As election season approaches, most of us already feel inundated by fundraising calls and texts.
A recent SMS campaign aimed at increasing voter registration raised significant concerns about phishing scams by informing recipients they were not registered to vote.
The text sought to encourage voter participation but displayed all the telltale signs of a phishing scam, leading to mass confusion and skepticism among recipients.
The Phishing-Like Tactics of a Political Consulting Firm
The controversial SMS message stated, “We have you in our records as not registered to vote,” and invited recipients to check their status through a provided link.
A deeper investigation traced the messages back to Movement Labs, a San Francisco-based political consulting firm. The firm aimed to target underrepresented voter groups to help them register to vote.
However, their approach—informing recipients about their voter status without verification—mimicked phishing techniques and made it difficult for people to trust the messages’ legitimacy.
Protecting Yourself from Similar Phishing Scams
While the controversial text proved legitimate, bad actors will likely exploit the influx of messages this election season. Here are some tips to protect yourself from phishing scams:
1. Verify URLs: Always visit trusted websites directly, like vote.gov, instead of clicking on links in unsolicited messages.
2. Be Cautious with Personal Information: If a site requests sensitive details, ensure its legitimacy by checking its reputation or seeking confirmation from official sources.
3. Watch for Red Flags: New websites with limited contact information, vague messaging, and requests for unnecessary personal data should prompt caution.
Stay Alert as Election Season Approaches
As a rule of thumb, never click random links from unknown numbers. Remember, you can always register to vote or check your registration status through official platforms like [vote.gov](https://vote.gov).
To learn more about recognizing common threats to your network, contact us at OptfinITy by calling 703-790-0400 or emailing sales@optfinITy.com today.
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