Beware of election season fraud

Robocalls, phony polls and other schemes seek your personal information

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

Sept. 12, 2024 – November general elections are a time of increased interest in voting. Unfortunately, whenever civic involvement peaks, con artists can be quick to exploit it.

Here are a few election-related scams to watch out for, as recently reported by cybersecurity expert Steve Weisman in The Saturday Evening Post:

Phony PACs

Scammers have been creating fake Political Action Committees for years, tricking people into donating by pretending to support a favored candidate or cause. Instead, they pocket the money. These scammers reach out through calls, emails and texts, posing as legitimate PACs, even bypassing the federal Do Not Call list.

Before donating to any PAC, verify its registration with the Federal Election Commission. If it’s not registered, it’s a scam. Even registered PACs can falsify financial records, so be cautious. Legitimate PACs also will ask about your job and citizenship status, as they’re prohibited from accepting donations from federal contractors or foreign nationals. If they don’t, it’s likely a scam. Stick to established PACs to avoid fraud.

Robocalls

Scammers use robocalls to impersonate candidates asking for donations. They can spoof caller IDs and use recordings or even AI-generated voices to make the call seem genuine. While political calls are legal, never share personal or financial information over the phone unless you initiate the call.

To donate safely, visit the candidate’s official website and ensure the web address starts with “https” for security. Use a credit card for donations to protect against fraud, and avoid gift cards or peer-to-peer payment apps such as Venmo, as they offer no recourse for recovering lost funds.

Voter registration scams

In another common scam, callers claim to be from your local clerk’s office, insisting that you need to re-register to avoid being removed from voter rolls. They may ask for personal information or payment over the phone.

Remember, voter registration isn’t handled by phone, and there’s no cost to register. You can check your registration status at vote.gov.

Fake polls

Scammers also pose as pollsters, luring victims into providing personal information by offering prizes or rewards. Spoofed numbers can make these calls seem legitimate, but real pollsters won’t ask for sensitive details like Social Security numbers or banking info. If they do, it’s a scam.

Report any scams to reportfraud.ftc.gov.