Federal prosecutors in New York have unsealed indictments against two foreign nationals accused of running a brazen scam that exploited patriotic Trump supporters, many of them elderly, by selling them worthless fake currency under the name “Trump Bucks.”

The Department of Justice says the products had absolutely no connection to President Donald Trump, his campaign, the Trump Organization, or his administration. The two defendants, both citizens and residents of North Macedonia, remain at large.

The Southern District of New York posted an official scam alert on Tuesday, warning Americans not to fall for the scheme.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton did not mince words. “Foreign scammers are using the Trump name to defraud Americans,” he said. The announcement made clear that the alleged fraud specifically preyed on senior citizens because of their support for the President.

According to the Justice Department:

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Two separate indictments were unsealed charging Goran Spiridonov and Kristina Janeva with crimes tied to the alleged fraudulent sale of fake Trump Bucks products to victims across the United States. Both defendants are citizens and residents of North Macedonia and remain at large. Prosecutors described Trump Bucks as a fake form of legal tender and said the defendants allegedly marketed the products under false claims that they were connected to President Trump, his reelection campaign, the Trump Organization, or other Trump-linked causes. The DOJ said the products had no connection to President Trump, the campaign, or the Trump Organization, and warned that many senior citizens were targeted because of their support for the President. The announcement also noted that the conduct may be ongoing and urged people not to provide funds or financial information to any entity connected to Trump Bucks or the pictured products.

The alleged scheme is as cynical as it gets. According to prosecutors, Spiridonov, Janeva, and others sold a catalog of fake items designed to look like official Trump-branded financial instruments. The product names alone tell you how calculated the deception was: Golden Checks, Golden Badges, Trump Dollars, Trump Checks, Golden Trump Checks, Diamond Bucks, and Membership Booklets, many marketed under something called the “Trump Rebate Banking System” or “TRB” banner.

Prosecutors say the alleged promoters told buyers the items were preloaded with tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in value, and that they could be redeemed at banks during a Trump presidency. They also allegedly told victims their purchases would help fund President Trump’s reelection campaign and other Trump-related causes.

Every one of those claims was a lie, according to the DOJ.

The Justice Department provided further detail on how the scheme allegedly operated:

The alleged scheme ran from at least around 2023 through the present and used an online marketplace plus encrypted messaging apps, including Telegram, to sell Trump Bucks and related items. The product list reads like a menu built to look official: Golden Checks, Membership Booklets, Golden Badges, Trump Dollars, Trump Checks, Golden Trump Checks, and Diamond Bucks. Many were allegedly marketed under the Trump Rebate Banking System, or TRB, banner. Prosecutors said alleged promoters falsely claimed some items were preloaded with tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars and could be redeemed at banks during a Trump presidency.

Federal prosecutors also said Spiridonov, Janeva, and others allegedly collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims across the country, many of them seniors. Each defendant faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The fraud counts carry up to 20 years in prison, and aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence upon conviction. All charges remain allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Think about that for a moment. Two foreign nationals, sitting in North Macedonia, allegedly set up an online operation using encrypted apps to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from American seniors who love their country and love their President. They weaponized that loyalty and trust to fill their own pockets.

The story has drawn wider attention, with major outlets picking up the federal announcement.

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If you know someone, especially an older family member or friend, who may have purchased anything marketed as “Trump Bucks,” “Trump Dollars,” “Golden Trump Checks,” “Diamond Bucks,” or anything under the “TRB” banner, please talk to them. These products are worthless. They are not legal tender. They have no connection whatsoever to President Trump, his family, his campaign, or the Trump Organization.

Do not send money or personal financial information to anyone claiming to sell these items. If you believe you or a loved one has been victimized, contact your local FBI field office.

The people who support President Trump are some of the most generous and loyal Americans in this country. That is exactly why scammers target them. It is good to see federal prosecutors going after these predators, and it would be even better to see Spiridonov and Janeva in handcuffs.

 

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