The presidential election is upon us and both political parties are pushing for maximum voter registration. Scammers and ID thieves see this as an opportunity to ply their trade, according to the Better Business Bureau serving northern Colorado and Wyoming.
All voters should be aware of the following ways ID thieves might try to get at their personal information this election season.
E-mail
Recipients may get phishing e-mails that appear to be from a government agency and claim that the recipient must click on a link in the message to register to vote or resolve a registration issue. These links will actually redirect recipients to Web sites that install viruses or malware on their computers or ask for personal information such as Social Security or bank account numbers.
On the Phone
Similar to phishing e-mails, a voter might receive an unsolicited call from someone claiming to work for a government agency or one of the presidential campaign offices. The caller may claim that there is a problem with the voter’s registration and they need to confirm their identity by providing personal information such as Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers. State government officials do not contact voters by phone if there is an issue with their registration, nor do they need bank account or credit card numbers to confirm a voter’s identity.
In-Person
Local voter registration drives often rely on individuals who set up in common public areas or go door-to-door to register voters. Always ask for proof of which organization the volunteer is with before providing information. States never require bank account or credit card information to confirm voter identity.
Voter registration processes vary by state and voters can go to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission Web site at www.eac.gov/voter for information on state voter registration guidelines and other advice on how to navigate Election Day.
Consumers who believe they have become a victim of ID theft or voter registration fraud should contact their BBB at 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371 or www.wynco.bbb.org, as well as file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP or www.ftc.gov/idtheft.