SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

July 14, 2020

POLITICAL ACTION SCAMS

Political Action Committees (PACS) are groups of like-minded individuals who raise and spend money on behalf of causes they support. Mostly, the cause is a political candidate or party, but not always.

PACs come to the fore at key election times such as the upcoming November elections for Congress and the US Presidency.

Many patriotic citizens want to contribute. That provides an opportunity for scammers to steal money or the contributor’s identity.

“Political action committees… are not the same as public charities, but some questionable actors from the charity world may be confusing donors into thinking otherwise,” says the organization Charity Watch.

Most of the victims of PAC scams appear to be small-time donors who agree to donate in response to tele-sales calls.

PACs are not subject to the same rigorous controls as charities That is an added incentive for scammers to steal money or identity. They can set up PACs and avoid detailed scrutiny, using them as a front for their fraudulent activities.

Some individuals pose as charities (which they are not). Others pretend they are from a local PAC. If given the opportunity they will take your money and run. Yet others are legitimate organizations who swallow up most, if not all, donations in salaries and “administration costs.”

Super PAC groups in recent years have been empowered by the courts to raise and spend money in unlimited amounts with little regulation.”

Is it a SCAM?

How can you tell if your PAC caller is legit or not? Often you cannot. But fast-talking scammers with high-pressure tactics to make you donate can be a red flag warning.

If you receive an unsolicited call, do not donate until you have had time to check legitimacy of the organization. Be skeptical of anyone claiming to be from a charity or raising money for a charity. You can also check them out at CharityWatch.org or CharityNavigator.org.

And if you want to contribute to a political cause, speak directly to the local PAC office of the party you want to support and ask them for details supporting their request.

ATTRIBUTION: scambusters.org