Election Season Is Scam Season: Newtown Police

NEWTOWN, CT — Newtown Police Department officials are warning residents about scammers exploiting the 2024 election to perpetrate multiple types of financial fraud schemes.

Scammers use the names, images, logos, and slogans of candidates to fraudulently solicit campaign contributions, sell merchandise (which is never sent to the purchaser), or steal victim personally identifiable information that can be used for other fraud, according to FBI sources cited by the Newtown police on social media.

Police advise residents:

• Be cautious when receiving any unsolicited calls, texts, emails, or surveys. Do not provide your personal information to persons you do not know. Do not click on unknown links.
• Donations to a political campaign will not act as an investment; they will not increase in value then be returned to you.
• Check the registration status of a Political Action or Party Committee on the Federal Election Commission (FEC) website. Additional due diligence may be necessary because some scam PACs are known to be registered with the FEC.
• Research a company online before making any purchase by looking up customer reviews and BBB.org complaints.
• Check your voter registration status at www.vote.gov.

The FBI requests victims report these fraudulent or suspicious activities to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center as quickly as possible.

Be sure to include as much information as possible:

• The name of the person or company that contacted you.
• Identifying information about the company and/or individuals who contacted you, including phone number, address, email address, and websites.
• Financial transaction information including method of payment.
• Describe your interaction with the individual, including how contact was initiated, the type of communication, what you were told or instructed, what you provided, and any other details pertinent to your complaint.

Victims aged 60 or over who need assistance with filing an IC3 complaint, can contact the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline, 1-833-FRAUD-11 (or 833-372-8311).