BBB Warns: Watch Out for Campaign Donation Fraud

Scammers love to take advantage of major news events. Watch out for cons that prey on would-be political donors.

How the Scam Works:

You get a call from someone claiming to represent a political candidate, raising money to support the campaign. They may be collecting funds for a specific cause, such a healthcare reform, or on behalf of a group of people, such as veterans.

The caller asks if you will donate and specifies an amount of money. Targets report that callers are typically pushy and demand immediate action. You've been planning to give to the campaign, so you provide your name, address, and credit card number.

Don't do it! Some of these calls are outright scams, and providing your credit card number and personal information opens you up to the risk of fraudulent charges and identity theft. Even if the caller is not a scammer, some groups may be poorly managed and not actually spend the money the way they describe on the phone.

How to Avoid a Campaign Con:

This campaign season, cons abound. Here are some BBB tips to avoid getting scammed:

• Donate directly to the campaign office: Donations made over the phone can be valid, but any wary donor should give to campaigns either through the candidates' official website or at a local campaign office.
• Watched for spoofed calls: Your Caller ID may say that someone from Washington DC is contacting you, but scammers can fake this using phone number spoofing technology.
• Polling companies don't offer prizes: Just hang up on any political pollster who claims that you can win a prize for participating in a survey
• Polls won't ask for personal or banking information: Political pollsters may ask for information about your vote or political affiliation, but they don't need your Social Security number or credit card information.

To report a campaign con, please visit BBB’s Scam Tracker. To find companies you can trust, please visit bbb.org/atlanta.