in the United States.
The scam was spread using advertising that appear to show Trump and other figures such as Elon Musk promoting the product. These fraudulent endorsements were achieved through the use of vocal AI. “That Trump certificate is not a joke, it’s real. Everyone needs to get as many as they can. I spend one million dollars on Trump certificates and this week I’m going to cash out my Trump items. Soon I will be the richest person on the planet again," an AI version of Musk says in one advertisement. Furthermore, people are legitimately falling for this. While total numbers are unclear, NBC spoke to one Houston man who had spent over $2000 on Trump Bucks, only to find that they were not in fact legal tender.
[via]
