Scam texts pretending to be voter reminders: Get-out-the-vote phishing scams
Voting season is upon us, and with it comes a wave of messages: reminders to vote, updates from candidates, and even unexpected alerts claiming you’re not registered. With our phones constantly buzzing and our numbers handed out to every online sign-up, it’s never been easier for marketers—or scammers—to get hold of our phone numbers and target us for phishing attacks. While the recent mass get out the vote phishing text message campaign urging people to register eventually turned out to be a mistake (more on that later), it’s a clear reminder of how easily we could be targeted by phishing attempts.
In this article, we’ll talk about get out the vote phishing mishap—and use it as a prime example of just how easy it is these days for someone to send a text with a link that could do anything from stealing your cash to swiping your identity. We’ll also cover how you can protect yourself with Guardio's app, which blocks scam messages before they can cause any damage.
Get-out-the-vote reminder or scam?
When voter registration reminders take a wrong turn
Get out the vote phishing is a perfect example of when well-meaning voter reminders get tangled up with poor execution, leading to messages that look suspiciously like scams. Let’s back up for a minute—In late August, a wave of texts started hitting phones across the country, warning people they weren’t registered to vote. The messages urged recipients to check their status by clicking on links to sites like all-vote.com or votewin.org.
Naturally, this raised eyebrows. These sites asked for personal details like names, addresses, and phone numbers, while providing little to no information about who was behind them. The whole thing seemed sketchy enough to prompt warnings from local news stations, who suggested the campaign could potentially block eligible voters from casting their ballots.
As it turns out, this wasn’t a malicious scam, but rather a botched attempt at voter outreach. While the get out the vote phishing turned out to just be a careless marketing ploy, election season is a time when scammers are working overtime, so you always need to be cautious when receiving unsolicited texts, emails, and other communications.
What have we learned from these events?
These recent events have highlighted some important lessons. First, it’s clear that our personal information is out there—whether we’ve signed up for newsletters, made online purchases, or simply filled out a form, our details are floating around in the digital ether. This makes it all too easy for scammers to get their hands on our phone numbers, email addresses, and other sensitive information.
Second, the ease with which scammers can obtain and misuse this information is alarming. With just a few clicks, they can send out messages that look legitimate but are designed to steal your personal data, money, or even your identity. This makes it more crucial than ever to have robust cybersecurity measures in place.
Finally, it’s essential to protect your online activities across all devices—mobile, desktop, and anything else connected to the internet. A strong cybersecurity solution can help you stay one step ahead of scammers, ensuring your personal information remains secure.
Guardio: your go-to shield against online threats
Guardio's got your back with top-notch protection to keep you safe from digital scams. Here’s what Guardio can do for you:
Text and email phishing filtering
Scam texts blowing up your phone? Phishing emails hitting up your inbox? Guardio automatically filters these shady messages and sends them exactly where they belong—your junk folder.
Critical security alerts
Some scams are super risky, and you need to act fast—that’s where Guardio’s critical security alerts come into play. Guardio’s security experts will call and text you the moment a serious threat is detected, so you can take action and stay protected.
Block scam sites
Before you accidentally wander onto a sketchy website, Guardio steps in to block it—keeping your personal data safe and sound.
Stops malicious links
That suspicious link your "friend" just sent? Guardio spots it in real time and shuts it down before you even click.
Guardio for business
Running a business? Guardio helps protect you, your employees, and your digital assets from all kinds of online threats.
Why risk it? Let Guardio handle the dirty work, so you can focus on everything else.
The bottom line
In a world where election phishing scams are becoming increasingly common, ensuring that your personal information is protected is more important than ever. Whether it’s Get-out-the-vote phishing or any other type of phishing attack, having the right tools in place can make all the difference. By using Guardio and staying vigilant, you can safeguard your voter data and keep election cybersecurity threats at bay.
