Election season in the United States is a time of profound civic engagement; however, bad actors will take advantage of the Election Season to try and defraud individuals or seek personal information. They will use email, text messages, phone calls, and social media avenues to target their victims. For example, in January Primary voters in New Hampshire received robotic calls impersonating Joe Biden using an AI-generated voice and spreading misinformation. Election Season Scams can cause these misinterpretations, loss of funds, and loss of sensitive information. Protect yourself, your family and friends from these scams this election season.

Examples of Election Season Scams:

There are several methods bad actors may utilize during election season to create deceiving contents for victims and lure them to provide sensitive information. Here are some examples of election season scams.

• Donation Scams: Illegitimate donation requests crafted to take advantage of generosity that lead to potential financial fraud.

• Voter Registration Scams: Fake voter registration websites designed to capture personal information or sometimes payment for updating your voter registration information.

• Fake Surveys: Bad actors will create realistic looking surveys asking for voter preferences, personal information, and/or payment information.

• Misinformation Campaigns: Convincing videos or images that impersonate political figures and take advantage of their credibility and trick victims into clicking on phishing links.

How to Identify and Deal with Election Season Scams:

Election Season Scams will be as convincing as ever this year, here are some ways to identify them:

• Identify Phishing Email Red Flags. Think twice before interacting with any email requesting sensitive or financial information. Legitimate organizations will not ask for this information via email or phone.

• Verify Sources. If you receive any communication claiming to be an election professional, verify its legitimacy by navigating to the official website or contact a verified phone number.

• Avoid Urgent Requests. Scammers will often use intimidation or urgency to bait victims into making a rushed decision, not in their best interest. We recommend you take your time, thoroughly evaluate requests and never be pressured into making a decision.

• Secure Personal Information. Be cautious about oversharing any personal or sensitive information.

• Educate Yourself About Cyber-Threats. Stay informed on the latest scams and cyber-threats used by fraudsters. More awareness allows you mitigate risks and attacks.

What Should I Do If I May Be a Victim of an Election Season Scam?

1. Stop All Communication. If you are in contact with a scammer, hang up the call and reach out to the intended caller from your end. Once in touch, verify their identity by asking several questions.

2. Report the Incident. You can file a complaint with the FTC on their website. You can also report the incident to CISA.

3. Protect Your Identity. Monitor your financial accounts, credit reports, and any other sensitive information for signs of unauthorized access and activity. With most accounts, you can place a fraud alert or a credit freeze to prevent further compromise.

4. Document the Incident. Keep any record of communication and documentation related to the scam. This can be extremely useful when reporting the incident and resolving any issues with authorities.

Please reach out to Lloyd at Worth Wealth Management at (303) 558-0214 or Lloyd.Worth@LPL.com if you have any questions about this or other financial concerns.

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Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.

This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This material was prepared by LPL Financial, LLC Tracking #629323