NewsCovering the Nation

Actions

Scammers seize on US election, but it's not votes they want

Misinformation Election Scams
Posted at 8:24 AM, Oct 18, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-18 08:24:50-04

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Scam artists are taking notice as American voters face an especially polarized November election.

The FBI and the Better Business Bureau and cybersecurity experts have warned of new and increasingly sophisticated online fraud schemes tied to the U.S. presidential election and pivotal Senate races.

They say scammers are posing as fundraisers, PACS, and pollsters, impersonating candidates and campaigns, and launching fake voter registration drives.

It's not votes they're after, but to steal personal and financial information from voters.

The chief security officer at one digital security firm says the scripts vary, but "psychologically, these scams play to our desire to do something, to get involved, to donate, to take action."