CROMWELL, Conn. — As one of the most emotional and contested presidential elections in decades approaches, bad actors are looking for ways to exploit people’s passions and trick them.
On Friday, the Better Business Bureau Serving Connecticut listed several ways to avoid scams over the next two weeks, as emotions will continue to run high.
First, check your email links.
The BBB says scammers impersonate campaign emails to acquire personal information and divert monetary contributions into their own hands. Some donation requests that may appear legitimate could be attempting to access bank accounts or credit card information.
According to the BBB, it is important to be careful of emails with links, as phishing emails can include a link that takes victims to a spoofed version of a candidate’s website. Worse yet, it could install malware onto a victim’s device.
Secondly, be aware of fraudsters calling you over the phone.
Legitimate campaign supporters often call residents to conduct surveys or solicit donations, but criminals can do the same thing. Scammers might try to trick you over the phone by asking several questions.
The BBB says they could ask for personal information such as your Social Security number or birthday. Scammers might even offer a prize or gift card in exchange for your time but could then ask for a credit card number to cover shipping.
When donating funds, if you give a scammer your account information, they’ve got you cold-blooded. Find the official website for the campaign to know if the fundraising effort is on the up and up, according to the BBB.
Also, fraudsters could say you’re not registered to vote and attempt to offer you help over the phone. Again, once a scammer receives your personal information, you are in a world of trouble.
Third, be watchful for trickery by text.
A text message might appear to be from a trusted source when it asks you to participate in a poll or donate. However, fraudsters could be after your passwords, account numbers, Social Security or other data.
In some scenarios, the BBB says con artists send texts regarding fake problems. One might receive a text claiming to be from their bank, asking if they donated to an organization, campaign or party. The scammer will prompt the victim to reply “yes” or “no.” If the person replies "no," the scammer will call them and ask for their account login, numbers or password, saying they will investigate or dispute the transaction.
According to the BBB, text-your-vote scams also exist. Con artists will send texts urging people to text their vote rather than vote in person or by mail. The BBB says that when voters believe them and don’t show up to actually vote, their chance to participate in the election is lost.
Lastly, be knowledgeable of cybersecurity tips.
Always check your links and never click on a link in an email or text unless you know and trust where it is really going. Prizes are usually a red flag too. Actual pollsters don’t usually offer prizes for completing a survey.
The BBB encourages residents to be aware of what pollsters don’t need. They might ask for demographic information or what party you most align with, but they don’t need personal information such as birthdays, Social Security numbers or financial information. Furthermore, no state offers voter registration by phone.
BBB Scam Tracker
One can report suspicious activities to the BBB Scam Tracker by clicking here. The tool is free for anyone to use, and report, suspected scams, hopefully helping others avoid similar cons.
Do Not Call Registry
When it comes to the Do Not Call Registry, the BBB says there are exemptions for some political calls. One can check out DNC Registry rules and an explanation given by the Federal Trade Commission.
For more information on the BBB Serving Connecticut, click here.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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