The FBI has issued a warning to the American public about a wave of election-related scams targeting citizens during the final days leading up to the 2024 US Presidential Election. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), fraudsters are capitalizing on the election's high-profile nature, using images, slogans, and names associated with candidates to lure victims into fake donation schemes, phishing scams, and identity theft operations.

The scams include bogus investment funds, merchandise sales that never deliver, fake voter registration links, and fraudulent Political Action Committees (PACs). These scams aim to exploit citizens' political enthusiasm and trust, leading to financial loss and data theft. Security researchers at Palo Alto Networks have identified a surge in fraudulent domains mimicking candidate campaigns to carry out these schemes.

Key Events and Points:

• Campaign Investment Pool Scheme: Scammers offer returns on investments supposedly helping a candidate's campaign, promising profitable returns that are never realized.
• Merchandise Purchase Scams: Victims buy campaign-themed merchandise from fraudulent sources, losing money and personal information without receiving the products.
• Voter Registration Scams: Phishing attempts via emails and text messages direct people to fake voter registration sites, aiming to steal personal information.
• Fake PAC Donations: Fraudsters pose as legitimate PACs, tricking victims into making donations, which are instead pocketed by scammers.
• Increase in Fraudulent Domains: Security researchers reported a rise in domains impersonating political campaigns for cryptocurrency scams, donation phishing, and fake stores.

The lesson from these election-related scams is a reminder to stay vigilant and cautious during politically charged periods. Scammers prey on emotions and patriotism, and it's essential to verify all communications, especially those asking for donations or personal information. Checking legitimacy through official sources like the FEC or www.vote.gov can prevent falling victim to these schemes.

Source and further reading.

Fraudsters exploit US general election fever, FBI warns. (n.d.). Tripwire. https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/fraudsters-exploit-us-general-election-fever-fbi-warns