Beware of election scammers! | News

Scammers are already gearing up for this year's Presidential election, from robocalls offering a "free cruise" for taking a political survey, to promises that President Obama will pay your utility bill. Better Business Bureau is advising voters to be on the lookout for the growing number of scams that are likely to continue leading up to the Presidential election.

"Scammers use incentives based on what they think voters want to hear," noted David Weiss, president of BBB Serving Greater Cleveland. "Local consumers were duped recently by a scheme that claimed President Obama had money available to pay utility bills. Offers and emails seemingly tied to political campaigns or other hot news items get a lot of attention."

Here are just a few of the election-related scams being reported to BBB. Don't fall for them!

There will not be a "free cruise" at the end of the voting survey. This public opinion poll scam typically involves a recorded announcement offering a "free cruise" in exchange for participating in a telephone survey.  At the end of the call consumers are asked for a debit or credit card number to cover "port fees" and taxes.  Consumers who hesitate or ask if they can call back in order to verify the caller's identity are subject to high-pressure tactics, such as being told that the offer "is only good right now," and that if they hang up they will be disqualified. 

These scammers pose as survey companies in an attempt to sidestep federal regulations that prohibit calls to consumers who are on the Do Not Call Registry - a regulation that does not apply to surveyors.
President Obama is not going to pay your utility bill. As nice as that would be, it's not going to happen. Consumers have been contacted through fliers, social media, text messages, and even door-to-door with claims that President Obama is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills. Scammers claim they need the consumers' Social Security and bank routing numbers to arrange the payments. In return, customers are given a phony bank routing number that will supposedly pay their utility bills. In reality, there is no money, and customers believe they have paid their bills when in fact they have not. Worse, they've just given away everything needed for identity fraud.

Fundraising calls for political donations may not be real. Consumers have reported calls from organizations that sound legitimate, but may not really be related to either the Obama or Romney campaigns. If you aren't sure, don't donate over the phone. If you'd like to contribute to a political campaign or party, locate contact information yourself rather than giving out financial information to a caller. Requesting a callback number is no guarantee you will be connected with a legitimate campaign fundraising committee. Call or visit candidates' websites to obtain contact information to make donation.

No one will check your eligibility to vote. Your voter registration record is with your state and no one is going to call or email you to verify your eligibility. What do these callers claim they need to check? Just your credit card or Social Security number. No way!

Don't fall for these scams. Legitimate polling companies will never offer prizes for participating in a telephone survey, nor ask for a credit card number. Never provide your Social Security number, credit card number or banking information to anyone requesting it over the phone or at your home unless you initiated the contact and feel confident with whom you are speaking. Do not give in to high pressure tactics, whether over the phone or in person.