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A recent study by Trend Micro found that many people are struggling to spot misinformation and scams, many of which are currently election-related. While 79% of US respondents felt somewhat to very confident about their ability to identify online scams, a staggering 62% failed to correctly identify a specific example as a scam.
Lynette Owens, Vice President of Global Consumer Education & Marketing at Trend Micro, shared her thoughts with CyberGuy on the gap between people’s confidence in spotting misinformation and their actual ability to do so.
Many individuals have likely had scam detection or cybersecurity training, at least on some level, through their employer. This, along with using obvious scam examples in training materials, may lead to people overestimating their ability to spot scams and misinformation. Recently, with the help of AI, scams, deepfakes and ways to spread misinformation have also become increasingly sophisticated. While people may believe they can spot a phishing text or a scam call, many may not have had to face or identify more recent and highly believable scam emails or fake websites.
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The most common types of election-related misinformation or scams
While there are plenty of election-related misinformation and scams to be aware of, Owens highlights three major ones to watch out for besides deepfakes:
1) Voter registration scams involve links to fake voter registration forms, which scammers send by phone, email, or text. These types of links may be phishing scams to collect personal data (such as passwords, financial information, and Social Security numbers) or to allow others to access your devices.
2) Campaign donation scams involve cybercriminals reaching out to voters by email, social media, or phone, posing as a political action committee (PAC) to steal money or personal information.
3) Fake surveys, petitions, and polls involve scammers tricking voters into revealing personal information. These scams can come via phone, email, text, or even in person, asking people to answer questions or sign a petition under the guise of supporting a political cause. They may feature a politician’s name or image to appear legitimate, sometimes urging recipients to make a small donation. In doing so, victims are led to provide sensitive details like their Social Security Number or home address, which can then be exploited for fraud.
4 ways to protect yourself from election-related scams and misinformation
1) Watch out for potential red flags:
2) Don’t click every link you see:
3) Avoid relying on social media for election news: One effective strategy to protect yourself from election-related misinformation is to limit your reliance on social media for obtaining news about elections. Social media platforms are often breeding grounds for misinformation, deepfakes, and scams.
4) Invest in personal data removal services: Protecting your personal information from being exploited for political purposes is crucial during election seasons. Consider investing in a reputable data removal service to reduce your digital footprint and minimize the risk of targeted political manipulation. Political campaigns may use data from people search sites to create highly targeted ads based on your personal details, potentially manipulating your views. Also, scammers could use information from these sites to impersonate you for political fraud or to spread misinformation in your name. Your contact information could be used for unsolicited political calls, emails, or even in-person visits. Detailed personal information can be used to build comprehensive voter profiles, potentially influencing how political entities approach you.
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5) Report suspected election misinformation:
Kurt’s key takeaway
The election day is less than a month away, and now it’s more important than ever to keep an eye out for misinformation and scams. First, always double-check your sources when you come across election info—stick to the trustworthy ones and cross-check claims. Be cautious with links since some could lead to scams that steal your money or install malware. Keep an eye out for red flags like sensational headlines and sketchy websites. If you spot any voter fraud or harmful info, report it to the right folks.
How do you feel about the increasing use of AI in shaping political narratives? Let us know in the comments below.
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