Businesses that appear to have swindled supporters of former President Donald Trump out of tens of thousands of dollars by offering them fake «Trump Bucks» no longer have active websites just days after NBC News exposed their businesses.
Websites where Colorado-based companies Patriots Dynasty, Patriots Future and USA Patriots sold everything from official Trump 2024 gold cards to Trump Rebate Banking System (TRB) membership cards purportedly issued “by the Donald Trump himself”, are no longer active.
Similar websites that also promise that «true patriots» will get rich buying these products remain active, but have been disabled by online retailer ClickBank, connecting providers of these products with potential buyers.
«This site is no longer in service or has been disabled due to a violation of the terms of service,» was the message that appeared when an NBC News reporter I tried to make a purchase.
Jennifer Beevers, ClickBank’s vice president of consumer and client advocacy, said it was the right thing to do.
“Any consumer purchasing these items through ClickBank has received pre-purchase notification that they have commemorative value only and are not legal tender,” Beevers said in an emailed statement. «Still, ClickBank is concerned to hear that products were being misleadingly marketed elsewhere, so we decided to discontinue sales even with our disclaimer.»
No evidence suggests that the alleged scammers are connected to Trump or his re-election campaign. trump spokesman Steven Cheong He has not responded to repeated emails seeking comment about suspicious companies selling “Trump Bucks” using the former president’s likeness and directed directly at some of his most ardent supporters.
Representatives for the companies that sell Trump Bucks and TRB membership cards could not be reached for comment, and there are no criminal charges or active investigations against the companies.
But the news that three of these retail websites had been shut down was welcome news for a Florida woman who told NBC News earlier that her 77-year-old mother-in-law was tricked into buying tens of thousands of dollars worth of Trump Bucks.
“It seems, at least, now they know they can’t get away with it,” said the woman, who lives north of Tampa and asked not to be named for fear of online harassment.
The Florida woman described her mother-in-law as an ardent Trump supporter who had always been «conservative and prone to believe in conspiracy theories.»
But lately, the Florida woman said, her mother-in-law «has been insisting that something big was about to happen» involving the Trumps Bucks she had bought.
«So maybe this is it,» he said.
A 75-year-old Alabama grandmother, who told NBC News earlier that she was outraged after finding out the $1,500 worth of Trump Bucks she had bought was worthless, said she, too, was happy Colorado-based companies had been closed.
“Stunning,” the grandmother, who also asked not to be identified by name, texted. «Now if only they could be arrested and jailed!»
The development came after NBC News identified more than a dozen victims, reviewed dozens of social posts, online complaints and hundreds of misleading ads for products sold to Trump supporters.
In addition to promising that your investment in these products will help propel the former president back to the White House, these ads also falsely suggest that Trump will make “true patriots” who support him rich.
For example, the ads say, a “$10,000 Diamond Trump Bucks” the ticket purchased for $99.99 can be cashed for $10,000 at major banks like Bank of America and retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Home Depot.
BOA and all companies mentioned in these ads have denied any involvement in the apparent get-rich-quick schemes.
So far, only one fraud complaint against Patriots Dynasty has been filed with the Federal Trade Commission, the agency confirmed in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from NBC News. The complaint was filed in January.
But the Better Business Bureau has given Patriots Dynasty, Patriots Future and USA Patriots, which use the address of an industrial center in the Denver suburb of Aurora, an F rating. And dozens of complaints have been filed against these companies in the BBB site and on consumer rating sites like TrustPilot.