Civil Rights
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Campaign season is in full swing, and scam artists are stepping up their game. Many are trying to ride the coattails of the 2012 election to take your money and run.
Scammers typically try to make their pitches sound believable in an attempt to persuade victims to disclose personal financial information. That's why the 2012 election cycle, with hundreds of political groups seeking donations, could be a goldmine for crooks, according to the Better Business Bureau.
"Scammers use incentives based on what they think voters want to hear," a BBB spokeswoman told The Boston Globe.
You may recall the recent scam in which shady callers suggested President Barack Obama's bailout would cover people's utility bills. All they had to do was give up their Social Security and bank account numbers.
Similar to the utility scam, the Globe's report suggests three other types of election-related frauds that may trip up consumers. They are:
Of course, election-related phone scams are illegal, as are other types of telemarketing scams. Anyone contacted by a scammer should report it to the Federal Trade Commission which investigates fraud. Depending on the extent of the election scam, those behind such criminal campaigns could win themselves a lengthy term in prison.
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