Truth Socials Ads: Scams, Snake Oil, Fake Merchandise

The New York Times reports:

Between posts about conspiracy theories and right-wing grievances was an unusual advertisement: a photo of former President Donald J. Trump holding a $1,000 bill made of gold, which he was apparently offering free to supporters.

But there were a few catches: The bill was not free, it was not made of gold, and it was not offered by Mr. Trump. The ad appeared on Truth Social, the right-wing social network started by Mr. Trump in late 2021, one of many pitches from hucksters and fringe marketers dominating the ads on the site.

One ad for a $2 bill showed a fake tweet from President Biden calling for the Federal Reserve to outlaw the bill. Most of the ads from Truth Social reviewed by The Times used images designed to catch a user’s attention, like grotesque eyeballs and skin abnormalities, typically selling alternative medicines and miracle cures.

Read the full article.

Per the report, virtually zero mainstream brands are advertising on Truth Social. Mixed in with the scam ads are pitches for survivalist gear, MAGA-themed books for children, and “anti-woke” insurance. Oh, and they’re also selling vax cards.

The fake tweet from Biden calling out a fake $2 Trump bill saying “if anything I should be on there.” made me laugh out loud https://t.co/0Q88DUyc0q

— Emily Guskin (@EmGusk) January 27, 2023