# Any thoughts on why Donald Trump and Trump Entrepreneur Institute are being singled out for fraud? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418 "2013-08-28T17:44:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/1 "2013-08-28T17:44:07Z")
I’m trying to understand this issue. I’ve always found Trump irritating and a pompous ass. But don’t understand why he’s being singled out for fraud. The press can’t even get the name right. It was renamed to [Trump Entrepreneur Institute](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trump_Entrepreneur_Initiative) in 2011 (see the USA article) and wiki. Get rich schemes are a dime a dozen on late night tv info commercials. They have been for over twenty years. We’ve discussed some of them on the SDMB. Tony Robbins has been at this con since the 70’s. There’s all kinds of schemes like buying foreclosed property for pennies on the dollar. the infomercials are all over the late night cable channels. Including bullshit psychic reader ads. How much more b.s. can you get then a psychic reader? A buck a minute is their phone rate. Or those irritating ads for restoring your lost hair? There’s all kinds of snake oil ads out there every night. I know there’s been a few prosecutions. Usually if they can prove a classic pyramid scheme. Or if there’s no real product behind the sales offer. You can’t just take the money and not send the customer the promised product, even if the information provided is b.s. Send 4 notebook binders of strategies for buying foreclosed property and you’ve CYA. Send only a few pages of literature and you’ll probably get prosecuted for fraud. I’d really like to understand why Trump is being singled out from a very big get rich quick industry. > **[Trump faces two-front legal fight over 'university'](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/08/26/trump-entrepreneur-initiative-case/2700811/)** > > New York AG Eric Schneiderman and Trump spar over the allegations. > [@](#): > > New York’s attorney general sued Donald Trump for $40 million Saturday, saying the real estate mogul helped run a phony “Trump University” that promised to make students rich but instead steered them into expensive and mostly useless seminars, and even failed to deliver promised apprenticeships. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/2 "2013-08-28T17:55:09Z")
Because the real estate mogul helped run a phony “Trump University” that promised to make students rich but instead steered them into expensive and mostly useless seminars, and even failed to deliver promised apprenticeships. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/3 "2013-08-28T18:13:21Z")
Probably because, relative to the other get rich quick schemes, Trump university is a large organization and Trump has deep pockets. It’s easier to catch one big fish than 1000 little guppies. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/4 "2013-08-28T18:32:18Z")
If I have a list of things to that need to be done, but I start doing one before I start doing any others, am I “singling that out” or am I “doing one thing at a time”? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/5 "2013-08-28T18:46:09Z")
Hmph. He’s an arrogant, mouthy prick with deep pockets. Hell if I care that they go after him if it’s a legitimate beef, notwithstanding there may be others equally as worthy of prosecution. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/6 "2013-08-28T18:59:25Z")
I’m guessing it all depends on the effort that goes into the product? Tony Robbins has been at this game since the 70’s. Apparently he put a lot of thought and effort into his seminars. He does have many satisfied customers that feel the money spent was worthwhile. There’s still a degree of snake oil in Tony’s presentation and marketing but he’s kinda, sort of semi-legit. AFAIK he’s never been prosecuted. If I spent two weeks printing off some b.s. information from the web and filled a binder. Then marketed it for $499 in four easy payments. I’d probably get prosecuted. Because there’s no substance or value at all in my product. I put two weeks of effort into a worthless product and my lack of effort would be obvious to anyone that bought the product. I think it’s going to be a complex case to dissect the course material Trump is selling. They have to prove there’s no value what so ever in what he’s providing. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/7 "2013-08-28T19:14:53Z")
Shadowy figures are running scared of his bid to become POTUS in 2016. Millions long for this American Henri de Guise — _Our Great Man_. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/8 "2013-08-28T19:21:48Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > Shadowy figures are running scared of his bid to become POTUS in 2016. Millions long for this American Henri de Guise — _Our Great Man_. The only people I know who are rooting for Trump to run in 2016 is Stewart and Colbert. The chump is comedy gold. As for the case, I wonder if in his arrogance he didn’t include enough weasel words in the fine print. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/9 "2013-08-28T19:23:37Z")
I’ve never looked into any of Tony Robbins’ stuff, but I always thought he was more of a self-help guru rather than a get-rich-quick guy. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/10 "2013-08-28T19:25:56Z")
I thought I read that several people who attended Trump’s school filed a complaing with the AG office. Wouldn’t that be why the are pursuing this matter? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/11 "2013-08-28T19:31:40Z")
What’s confusing is how do you evaluate a educational course? If Trump’s people assembled some basic information pulled from typical college business, marketing, and finance classes. Basically a customized course degree plan (focused on real estate) that any community college would offer. Is that enough to satisfy his marketing claims? Trump’s course might cost three times what a community college would charge, but does it matter? How do you prove a school is a fraud? Isn’t that very subjective? The course work is there in the binders. It’s up to the student to learn the material. Trump’s marketing may have over reached and made fraudulent promises. I’ll be curious to learn new details in New York’s case against him. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/12 "2013-08-28T19:46:59Z")
If Trump’s scam is calling itself a university or an educational course, then the New York State Education Department and the Board of Regents has the right and responsibility to evaluate it. So it’s a little different from a late-night get-rich-quick scheme. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/13 "2013-08-28T21:13:28Z")
He might not be “singled out”. Because he’s a media favorite, he’s getting a lot of attention. We just don’t know about all the other fakes who’ve been targeted. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/14 "2013-08-28T21:19:53Z")
Is “Trump U” taking state or federal education dollars or loans? Does it have any form of accreditation at all? Does it claim to? ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/15 "2013-08-28T21:38:04Z")
It isn’t only poor, beleaguered, personally cash-poor Donald Trump who’s being sued; the former president of the school, Michael Sexton, is also charged in the New York case. There’s also a similar fraud case against Mr. Trump in California; long reach for a State’s Attorney General from New York to have. :rolleyes: Any thoughts on why Whitey Bulger was singled out among all the criminals in America when he was an active mob boss? I suspect it was b/c there was evidence against him when charges were presented. I’m responding to the questions in the OP, not the ‘moved goalpost’ questions he posed later in the thread w/o acknowledging his error/misinformed post. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/16 "2013-08-28T22:57:08Z")
I understood he attracted attention due to consumer complaints. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-why-donald-trump-and-trump-entrepreneur-institute-are-being-singled-out-for-fraud/667418/17 "2013-08-28T22:58:27Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If Trump’s scam is calling itself a university or an educational course, then the New York State Education Department and the Board of Regents has the right and responsibility to evaluate it. So it’s a little different from a late-night get-rich-quick scheme. It’s a Russ Whitney real estate scaminar with Trump’s name and photos. It’s 3 days of tidbits of information and repeatedly being told how wealthy you can be after you take the advanced courses. And for your first night’s homework you’re given a script to use to increase the credit limit on your credit cards. So you can afford to pay for the advanced courses. Robert Kiyosaki did the same thing; lend his name and rep to people doing the same Russ Whitney scaminars.