Donald Trump's ascendancy to the top of the GOP has an unwelcome sidekick, one that could cost him millions of dollars,
Politico reports.
More than two dozen unauthorized groups, invoking Trump's name and claiming to support him, have already raised nearly $4 million. However, only six have actually bought ads supporting the presumptive GOP nominee.
They are so-called scam PACs, and Trump supporters may not be able to decipher between the legitimate outfits and the profiteers.
"Some of these groups in a bald-faced way go out and rape and pillage and are more than disingenuous with the people that they're soliciting for funds," Doug Watts told Politico. "Trump people are particularly vulnerable in that they've been sitting on their hands."
Watts used to work on Ben Carson's campaign and now runs Committed for American Sovereignty, whose chairman faces a fine for allegedly disguising campaign contributions, Politico reported.
Then there is the Great America PAC, which has spent the most money — $1 million — supporting Trump. However, longtime Trump ally Roger Stone called it a scam. Stone has his own PAC, the Committee to Restore America's Greatness, which Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski labeled "a big-league scam."
The problem is especially dire for Trump since he ran a self-funded primary and, since he's a political neophyte, he has no traditional super PAC in place. It opened the doors for supporters and opportunists alike to get in the game, either to support their candidate or support something or someone other than candidate Trump.
"There's been a great advantage for us in that Trump wasn't actively soliciting funds, and because of that we were able to capture the Trump supporters who were very enthusiastic," Eric Beach of the Great America PAC told Politico. "Of course there's going to be scammers, but we feel we're the sole outside organization that's been around and that is the most credible."
One of Great America's strategists was convicted this month of buying an endorsement for Rand Paul in 2012.
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