In Davos, where fortunes are measured in billions and access is currency, even the wealthy can be fooled. Drawn by the lure of proximity to President Trump, some of the world’s richest attendees discovered that influence, like money, can still be stolen
Even at the World Economic Forum, where heads of state and corporate titans convene under intense security, scammers have found an opportunity by exploiting one of Davos’s most prized commodities: proximity to power.
Organizers of the USA House, a privately funded American venue operating alongside the forum, warned this week that fraudulent VIP passes are being sold to billionaire attendees seeking access to President Donald Trump and his inner circle.
The counterfeit tickets, marketed online, promised exclusive entry to the USA House, where Trump’s special address is scheduled to be livestreamed on Wednesday.
“We will not give access to people who purchased such packages,” the USA House said in a notice posted on its website. “Our sympathies to those who fell victim to these scams.”
Based on the number of inquiries it received, the organizers said the false passes spread quickly. The USA House wrote that the “fake VIP passes may be the fastest-selling fiction about Davos since Thomas Mann’s Magic Mountain,” a reference to the novel that helped shape the town’s mystique long before it became a symbol of global elite gatherings.
“Scammers are selling access to Trump at Davos. We encourage billionaires to be vigilant and only utilize the White House’s official pay-for-access operation,” California governor Gavin Newsom tweeted.
Housed in a historic church, the USA House has positioned itself as a focal point for American influence at Davos. Its programming, according to its website, reflects themes of “innovation, opportunity, collaboration, and democratic values,” while commemorating 250 years of U.S. history.
The venue’s lineup of speakers includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the White House’s AI and crypto czar David Sacks, former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt, and Microsoft president Brad Smith.
For many attendees, however, the primary draw has been the prospect of proximity to Trump, whose appearance, though virtual, has amplified interest in the site.
Access has been tightly restricted. Business Insider reporter Ben Bergman, who visited the USA House, found long lines outside and a modest buffet inside, featuring tomato soup, chicken salad sandwiches, and Greek salad.
Amanda Estiverne, a consultant to fintech companies, said the USA House was “very hard to get into,” a scarcity that appears to have made it fertile ground for fraud.
Some Davos participants also questioned the symbolism of hosting a high-profile political hub inside a church.
Nils Handler, who works at the University of Zurich, voiced discomfort with the choice of venue. “I’m always in favor of open and active diplomacy, but I’m not sure if a church is the right place,” he said. “It feels strange.”
Even at Davos, the promise of access to a sitting American president can blur judgment. For wealthy attendees, the desire to be close to Trump proved costly, a reminder that prestige does not confer immunity from deception.
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