As the 2016 election approaches, the Better Business Bureau serving northeast Georgia, Athens and metro Atlanta is warning residents of scammers preying on would-be political donors.
The BBB's local office states that the scam starts with a phone call from someone claiming to represent a political candidate, raising money to support the campaign. The scammer then asks for your name, address, credit card number and a specified donation amount.
Manager of Communications with the Better Business Bureau serving metro Atlanta, Athens and northeast Georgia, Dottie Callina, said these callers are typically pushy, demanding immediate action.
"Some of these calls are outright scams. If you provide personal information or credit card information, you could easily be a victim of identity theft or having your credit card used," said Callina.
Callina believes there are some tips you can take to avoid these scams if you want to donate to a campaign.
She said the easiest way to avoid a scam is to 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," she said.
She said to also watch for spoofed calls as your Caller ID may say that someone from Washington DC is contacting you, but scammers can fake this using phone number spoofing technology.
And lastly, the BBB states that 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, visit the BBB northeast Georgia office's Scam Tracker.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/9/441775/northeast-georgia-bbb-office-warns-of-campaign-donation-fraud-scheme