Veles, North Macedonia: A Hotbed for Trump-Themed Debit Card Scams

In the once-industrial city of Veles, North Macedonia, a new wave of entrepreneurship is thriving, but it’s not the kind of business one would want to flaunt. This city, which has a population of approximately 45,000, has been at the center of a growing scheme to sell fraudulent Trump-themed debit cards to unsuspecting buyers in the United States and beyond.

A Lucrative Scam with a Popular Twist

The operation, which is believed to involve individuals from Veles and nearby areas, capitalizes on the continued popularity of Donald Trump, the former U.S. president. Trump is known to have a large base of supporters, and the cards often come with promises of significant financial gains should Trump return to power.

The Cost of Deception

One victim of this scheme is 86-year-old Ann Bratton from Nashville, Tennessee, who believed she was making a shrewd investment last September when she purchased a Trump debit card for $6,000. She was assured that the card would be preloaded with $200,000 and that it would increase her fortune within months.

However, Bratton soon discovered that she had been tricked. Despite numerous attempts to activate her card and cash out her supposed winnings, she was left in the dark, with no contact from the individuals she had dealt with. Bratton’s unfortunate experience is just one example of the thousands who have fallen prey to this web-based scam.

A Digital Marketplace of Deception

According to reports, at least 69 individuals in Veles are believed to be involved in selling these fraudulent cards, and most of them are active on encrypted Telegram channels. These platforms serve as a digital marketplace, allowing scammers to connect with potential buyers and peddle their fake products through carefully crafted and sometimes misleading advertisements.

Quick Gains, Moral Dilemmas

The allure of quick financial gains has proven irresistible for many. Prices of the cards reach into the thousands of dollars, and the scammers promise buyers that they can withdraw massive sums daily by using the cards at ATMs. However, to date, there have been no reports of any customer successfully cashing out their bogus winnings.

The Ethical Implications

Veles became infamous in the lead-up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election for its thriving industry of political disinformation and fake news websites. Now, it seems, some of these same individuals have turned their attention to more lucrative scams.

It remains unclear whether the authorities in the United States or North Macedonia have taken any action against these schemes.

A Moral Dilemma for the Locals

For Veles natives, the financial gains have come at a price. Mayor Marko Kolev acknowledges the city’s complicated relationship with the new business ventures. “It’s an open secret that some Trump-related products are being sold, but we can only speculate about the legality of it all,” he said.

“Part of me wants to help my fellow citizens, but the other part of me… I don’t know. It’s a moral dilemma,” said Borce Pejcev, a local programmer and IT professional who has been offered opportunities to design websites for scammers selling fake cards.

As the scheme continues to evolve, it raises questions about the ethical implications of capitalizing on political figures and the susceptibility of unsuspecting buyers to false promises. The scammers, for their part, remain one step ahead, using sophisticated digital channels to target potential victims and cover their tracks.