If your email inbox is anything like mine, it’s probably filled with all sorts of messages—from promotions to newsletters and, unfortunately, a massive number of political emails asking for money. No matter what your politics might be, when you contribute, you want your donation to go to your candidate or cause, not to some scammer’s bank account. So, with a national election approaching fast, let’s dive into political donation scams and how to avoid them.
Tips to avoid the scam
Telephone scams
Artificial intelligence, or AI, has made it easier for scammers to replicate a candidate’s voice. Twenty-five thousand people in New Hampshire received a telephone call just days before the January primary telling them they should save their vote until November. These calls could also be used to solicit donations. The messages certainly sound convincing and might even include personal information such as your name and address, making them seem more legitimate.
To avoid these scams, always be cautious when you receive an unexpected phone call asking for money. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of the call, hang up and do some research on the organization or candidate before considering making a contribution.
Email scams
Similar to telephone scams, scammers are using advanced technology to their advantage. Where email scams used to be easy to spot, most phishing emails now look professional and legitimate. Unfortunately, the days of being able to spot a scam with a glance are long gone.
Three ways to spot a scam
Tip 1: The sender’s email address doesn’t match the candidate or organization’s official email. You can check the sending email address by putting the cursor over the sender’s name or email address. This will cause the actual sender’s email address to show up.
Tip 2: Whether it’s political or not, if the email is asking for money immediately, be extra careful. The sender wants you to reply before you have time to think or do any research. This is a classic tactic used by scammers to prevent people from fully understanding what they are being asked to do. Unfortunately, this tactic is also used by the real candidates and their political action committees (PACs).
Tip 3: The message contains links to a website address that doesn’t match official candidate or party websites. By the way, the same trick about hovering over the email address works for links.
If you receive an email asking for donations, take some time to research the candidate or organization before making any contributions. And never click any links in the email because they could be phishing attempts to obtain your personal information.
Three do’s and don’ts to remember
Protect yourself by using a credit card
The safest way to make a donation (or a purchase, for that matter) is by using a credit card. Credit cards offer an extra layer of protection, as most credit card companies have fraud protection measures.
If you decide to make a donation with a credit card, be sure to check your statements regularly for unauthorized charges. If you spot any suspicious or fraudulent charges, immediately report them to your credit card company.
Don’t let scammers deter you from making a difference
While the prevalence of scams may make some people hesitant to donate, it’s important not to let scammers deter you from making a difference. There are many legitimate organizations and candidates out there who could use your support.
Responding to political emails asking for money
The problem with making donations is that once you make one donation, you’ll be flooded with requests. Like-minded political action committees (PACs), candidates, and causes share mailing lists. Once you contact one, you can bet others will follow with their hands out. There’s no need to contribute to the others, though. Remember, you can unsubscribe from a mailing list at any time. (This is probably where I should point out that I never share or sell my mailing list.)
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