In an election year, scams and misinformation about voter registration increase. Voter registration fraud happens when scammers pretend to be election officials or campaign workers to trick you into giving them your personal information. This can lead to identity theft and financial disaster. It’s important to vote, but be cautious if someone offers to help you register or join a campaign. Let’s look at how voter registration fraud works and how you can protect yourself.
What Is a Voter Registration Scam?
In this scam, fraudsters take advantage of people wanting to vote and support candidates. Scammers pretend to be helping with voter registration or campaign support. They use social media, emails, phone calls, or even visit you in person. These scammers ask for personal details like your full name, address, Social Security number, and other sensitive information. They then use this information to steal your identity and commit financial fraud, which can cause serious problems for the victims.
Example of the Scam
Cody receives a phone call from someone claiming to be from a nonprofit organization helping people register to vote. The caller asks for his full name, address, and Social Security number to complete the registration process. Trusting the caller, Cody provides the information. Later, he discovers unauthorized charges on his credit card and realizes his identity has been stolen.
Tips for Protecting Yourself
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Verify the source. Be cautious of unsolicited offers to help with campaign support. To verify legitimacy, go to the Federal Election Commission’s website at fec.gov/data and search to see if a political action committee (PAC) is registered.
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Use official channels. You can register to vote through the official vote.gov website. Don’t trust links to website addresses provided in unsolicited emails or texts.
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Guard your personal information. Never share your Social Security number, financial details, or other sensitive information with someone you do not know or trust. Official voter registration does not require such detailed personal information.
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Report suspicious activity. If you encounter a potential scammer, report them to local election officials or law enforcement authorities. You can also contact the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov for more information.
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Stay informed. Educate yourself about common voter registration scams and stay vigilant during election seasons. You can find reliable information on official government websites and trusted news sources.
If You’ve Been Scammed
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Report the scam to the FTC. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your local law enforcement agency.
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Report the scam to your state attorney general. You can find their contact information at naag.org.
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Monitor your credit. Carefully review your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) for any suspicious activity. Consider enrolling in a credit monitoring service (offered by credit bureaus or third-party providers) to get alerts about changes to your credit report. You can also place a fraud alert or credit freeze on your accounts to make it more difficult for scammers to open new accounts in your name.
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Change passwords. Change your passwords for all online accounts, especially those related to your finances or personal information. Create strong passwords that are at least 12 characters long, include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoid using easily guessed information like your name or birthdate. Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) whenever possible for added security.
Contact us to learn more about safeguarding your financial information and securing your accounts. Our experts are here to help. Call us at 1-888-254-9500 or come in to your local branch today. You read more about scams within our Security Center as well as within our FREE Banzai online resources here.
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