Title: “Macedonian ‘Clicksters’: The New Wave of Fraudulent Trump Goods Scammers in Veles, North Macedonia”

A New Hub for Peddling Fraudulent Trump-Branded Goods

In the former industrial city of Veles, North Macedonia, a new generation of scammers has emerged, capitalizing on the popularity of former U.S. President Donald Trump and his conservative followers (RFE/RL & BuzzFeed News, 2023). Known for its political websites spreading fake news during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Veles has evolved into a hub for selling fraudulent Trump-branded goods, such as debit cards, through encrypted channels.

A City on the Decline

Once the second largest city in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in terms of industries, Veles, with approximately 45,000 inhabitants, has seen a significant industrial decline. The city’s mayor, Marko Kolev, reports a decline from around 10,000 jobless residents in 2002 to just 3,000 by the last census (RFE/RL & BuzzFeed News, 2023). This decline has left many residents seeking less conventional means to make a living.

Ann Bratton’s Nightmare: Falling Victim to a Trump-Card Scheme

One such method is the selling of fraudulent Trump-related goods. In one recent scheme, sellers are advertising “Trump cards” loaded with $200,000 through encrypted channels like Telegram (RFE/RL, 2023). Believing she could potentially make a substantial profit from her investment, 86-year-old Nashville-area retiree Ann Bratton spent thousands on one such card but soon found herself in financial turmoil as she was unable to withdraw any funds and approached by multiple “support” individuals (RFE/RL, 2023). Bratton has spent over $30,000 in the past year trying to cash out.

A Global Scheme: Identifying the Sellers and the Cards

Investigative journalists from RFE/RL’s Balkan Service have identified 69 sellers of these fraudulent “Trump cards,” with two-thirds of them based in Veles (RFE/RL, 2023). Most of the 88 active websites advertising such products had domains registered in Reykjavik, Iceland. This is likely only the tip of the iceberg as many closed Telegram channels promoting these schemes had hundreds of members.

The New Con: “Trump Cards” and the Promise of Substantial Financial Returns

These individuals offer the prospect of cashing in on earlier investments, using vague and obfuscating language. Prices for these cards can reach into the thousands of dollars. Communication occurs within closed Telegram channels while open channels are used to share news potentially interesting to American conservatives (RFE/RL, 2023).

Despite the misleading online ads, there appears to be no response from authorities in the United States or North Macedonia [Footnote: When contacted by RFE/RL, representatives from Trump’s campaign did not respond (RFE/RL, 2023)]. This latest scheme is reminiscent of similar cons from previous years. Ads promoting “Trump coins” appeared on Telegram channels in 2016, promising they would become legal tender within a future Trump monetary system (New York Times, 2022). In 2022, the New York Times reported that the sale of these “Trump coins” relied on a free offer but included a $9.99 shipping charge, suggesting that real money would soon disappear (New York Times, 2022). Mid-2023 saw NBC News reveal that three companies based in Colorado were involved in a “Trump bucks” scheme that promised refunds on earlier investments (NBC News, 2023).

Networked Sales and Communication Channels

These schemes rely on the belief that Trump will return to power and that holding Trump-branded goods will result in substantial financial returns. There have been no reports of legitimate Trump-related financial products or endorsements from Trump or his organizations for any of these schemes (RFE/RL, 2023). The new “Trump card” strategy involves individual sellers networking through online platforms, rather than a single entity. Communication occurs through closed Telegram channels while open channels are used to share news potentially interesting to American conservatives (RFE/RL, 2023). It remains unclear if these sellers are affiliated with one another or part of a larger organized effort.

Potential Consequences and Implications

While these fraudulent schemes may not harm U.S. or North Macedonian authorities, they have the potential to take advantage of unsuspecting Trump supporters, as seen in the sad story of 86-year-old Ann Bratton.