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Identity thieves are capitalizing on the excitement of this presidential election by running
phishing scams with a voter-registration twist. They want to con people into divulging profitable data, such as Social
Security numbers, bank account data or credit card information.
A phishing scam involves an e-mail that mimics a legitimate entity and includes a link that when clicked
on, downloads malicious software onto the recipient's computer or takes them to a fraudulent Web site designed to capture
personal or financial information.
Phishing scammers often use current events to con people, says Nat Wood, assistant director in the bureau
of consumer protection at the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC and the Better Business Bureau have issued warnings to consumers about these
voter registration scams.
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 Source: Bankrate.com |
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 Do's: |
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Don'ts: |
| • Contact your local election office or visit the Web site of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to find out about voter registration requirements in your state. |
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• Don't register to vote over the phone or e-mail. Registration has to be done in person or via the U.S. Postal Service. |
| • Report suspicious phone calls and e-mails. |
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• Never provide financial information as part of voter registration. Find out if your Social Security number is needed. |
| • Always turn in forms yourself, never through a third party. |
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• Never verify personal information over the phone or through e-mail. Resubmit the form if necessary, and in person. |
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