A fraudulent meme coin inspired by Eric Trump experienced a significant rug pull today, plunging from a market cap of $160 million to $30,000 almost instantly. Prior to this incident, the token exhibited several questionable characteristics.
The individual behind the scam had made unsuccessful attempts to launch three previous Eric Trump tokens before gaining traction with this latest one. Achieving success with one deceitful venture seemed to have been the scammer's goal all along.
Rug pull schemes have become increasingly common in the cryptocurrency space, with fake meme coins playing a central role in this problematic trend. The rug pull involving Eric Trump Coin was particularly blatant and had been hinted at in advance.
Following a rapid 6,200% surge in value within a day, Bubblemaps conducted an investigation into the token and warned followers not to fall for it. The warning, issued hours before the rug pull, garnered over 100,000 views, cautioning against the trending ERICTRUMP coin.
Bubblemaps specifically highlighted the excessive bundling of the token, where a small number of accounts held the majority of Eric Trump coins, making it easier for the scammer to make a swift exit once the rug was pulled.
This fraudulent activity stemmed from the launch of President Trump's own meme coin, which pioneered the blending of fame and political success to enhance the value of a cryptocurrency. Subsequently, other Trump family members' names, such as Eric's, were exploited in fake coin schemes and rug pulls.
While initial attempts by the scammer with Eric Trump coins had failed, the latest coin gained popularity before the rug pull ensued, causing the market cap to plummet dramatically from $160 million to $30,000 in a flash. Despite clear warning signs and publicity, the ERIC TRUMP rug pull managed to attract significant traction and success.
The ability of such money-making schemes to thrive poses a threat to the industry's reputation and future, showcasing the detrimental impact that scams like these can have on the cryptocurrency sector.