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Don't fall for these four common voter fraud cases this season. What you should know

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Early voting began in Ohio this month, and as Election Day approaches on November 5, election-related fraud, scams and cybercrimes are on the rise, targeting unsuspecting victims.

Here are some of the most common types of voter fraud voters should watch out for this election cycle.

Voter registration fraud

Voter registration scams occur when fraudsters contact you by phone, email, or in person and pose as a poll worker. According to the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), the scammers will then ask you to update your voter registration or tell you that you can register to vote by phone to obtain your personal information.

If the notice does not come from a state or local election official or asks you to pay for your voter registration, it could be a scam. Victims are advised to report the scam, follow a fraud checklist and check their credit report if they have provided personal information to the scammers.

Political donation fraud

Similar to voter registration scams, cybercriminals conduct fundraising scams by contacting you by phone, email, or social media pretending to be a political action committee (PAC). According to NASS, this is the theft of your money or personal information.

Signs of the scam include unexpected calls, a sense of extreme urgency to donate, requests for personal/financial information, or the absence of contact information on the website. If you shared information or donated, NASS recommends contacting your bank or financial institution, reporting the fraud, and monitoring your credit report for unusual activity.

Fake polls and opinion polls

In the fake poll/poll scam, malicious actors pose as political volunteers seeking your participation in a poll/poll to collect personal and financial information (social security number, home address, etc.). “They ask questions about controversial topics to fire you up,” according to the National Association of Secretaries of State.

Additionally, they may “offer compensation/prizes for participation and ask you to purchase gift cards to handle shipping and/or taxes on the prize,” NASS notes. The agency says victims should report the scam, monitor your credit report and visit IdentityTheft.gov to create a recovery plan.

Robocall scams

According to the Federal Trade Commission, robocalls are automated calls that use a recording instead of a live person, often with the intent to defraud victims, such as auto warranty, tech support or IRS/Social Security impersonator scams, according to the Federal Trade Commission Federal Trade Commission. “If the robocall is trying to sell you something, it is likely an illegal robocall,” the FTC explains.

For those who receive robocalls, AARP recommends being skeptical and verifying that the information is accurate. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission about unwanted robocalls and text messages.

USA TODAY shares tips on how to fake donations, spot fake news and look out for AI-generated deepfakes, images and videos.

Remaining voting dates in Ohio

  • Oct. 29: Deadline for postal voting applications.
  • November 4th: Absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by this day.
  • November 5th: Election day.
  • November 9th: Mail-in ballots mailed on or before Nov. 4 must reach election boards by that day to be counted.

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