Election Scams: How to Protect Yourself from Common Threats
Mariana Raymond
Sep 16, 20244 min read
Elections are a vital part of democracy, representing the voice of the people in choosing their leaders and shaping the future. However, with the rise of technology and the complexity of modern campaigns, election-related scams have become more common. These scams can trick voters and donors, and even harm the integrity of elections.
Let’s have a look at some of the most common election scams, and how to avoid them.
1. Robocalls: Spreading False Information
Robocalls are automated phone calls that deliver recorded messages to many people at once. While some robocalls are legitimate campaign tools, others are used to spread false information and confuse or intimidate voters.
For example, days before the January New Hampshire primary, as many as 25,000 Granite State residents received a robocall from what sounded like Joe Biden but was actually an AI-generated voice. The message: Don’t vote. “Your vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday,” the fake Biden said. Despite the ruling that made voice cloning technology used in common robocall scams illegal, scammers continue to use fake audio for multiple purposes.
To avoid being misled, always double-check any voting information you receive from robocalls by visiting official government websites or trusted news sources.
2. Donation Scams: Taking Advantage of Your Support
Election campaigns rely on donations, and scammers often take advantage of this by setting up fake fundraising schemes. These scams prey on people who want to support their favorite candidates or causes. Common tactics include fake campaign websites, phishing emails, text message scams or phone calls, where scammers ask for donations, credit card or personal information.
To stay safe, always check the URL of any website before donating and consider giving directly through official campaign channels. Don’t answer unknown phone calls or click on any links in emails or texts and avoid sharing bank or personal information over the phone.
3. Voter Registration Scams: Tamper with Voter Rolls
Voter registration scams involve tricking people into giving away personal information or tampering with voter rolls. These scams can happen in several ways.
Scammers might set up fake voter registration events to collect your personal information, such as your Social Security number, for identity theft.
You might get a call, email, or letter falsely claiming your voter registration is incomplete or has been canceled. The scammer may offer to "help" you re-register, asking for sensitive information.
To protect yourself, register to vote through official government channels and be careful about giving out your personal information. If someone claims you’re not registered to vote and offers to register you by phone, hang up. You cannot register by phone, email or text. In all 50 states, you can only register to vote online, by mail, or in person at a local election office.
4. Fake Surveys: Manipulating Your Opinion
Surveys are used in elections to understand voter opinions, but fake surveys can be used to mislead or trick you. Besides the fake survey results, aimed at influencing public opinion, watch out for data collection scams.
A legitimate survey may ask how you plan to vote, along with your political affiliation and generic demographic information such as age or race. The scammers will ask for personal information, such as birth date or email address.
Some scammers may offer a gift card or other prize as an incentive to participate in the survey, and then request your Social Security number, home address and other info — including your credit card number to cover taxes and shipping costs for your prize.
To avoid being tricked, be cautious about sharing personal information and stick to surveys from well-known and reputable organizations.
Election scams are a serious threat to both the democratic process and your personal security. As technology changes, scammers find new ways to deceive voters. By being aware of common scams—such as robocalls, donation scams, voter registration scams, and fake surveys—you can protect yourself and help ensure that elections are fair and trustworthy.
How can Truecaller help?
Truecaller offers more than just our renowned Caller ID and spam-blocking features; we provide a fortress against fraud. Our technology helps you identify unknown calls and messages, allowing you to block scam attempts proactively, by both calls and texts. By using Truecaller, you ensure that only verified and legitimate communications reach you. Stay updated about recent scams, and watch the latest YouTube videos on how you and the 400 million-strong community of people using Truecaller every month can stay protected. You'll find us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Use our AI Call Scanner, to detect AI voice clones in real time.
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Mariana Raymond
Sep 16, 20244 min read
