The Better Business Bureau expects more political scams as Election Day nears, with fake campaigns and charities going after your money and personal details.
The Better Business Bureau is warning that political scams are likely to rise as Election Day gets closer. If your phone is buzzing with texts, calls and emails about candidates and issues, some of those messages may not be from who they claim to be.
Scammers often pose as political campaigns or charities. Their goal is to get a donation or to collect personal details from you. The timing is no accident. Voters are getting more messages about candidates and issues right now, so a fake request can blend in with the real ones.
Anyone who gets political texts, calls, emails or donation requests could be a target. That includes voters, regular donors and older adults. You do not have to give money to a campaign to be contacted. A message only needs to look believable for a moment.
A fake donation request could cost you money. It could also expose your personal details, which can cause trouble long after the election is over. The simplest protection is to check who is asking before you respond.
The alert box above lists the steps. The main idea is to avoid links in messages you did not expect and to go to a campaign or group yourself when you want to give. If you spot a suspected scam, you can report it to the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker.
The warning does not say how many scams have been reported or how much money has been lost. It also does not name specific campaigns or groups being imitated. More detail may come as Election Day approaches.
Before you answer any political text, call or email, check who is really asking, and give only through a site you typed in yourself.
The Attala County Sheriff's Office in Mississippi says scam calls are reaching residents, and a call that sounds official may not be.
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Read more: Fake jury duty calls spoof a real Texas sheriff's phone numberFake PayPal emails and texts, some posing as a security report, try to get you to tap a link and type your login. Checking your account directly avoids the trap.
Read more: Got a fake PayPal message? Skip its link and check your account yourself
