Users of Donald Trump‘s social media network, Truth Social, are reporting being scammed out of large amounts of money by people they meet through the site.
According to FTC complaints obtained by Gizmodo through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, some Truth Social users have reported losing tens of thousands of dollars and as much as half a million through cons that start on the social platform. One man wrote that he lost $21,000 while chatting with a “beautiful” woman he met on the site who claimed to be a wealthy entrepreneur. “I haven’t told my wife about this blunder. She still doesn’t know about it,” he said in his complaint.
The scams vary in their pretense, ranging from romance schemes to fake cryptocurrency investment scams also known as pig butchering. In pig butchering, the scammer assumes a fake identity, builds trust with a target, and then convinces them to invest increasing amounts of money into cryptocurrency. The scammer promises high returns on the investment and will direct the victim to a website that appears to be a banking site where it looks like their investment is growing, enticing them to send more money. But when the target tries to withdraw their funds, the scammer disappears and cuts off contact. This kind of con has become so rampant, the FBI issued a warning about them in 2023.
One person from Tennessee reported that they were scammed out of money on another site and then given a link to Truth Social by someone promising they could get their money back. But first the scammer requested the victim send ten percent of the money they lost up front to retrieve his funds. “They said they were delivering a debit card for my account, it never came!” the person wrote in a complaint to the FTC. “I questioned it but they then said when my account reached 20,000 i would get one. I refused to add any more funds to my account after that! The lady is still harrassing [sic] me on truth social!”
A victim in North Carolina reported a con artist contacted him on Truth Social to tell him about “Elite Republican Trades,” which the scammer claimed had “well-known investors namely President Trump (co-founder), Dan Bongino, Devin Nunes, and many more.” After sending the scammers $150,000 to invest in cryptocurrency, the victim was unable to make any withdrawals, so they stopped sending money and contacted the FTC.
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Many of the targets are part of the Baby Boomer generation, meaning they are likely taking money out of retirement savings to send to these con artists. “I ended up sending $21,000,” one victim wrote. “I can hardly believe I did that but she was very persuasive. I am 72 years old and probably just too gullible and lonely at this point in my life.”
Trump himself has been hoping to capitalize on his followers’ gullibility by shilling near-worthless products at inflated prices, including Trump Coins (which the former president says are “a true symbol of American greatness”), NFT digital trading cards, a crypto business called World Liberty Financial and a $100,000 Trump-branded gold, diamond-encrusted tourbillon watch. It seems like the scammers on his site are just following suit.
Here is a relevant PAA (People Also Ask) question considering the context of scams reported on Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform:
A thought-provoking question for debate regarding the reported scams on Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform could be: “To what extent should social media platforms be held responsible for the scams perpetrated by users on their sites, and what measures should they implement to mitigate such risks?”
This question invites diverse perspectives on the responsibilities of social media companies in ensuring user safety, particularly in light of the recent complaints detailed in FTC reports concerning scam losses that can amount to tens of thousands of dollars for victims. Some might argue that platforms have a duty to monitor and prevent fraudulent activities, similar to how traditional financial institutions are held accountable for protecting their clients from scams. Conversely, others may contend that users must take personal responsibility to exercise caution and discernment when interacting with others online, especially when it comes to financial engagements.
The context of the scams, which range from romance schemes to elaborate cryptocurrency frauds (the “pig butchering” method), further enriches this discussion. Given the propensity for users to fall prey to such scams, it would be essential to explore what specific protocols could be implemented by Truth Social or similar platforms to enhance user security while also weighing the implications for user freedom and privacy.
These discussions can also have broader implications beyond just one platform; they may lead to industry-wide standards for security and user protection practices across all social media sites.
**PAA Related Questions:**
Given the reported scams and financial losses experienced by users on Truth Social, to what extent should social media platforms be held responsible for preventing fraudulent activities, and what measures should they implement to protect their users from such scams?
