A shadowy organization called “Destroy Trump” has emerged that claims to be raising money for an assassination attempt on President-elect Donald Trump.
Launched two weeks ago, it claims to have raised $13,245 of a $30,000 goal. However, a closer look shows that this may simply be a malicious crowdfunding scam.
As Daily Dot discovers, an anonymous author of the site claims to have the “right skills,” “right acquaintances,” and a “plan” to conduct the attack he allegedly is going to commit. A bold plea for money accompanies these claims:
“I want yourArray, I want money. Every Dollar Array I want to raise $30,000. We don’t have much time left. Please! Let’s do it together!”
Below the statement are Bitcoin and Monero cryptocurrency wallets asking users to donate anonymously.
Although the creator says that they have gotten a lot closer to the target amount, an analysis of the cryptocurrency wallets associated with the website shows no actual transactions. This is a red flag to the fraudulent nature of the website, which shows its true intention is just to exploit people’s fear and curiosity for money.
The Daily Dot reached out to the Secret Service for comment on the site but did not hear back at the time of writing. This isn’t the first time people have made threats against Trump.
In July, an assailant shot Trump at a crusade rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, but no blood was drawn. In September, a possible attacker at Trump International Golf Club was arrested by Secret Service agents in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The “Destroy Trump” site is an example of a broader trend: fraudulent schemes on the dark web are on the rise. From so-called “hitmen” to dubious crowdfunding sites, operations like these thrive in the dark corners of the internet, available only through specialized browsers.
One example is the well-known “murder market,” introduced in 2014 through a self-proclaimed anarchist. They allowed users to fund rewards for high-profile figures, including then-President Barack Obama and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
According to reports, assassins could claim funds by presenting proof of their actions.
While the “Destroy Trump” site is frightening in itself, the fact that it is not credible at all and has clear deceptive intentions speaks to a far greater issue: awareness and diligence about dark web scams are needed.
This is one of the reasons why policing and disrupting such activities can be so important.
Because bad data and fraud can occur so temporarily in the data age, users are skeptical and making cybersecurity a priority.
In September, a new study revealed that misinformation labels may backfire among Trump supporters. However, it’s also important that it affects all people regardless of age, status, or symbol and—regardless if you’re a Trump loyalist or not.
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