Reports suggest that individuals accused of fraudulent activities are exploiting a “Trump Bucks” scheme, targeting fervent and vulnerable supporters of the former president who are being misled into purchasing worthless checks, coins, and cards with the false promise of wealth.
According to a detailed NBC News investigation, these Trump Bucks are being promoted on certain corners of the internet known for spreading conspiracy theories, specifically targeting the MAGA community.
These Trump Bucks bear a resemblance to coins, checks, or membership cards, often adorned with the likeness of Donald Trump himself.
However, it’s important to point out that these items hold no legal value and cannot be used as a valid currency. Unfortunately, purchasers only realize this when attempting to redeem them at stores or banks.
While there is no concrete evidence linking Trump or his campaign to this alleged scam, certain videos featuring AI-generated audio impersonations of Trump (or occasionally billionaire Elon Musk) seem to provide endorsements for these products.
NBC uncovered a video on TikTok in which an AI-generated voice resembling Trump declares, “Let’s make America wealthy again,” further fueling the deception surrounding these fraudulent Trump Bucks.’
A YouTube video makes a claim that “TRB system membership cards are official cards issued by Donald Trump, allowing Trump Bucks holders to use them as legal tender and deposit them in major banks like JP Morgan Chase, the Bank of America, and Wells Fargo.”
However, just moments earlier in the same ad, it was stated that “Trump Bucks are not considered legal tender.”
According to a 75-year-old grandmother from Alabama who spoke with NBC News, she came across numerous ads on Telegram promoting Trump-endorsed coins and checks, with promises of cashing them in after a year for a profit.
The grandmother, who preferred to remain anonymous due to concerns about harassment, explained, “I was informed that I could go to Bank of America, Target, or Amazon to redeem these checks.”
Motivated by these claims, the grandmother embarked on a 60-mile journey to a Bank of America branch, hoping to cash in her Trump Bucks.
However, upon arriving, she was informed by a bank employee that she was not the first to come in with these checks and that they had no association with them, as stated by the disappointed grandmother.
