Better Business Bureau is alerting consumers to several scams that play off the nonstop election hype dominating the airwaves, news and social media.
In some cases, scammers may think consumers who feel strongly about the election may be willing to part with sensitive personal information, which can open you up to the risk of fraudulent charges and even future identity theft. The prevalence of mass texts and robocalls from political campaigns means consumers are being bombarded with messages that may leave them vulnerable. For that reason, consumers should be aware that a call, text or email asking for their opinion may be the lead-in for fraud.
“Scammers use events in the news or other hooks to advance their schemes,” said Michelle L. Corey, BBB St. Louis president and CEO. “Before you agree to donate, give your opinion or enter a credit card number, be sure you’re dealing with a legitimate organization. Ask for the contact information of the person calling or texting you, or hover over an email address or website URL to see if the information matches the pitch. Check the organization out online or by calling BBB.”
Several potential election-themed scams include:
• Campaign fundraising scam: Phone calls, texts and emails purporting to be from an election committee or political representative may seem legitimate if they know your political affiliation and their caller ID or sender name looks like it’s from a political organization. Before you donate, write down the…
