Voter Registration May Lead to ID Theft

The media is abuzz with the latest efforts being made by both the McCain-Palin and Obama-Biden campaigns in the race for the White House. In what currently promises to be a close election, a record number of voters are expected to turn out at the polls. With the younger generation showing a genuine interest in this year’s election, many first time voters will be casting their lot for a candidate of their choosing. But first, they have to register.

What may seem like a routine process for people who have registered, voted, moved to a new place, and registered and voted again can be confusing for a first time voter who doesn’t really know what information is really needed in order to vote and whom to give it to and when. The upcoming election could be a breeding ground for identity theft.
 
If you will be registering to vote within the next few months, here are some current scams you need to be aware of. Because voting laws vary from state to state—and they change regularly—don’t assume you know everything you need to know about the process just because you’ve done it before. Registering to vote can be a confusing process. Make sure you don’t get scammed or have your identity stolen along the way.

Voter Registration Scams that Lead to Identity Theft

In Person: We’ve all seen the people with clipboards in hand lurking outside of supermarkets and other public places. Many of them are legitimately working with organizations who want to get people registered to vote. But some of them, are identity thieves who are taking advantage of the fact that people are familiar with the concept of registering to vote in that manner. Before you give any of your personal information to someone standing in a public area with a clipboard in hand, ask for proof that he or she is really with the organization he or she claims to represent. Some states legitimately require your social security number in order for you to register to vote. Make sure you know what your state requires before you register. But, never, under any circumstances, should a voter application (or a person attempting to register you) ask for your bank account information or any other sensitive info.

Online: Online identity theft and phishing have taken a patriotic twist with the upcoming election, and identity thieves are now sending out emails that appear to be from legitimate government agencies claiming that there is something wrong with your registration or that you need to finish one final step before your voter registration is complete. In reality, following the links contained in this email will reroute people not to official government sites, but to phonies that will either install malware or viruses on computers or to falsified forms that will prompt readers to disclose personal information like social security numbers or bank account information. Generally, you will not receive emails or phone calls if there is a problem with your voter registration. Instead you will receive a letter in the mail with instructions about what to do. But if you do receive an email or phone call, call your local government agency to verify its authenticity before giving out any personal information.

Over the Phone: Some scammers are playing into the age old practice of telephone calls placed on behalf of political candidates, political parties or certain government departments during election times. People who receive unsolicited phone calls asking them to either sign up to vote over the phone—or verify voter information—should be wary. Registering to vote requires a signature so it cannot be done over the phone, and it is the job of a registrant to update any information that may have changed since the last time he or she registered. It’s not the job of the government to track voters down and verify their information.

Legitimate Places to Register to Vote:

If you need to register to vote before the November 4th election, there are at least three legitimate places you can visit online that will provide you will the correct form and instructions on what to do with it. Please visit one of the following websites:

www.rockthevote.com
www.register-vote.com
www.declareyourself.com

Or you can visit the United States Election Assistance Commission online at www.eac.gov/voter 

What to Do if You’ve Been Victimized

If you fear that you might have already been victimized, you need to contact the credit bureaus, your bank, your credit card company and the DMV to report the crime and to stop further fraud. But you need to make sure you also report this crime to the Federal Trade Commission either online at www.ftc.gov or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP.

The 2008 Presidential Election promises to be an exciting one, and you don’t want to miss out when it comes to casting your vote for your favorite candidate. Just make sure you don’t lose your identity in the process. Be smart. Vote safe. Protect yourself.