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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTruth Social Users Are Losing Ridiculous Sums of Money to Scams
Read the complaints submitted to the FTC by users of Donald Trump's social media platform.
Donald Trump launched Truth Social in 2022 as a social media platform where the MAGA faithful could hang out without any liberals to spoil the fun. The biggest selling point? It was the only place where Trump was personally posting his unhinged screeds after getting banned from Twitter over that whole coup attempt. But new documents obtained by Gizmodo reveal the site has also been flooded with scammers who are swindling users out of enormous sums of money. Were talking about people whove lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in a relatively short period of time.
Gizmodo submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the FTC for consumer complaints about Truth Social filed in the past two years. The complaints to the federal agency include some stories from people whove been banned from the site (unjustly, they claim) and others who say they got signed up for mailing lists they never wanted to be on in the first place. But the complaints about scams are the most shocking, if only because there are such large sums of money involved. And were publishing a sample of the full, unedited complaints below.
One person who says they lost $170,000 explained they were initially scammed on a different site but met someone on Truth Social who claimed they could help get their money back. That turned out to be a scam as well. But more often, the victims are first contacted on Truth Social before being told to take the conversation somewhere else, like WhatsApp. Truth Social seems to be a target-rich environment for people who are easy to con.
https://gizmodo.com/truth-social-users-are-losing-ridiculous-sums-of-money-to-scams-2000506604
CatWoman
(79,708 posts)Another thing that sticks out about the complaints filed with the FTC is that they seem to involve plenty of elderly fans of Donald Trump
One 72-year-old man who reported chatting with a beautiful woman on the site was scammed out of $21,000. His complaint ends with, I havent told my wife about this blunder. She still doesnt know about it. Another person in their 60s said they lost $500,000 to scammers on Truth Social and seemed to think there might be a way they could get their money back, telling the FTC, After I pay this they promise there will be no more fees and I will receive my assets.
Mike Nelson
(10,359 posts)... I can see how scammers would be attracted to "Truth Social" users.
PJMcK
(22,996 posts)You know, the so-called free market going about its business. Republicans always say that by cutting taxes, the money will stay in peoples pockets because they know how to spend it better than the government. Then, when trouble strikes, they turn to the government for help or a bail-out.
Does anyone else see the contradictions?
These suckers lost their money because Trump is a masterful conman. You have to buy DJT stock, he said. You have to buy his watches, Bibles, vodka, steaks, board game, sneakers, two-dollar bills and more. But the stuff he sells is garbage and his cult members are too ignorant and misinformed to realize they are the marks. Trump wants to own the libs but he really wants to own MAGAs money which they willingly send to Trump.
Its quite pathetic yet I dont have any sympathy for the losers who follow the convicted felon.
EarthFirst
(3,192 posts)The grift starts at the top and works its way down; a bit of Trickle Down if you will.
Due diligence would prevent much of this; however many are hard pressed to engage in legitimate research in any capacity; so sympathy cannot be afforded to willful ignorance in my opinion
hatrack
(61,176 posts)Actually, it's more like:
Ferrets are Cool
(21,985 posts)I am, however, not surprised at all.
central scrutinizer
(12,441 posts)Easy pickings
Aristus
(68,594 posts)How did these fools get this kind of money in the first place?