Scammers Impersonate Election Officials In MD: Attorney General

MARYLAND — Election officials will never ask over the phone for someone's full Social Security number. Attorney General Brian Frosh issued a consumer alert Friday letting people know that voters in Maryland have been called by scammers telling them they need to provide their full Social Security numbers to process their ballots.

"This is a scam," according to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

The Maryland Board of Elections or the local Board of Election may call if there is a problem with a ballot — fox example, if voters forgot to sign their mailed-in ballots.

To verify a voter's identity, election officials may ask for the last four digits of a Social Security number, authorities say, but they would never ask for the number in full.

"If someone calls you claiming to be from the Board of Elections and asks for your full SSN, they are trying to scam you," officials said in a statement. "They may use this information to steal your money, other personal information or identity."

As a rule, the attorney general's office advises people to refrain from providing a Social Security number over the phone unless they have initiated the call and are giving it to someone like a bank representative who is verifying identity when the caller does not have their account number.

If a scammer calls, people are advised to hang up immediately.

Those who have questions about their ballots can call their local Board of Elections.

People who may have been the victim of a Social Security scam can file a report with the Office of the Inspector General.

See Also:

• U.S. Attorney Taps Veteran Prosecutor In MD To Monitor Election Fraud, Voter Intimidation
• Elections Officials’ Advice: Bring Mail-In Ballots To Drop Boxes