Robocalls and political scams increase as election day nears

Few groups keep up with current events quite as well as scammers. This election season serves as another reminder of their attentiveness.

The current news cycle is full of political updates and projections leading to election day on Nov. 3. Posing as pollsters, campaign volunteers and sometimes even candidates, consumers should count on con artists injecting themselves into the conversation.

As expected, the most likely tactic they employ directly connects to your wallet. Scammers who claim to represent causes that support veterans, healthcare reform and other topical issues have already begun their fraudulent fundraising efforts over the phone. If you receive a call from someone pushing you to make an immediate financial contribution this fall, you’re right to question their intentions.

The same goes for any pollsters that reach out for your thoughts on the upcoming election. The questions they pose — either online, in-person or over the phone — will seem legitimate. In this particular scam, they inform you that you’ll be receiving a reward for participating. They say that “reward” requires your credit card number to cover any taxes and shipping costs.

Sharing your credit card number and any other personally identifiable information leaves you susceptible to having fraudulent charges made against your financial accounts. Even worse, it increases your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft. Those consequences can extend well beyond election day.

Better Business Bureau recommends these guidelines for safely navigating the upcoming political season:

• Donate directly to the campaign office. Making a political donation over the phone is undoubtedly an option, but it may not be the safest bet. Use the candidate’s official website or local campaign office to ensure your money gets used the right way.

• Spot any spoofed calls. Your Caller ID may not be as accurate as you think. Scammers can easily fake their identities using phone number spoofing technology. That call you’re receiving from Washington D.C.? There’s a good chance it may not be as official as it appears.

• Rewards mean risk. If a political pollster claims you will receive a reward or prize for participating in a survey, it’s a good idea to hang up the phone. Legitimate political polling companies rarely give prizes for participating in their surveys, and they will never ask respondents to pay for any shipping to claim it.

• Protect your personal information. Political pollsters may ask for information regarding your political affiliation and some demographic information such as your age or race. What they should not ask for is your Social Security number or credit card information.

• Do your homework before you donate. Be especially cautious of links that come to you through email or social media. Do not just click through. Instead, go directly to an organization’s website by typing the URL in your browser or using a search engine.

More information on how Idaho residents can avoid scams this election season is available now at bbb.org.

BBB is here to help you, so if you have any questions or information about scams you have seen, please let us know, and we’d be happy to help! For more information on businesses, scams, and complaints, you can call 208-342-4649 or find us online at www.bbb.org!