3 On Your Side: Election Season Scams
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Once the political conventions wrap up this week the final sprint to Election Day will begin. With fundraising and polling in full swing, 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan warns us it's also prime opportunity for scammers.
After the final balloons and confetti fall, it will be back to business for the political candidates. The next few weeks are crucial for raising money for the final stretch.
But the Better Business Bureau warns that this prime season for politics can also be a prime season for certain scams. Among the tricks they've heard - fake fundraising calls that sound legitimate enough to be from a real campaign, but are not.
The B.B.B. suggests contacting a campaign yourself if you'd like to donate money, rather than giving money on the line to an unsolicited caller.
Another scammer pitch 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 cover certain fees associated with the trip.
Finally, scammers have been known to call or email victims 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. That's a big red flag that you're being scammed.
The bottom line? Don't ever give out that type of information to any caller that contacts your home out of the blue.
