Political Scams Are on the Rise, as Is Their Success Rate

“Answer this poll.”

“Are you registered to vote?”

“Jenny, It’s Kamala Harris here.”

Susan J, a lab member’s grandmother, is one of the millions of people who were targeted by scammers impersonating politicians or campaigns last year. Smart, politically active, and eager to make her voice heard, she’s donated to candidates she supports for years and frequently takes the time to respond to political polls. But in early January, she learned firsthand that not all political outreach is as it seems. Election season was already heating up in Susan’s home state of Virginia months ahead of November. With a special election in January and gubernatorial primaries scheduled for June, political messages began flooding residents’ phones and inboxes as early as December.

Susan received a phone call from what appeared to be a legitimate campaign asking for a donation to support the candidate she cared about. The call sounded genuine—too genuine, exactly like many legitimate campaign calls she has received in the past. However, she paused when they asked for her credit card information over the phone. After some research and discussions with neighbors who experienced similar calls, Susan discovered the call was a scam. The scammers had cloned the phone number of a real campaign and mimicked its donation messaging.

Unfortunately, seniors like Susan are frequently targeted. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), adults over 60 lost over $1.9 billion to fraud in 2023, although experts estimate the true number to be closer to $61.5 billion. Political scams are becoming a bigger slice of that pie as elections become more polarized and campaigns more digitized (FTC, 2024). What is especially challenging for consumers and voters is that legitimate campaign operatives use many of the same common persuasion techniques employed by scammers including use of authority (the name of famous politician); urgency ("Don’t let X happen in your state"); heightened state of emotions; and social proof ("Join your neighbors in supporting X.").

“Scammers prey on emotion. The more people care, the more vulnerable they can be,” the Better Business Bureau (BBB) stated in its 2024 Election Scam Advisory. With emotions running high in elections, scammers are exploiting voters' desire to support causes and take action. As scammers have become more creative, the FBI and the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) have issued bulletins on rising election-related fraud. Here are some of the most common tactics:

1. Campaign Investment Pools: This new scam promises a return on “campaign contributions” by pooling funds and paying out profits if a candidate wins. It mimics pyramid schemes by encouraging victims to recruit others.
2. Fake PACs (Political Action Committees): Scammers create fake PACs or imitate real ones, soliciting donations and asking for sensitive information like credit card details. They often apply pressure tactics, like claiming “urgent deadlines” or “matching offers,” to rush decisions.
3. Merchandise Scams: These involve online ads or emails selling campaign-themed merchandise like hats or bumper stickers. Victims never receive the items, though, and the “store” disappears after payments are collected.
4. Fraudulent Voter Registration: These scams trick people into giving up personal information under the pretense of registering them to vote. Always register to vote only through official state websites: The National Association of Secretaries of State runs nass.org/Can-I-Vote, a reliable portal for state-by-state info.
5. Fake Surveys and Prize Offers: Scammers pretend to be pollsters, asking for opinions and then requesting personal data or offering gift cards that require “shipping fees” via prepaid debit or gift cards.

Following are some safety tips from the Better Business Bureau to help you stay vigilant and protect your personal information and money:

1. Check Your Email Links. If you receive an email with a link to donate, participate in a survey, or support a candidate, do some research first. The BBB recommends comparing web addresses before clicking any link, and hovering your mouse over hyperlinks to check the destination URL. If in doubt, type the official website address directly into your browser.
2. Verify Before You Donate: Always double-check the legitimacy of the organization contacting you. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) provides a tool to look up legitimate political committees.
3. Don’t Respond to Unknown Numbers: If you receive an unsolicited call asking for a donation, survey participation, or even voter registration, hang up and verify the request through official channels.
4. Recognize Fraudulent Text Messages: Scammers also target people via text, claiming urgent requests for donations or poll participation. Beware of texts asking you to click links or provide sensitive data.

This post was drafted in collaboration with Wood Decision-Making Lab team member Ella House, a senior at Scripps College in Claremont.