Alarming reports have surfaced indicating that supporters of former President Donald Trump are falling victim to scams involving the sale of commemorative “Trump Bucks,” a worthless currency fraudulently advertised as being exchangeable for real cash. A recent investigation by NBC News reveals that numerous companies have been employing deceptive advertising tactics, including the use of AI-generated videos featuring Trump and prominent figures like Elon Musk, to convince individuals that purchasing these “Trump Bucks” will lead to financial prosperity.
Individuals who have bought these Trump-themed items have attempted to exchange them for legitimate US dollars at banks, only to discover that they have been swindled. The issue has become prevalent enough that bank employees are now reporting it as a growing concern. NBC News has identified several companies engaged in the marketing and sale of this fraudulent currency, with many of them seemingly operating under names like Patriots Dynasty, Patriots Future, and USA Patriots, and appearing to be based in Colorado.
One website advertising a “TRB Black Card” prominently displays a banner message that reads, “President Trump wants you to finally open your eyes and believe in his power for a better tomorrow!” This card is sold individually for $90 or in packs of up to 10 cards for $500. Numerous buyers of the card and other Trump-branded merchandise have admitted to being motivated by messages that suggest Trump himself endorses the products.
“President Trump wants you to finally open your eyes and believe in his power for a better tomorrow!” reads a banner message on one of the sites advertising a “TRB Black Card,” which sells as a single card for $90 or packs of up to 10 cards for $500.
One advertisement for the “Trump Bucks” features an apparent AI-generated voice identified as “John,” asserting that “most people believe that the presidential election interfered with the course of history” and referring to Trump as “the great leader.” Although the ad acknowledges that the bills are not legal tender, it misleadingly suggests that the TRB membership card will enable users to use the bills for transactions at major banks like Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase, as well as popular retailers such as Costco, Walmart, and Home Depot.
However, when contacted by NBC News, representatives from Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Walmart, and Home Depot all confirmed that they do not accept “Trump Bucks.” A spokesperson from Bank of America further stated that the company has received reports from employees about individuals attempting to exchange the worthless currency for significantly larger sums of money than what they initially paid for them.
