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Consumers Cautioned About Voter Registration Scams

Fraudsters use phone calls to steal personal information

August 11, 2008

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Have you received an unsolicited e-mail or phone call from someone who claims to represent your local election board or civic group and asks for your Social Security or credit card number to confirm your eligibility or registration to vote?

According to the Federal Trade Commission, scammers may send messages asking for your Social Security number or financial information supposedly to register you to vote -- or to confirm your registration -- but really want to steal your identity.

As a rule, federal officials say, organizations conducting legitimate voter registration drives either contact you in person or give you a voter registration form that you fill out yourself. They will never ask you to provide your financial information.

If you get an unsolicited phone call or e-mail from someone who claims to need your Social Security number or other personal or financial information to register you to vote, you can report it to the FTC by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP.

Consumers who have already shared their personal information with someone claiming to be from the voter registration officials may be the victim of a scam. You should immediately file a complaint with the FTC, via their identity theft Web site.

To register to vote -- and to find out whether your state requires your Social Security number for registration -- contact your local election office, or check the U.S. Election Assistance Commission's National Voter Registration Form. Most states accept this form.

Many states and localities have their own rules about how far before an election you must register to be able to vote, and whether a Social Security number is required.

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