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Voter Scam Could Lead To Identity Theft

Voters Asked To Give SS Numbers Over Phone

POSTED: 4:50 pm EDT September 22, 2004

Officials at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections are warning about an identify theft scam that apprently targets voters in northeast Ohio, reported NewsChannel5's Angie Lau.

Some voters have reportedly been receiving phone calls from people who ask for a Social Security number in order to confirm their voter registrations. However, the Board of Elections never requires you to give out this information over the phone.

Bob Kloepfer, an elections outreach worker, said he received a call from a woman who was approached by an individual at Public Square Tuesday, who supposedly registered her to vote.

The next morning she received a phone call, and was asked to give out her entire Social Security number, which she gave.

Kloepfer said these people were not really registering people to vote, and he believes it was an identify theft scam.

This scam is taking place in Lake county as well; the Lake County Board of Elections says voters claim a man with a heavy accent is calling them, asking them for a date of birth and Social Security number to confirm that they are registered.

Michael Vu, Cuyahoga County Board of Elections director, said the board does not operate in this manner, and you will never be asked to give this kind of information over the phone.

There is also the fear that identity thieves are simply tossing your registration. If your registration is legitimate, you will receive a confirmation card in the mail two to three weeks after you register.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is investigating the case.

If you believe you have been a victim of a scam, you are asked to call (216) 443-3298.

To find out safe ways to register, visit our Politics section.



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