At a look, the two web sites look actually indistinguishable. both function a photo of Donald Trump, in a healthy and purple tie, in the front of a massive American flag. each reputedly provide a risk for 2 to win dinner with Donald Trump.
the primary belongs to Trump’s marketing campaign. the second one is a scheme run by way of Ian Hawes, a 25-yr-vintage Maryland man who has no association with Trump or his campaign and who has preyed on more than 20,000 unsuspecting donors, collecting more than $1 million within the procedure.
in only its first 3 weeks of operation, Hawes’ % spent greater than $108,000 on fb commercials, supplying an possibility to win “Dinner with Donald Trump” — and netted itself nearly $350,000 in donations, in keeping with federal facts.
the most important chew of the cash raised — $133,000 — went to a corporation that Hawes based and owns, CartSoft LLC. The reason of the bills is defined on federal records as “media” and “media buying,” though CartSoft’s internet site describes itself as a web charge-processing platform.
due to the fact that its release, the percent has amassed greater than $1 million, Hawes instructed POLITICO. It has reportedly spent $0 on behalf of Trump.
“I sense ripped off and brought benefit of. that is terrible. That become now not my reason,” said Mary Pat Kulina, who owns a paper-shredding organization in Maryland and gave $265 to Hawes’ organization. Kulina notion she had given to Trump’s campaign till told in any other case by means of POLITICO. “this is theft,” she stated. “I need my money back and i need them to add up what they stole from humans and give it to Donald Trump.”
Of the 156 donors who gave greater than $two hundred to Hawes’ institution in June — the brink for names to be included in federal filings — POLITICO contacted dozens and spoke with eleven. each person interviewed stated they believed they had given to Trump’s marketing campaign, not an unconnected percent.
credits: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/donald-trump-fundraiser-hawes-227486






