As Election Day approaches, fraudsters are finding new ways to deceive voters. Multiple media outlets are reporting on a new scam in which people receive false text messages saying they are not yet registered to vote. Election officials are warning Americans to be wary of fraudulent messages as more are expected to circulate in the weeks leading up to the election.
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Election day image (Kurt “Cyber ​​Guy” Knutson)
What you need to know
Detroit’s local Channel 4 affiliate WDIV warned of a new wave of text messages in late August that could prevent registered voters from voting. The Philadelphia Inquirer also reported on a similar incident around the same time, warning Pennsylvanians to be wary of potential fraudulent text messages targeting voters.
A State Department spokeswoman said voters should expect more such messages in the weeks leading up to the general election.
“Voters are aware that some bad actors have an opportunity to take advantage of this campaign season to send phishing and smishing emails and texts,” department spokesman Matt Heckel told the Philadelphia Inquirer. We should be aware that this is a possibility.”
Both these reports and several others mention text messages linked to a site called all-vote.com. “Our records indicate that you are not registered to vote. Check your registration status and register in under 2 minutes.”
woman voting (Kurt “Cyber ​​Guy” Knutson)
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How do I know if a text is a scam?
First, the domain all-vote.com is not affiliated with the government. Another clue is that people who were already registered to vote in their states also received the message. WDIV also spoke to a seventh-grader in Canada who said he received the text even though he was not eligible to vote.
A quick search on Who.Is lookup shows that the domain was registered on July 10, 2024, which is definitely a red flag. KrebsOnSecurity said some of these texts also link to another domain, votewin.org, which asks for your name, address, email, date of birth, and phone number when you visit.
You can also pre-check the checkbox to sign up for more notifications. The government doesn’t need all your information. To register to vote or update your voter registration, simply visit vote.gov and select your state or region.
voting button (Kurt “Cyber ​​Guy” Knutson)
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5 ways to avoid election text fraud
1) Unsolicited communications: If you receive a message from an unknown number or unexpected source, especially one that claims urgency (such as registering to vote), it could be a scam.
2) Suspicious links: Scammers often use fake links that appear legitimate but redirect to phishing websites. Always hover over the link or check the domain carefully. In the case of “all-vote.com”, it’s worth being suspicious if it’s not a well-known or official site (such as U.S. Vote.gov).
3) Grammatical errors: Many scam messages contain typos, clumsiness, or grammatical errors. This could be a red flag for phishing or fraud.
4) Requests for personal information: Legitimate organizations typically do not ask for sensitive information such as social security numbers, bank account information, or passwords over text. Scams are also common.
5) Use strong antivirus software: The best way to protect yourself from malicious texts that can access your personal information is to install antivirus software on all your devices. This protection also warns you about phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Check out my picks for the best antivirus protection products of 2024 for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
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Cart important points
As Election Day approaches, it’s important to remain vigilant against scams like this. If you receive a suspicious text about your voter registration, be sure to check the details carefully. Be wary of unofficial domains such as all-vote.com and votewin.org. These have nothing to do with the government. To check your status, always visit a trusted site like vote.gov. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, but knowing the signs can help you avoid falling into their traps.
Do you think the government is doing enough to protect voters from scams like this? Email us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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