ConsumerWatch: Beware Of Election Season Scams
(CBS 5) - Once the political conventions wrap up this week, the final sprint to Election Day will begin. The next few weeks are crucial for raising money for the final stretch and keeping up with voter sentiment. The Better Business Bureau warns that this prime season for politics can also be a prime season for certain scams.
Among the scams to be aware of is fake fundraising calls that sound legitimate enough to be from a real campaign. The BBB says you should contact the campaign yourself if you'd like to donate money, rather than giving money on the line to an unsolicited caller.
Another scam is the promise of a free cruise or vacation in exchange for answering a voter survey, or public opinion poll, over the phone. Consumers are asked for a credit card or debit card number at the end of the call, to supposedly cover certain fees associated with the trip.
Scammers will also call or email a victim to ask if they've verified their voter registration prior to election day. If not, the scammers offer to do it for the voter in exchange for a social security or credit number.
You can verify your registration with just your address and birth date at your local election office website or online at longdistancevoter.org/verify_voter_registration.
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