How Trump campaign fooled supporters to raise money
SECTIONS
Last Updated: Apr 04, 2021, 11:19 AM IST
Share
Synopsis
The tactic ensnared scores of unsuspecting Trump loyalists retirees, military veterans, nurses and even experienced political operatives.
Agencies
Donald Trump (File Pic)
Stacy Blatt was in hospice care last September listening to Rush Limbaugh’s dire warnings about how badly Donald Trump’s campaign needed money when he went online and chipped in everything he could: $500.
It was a big sum for a 63-year-old battling cancer and living in Kansas City on less than $1,000 per month. But that single contribution federal records show it was his first ever quickly multiplied. Another $500 was withdrawn the next day, then $500 the next week and every week through mid-October, without his knowledge until Blatt’s bank account had been depleted and frozen. When his utility and rent payments bounced, he called his brother, Russell Blatt, for help.
Trump s campaign duped supporters, right, into donating millions through a scam known as a money bomb , where they would unwittingly sign up to make weekly recurring payments, bottom left.
Share on Twitter
Stacy Blatt was in hospice care last September listening to conservative broadcaster Rush Limbaugh’s dire warnings about how badly Donald Trump’s campaign needed money when he went online and chipped in everything he could: $500 USD.
It was a big sum for a 63-year-old battling cancer and living in Kansas City on less than $1,000 USD per month. But that single contribution federal records show it was his first-ever quickly multiplied.
Another $500 USD was withdrawn the next day, then $500 USD the next week and every week through mid-October, without his knowledge until Mr Blatt’s bank account had been depleted and frozen. When his utility and rent payments bounced, he called his brother, Russell Blatt, for help.