Saw this

https://twitter.com/propublica/status/1120719138354356224

So followed the link; the article is from last October. It shows the Trumps as being basically the kind of people who hype condo shares and red hot developments that turn out to be next to an oil refinery and thus not worth what the buyers were conned into paying for them. They’re the Duke and the Dauphin but more successful at it.

A pattern of deception ran through the Trumps’ real estate deals since the mid-2000s. Not only were the Trumps more than the mere licensors they claimed to be, extracting millions in fees from nearly every facet of these projects, but they often misled buyers and investors on key information — such as the level of sales and the Trumps’ role and investment in the deals.

What does lying about the level of sales do? Why, it persuades the dupes that the items for sale are much more valuable than they are.

ProPublica lists a bunch of examples.

FORT LAUDERDALE

Claim: Trump announced the hotel/condo was “pretty much sold out” in April 2006, according to a broker who attended the presentation.

Reality: 62 percent of units were sold as of July 2006, according to bank records that emerged in a court case.

Result: Entered foreclosure. Trump’s name removed before construction completed.

LAS VEGAS

Claim: Condos “sold out,” Trump told The Associated Press in 2005

Reality: About 25 percent of units were sold by 2011, according to press accounts.

Result: Built.

…

SOHO

Claim: In 2008, Ivanka told reporters that 60 percent of units had sold.

Reality:A Trump partner’s affidavit revealed that 15 percent had been sold at the time.

Result: Built, but went bankrupt; Trump name removed.

Princess Ivanka lied? That lovely, well-groomed, polite young lady? We’re shocked.

TORONTO

Claim: In a 2009 interview, Ivanka referred to the property as “virtually sold out.”

Reality: 24.8 percent of units had sold, according to a 2016 bankruptcy filing by the developers.

Result: Built, but went bankrupt; Trump name removed.

Huh. It’s almost as if she habitually lies about how valuable her family’s properties are, in hopes of conning more people to buy them at inflated prices.