The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and Secretaty of State issued the following press release today warning of a Voter Registration Scam that has been reported throughout Minnesota.
Secretary of State Kiffmeyer, League of Women Voters Issue Alert: Voter Registration Scam Telemarketers Suspected of Using Voter Registration Guise for Identity Theft For Release: September 27, 2004 Contacts: Kent Kaiser 651-297-8919 Helen Palmer 651-224-5445 SAINT PAUL�Minnesota Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer and League of Women Voters President Helen Palmer today issued a joint alert to Minnesota citizens about a telephone voter registration scam that has come to their attention. The Secretary of State's Office has received calls from several Minnesota residents saying someone called them, supposedly from the League of Women Voters or from an unknown organization called "Women's Right to Vote." The targets were told that they are not registered to vote and that they could ensure their registrations by supplying their social security numbers and other personal information over the phone. "We and the League of Women Voters have received dozens of calls from Minnesota residents who have been targeted," said Kiffmeyer. "We first became aware of the scam taking place in the Moorhead area and contacted the newspaper there and the League of Women Voters; since then, we now have heard of residents of Rice and Isanti Counties being targeted, as well." "Telephone identity theft scams are nothing new, but this one is particularly disturbing because it undermines legitimate voter registration efforts and besmirches the name of the League of Women Voters," said Kiffmeyer. "There is no reason why anyone should be calling Minnesota residents and asking for social security numbers or other sensitive personal information in order to vote. To register you must complete a form and your signature is required on it�nobody can actually do it for you over the phone." "We have contacted all of our chapter presidents and are working aggressively to make people aware of this scam," said Palmer. "We are very concerned that everyone understands that this is not a League of Women Voters project, this is a criminal act and anyone who receives a call from someone claiming to be with our organization and asking for sensitive personal information should report the call immediately to their County Attorney and the FBI. They may call the Minnesota Attorney General's Office." Identify Theft is a criminal act. The County Attorneys Association can help citizens get in touch with their local county attorney and can be reached at 651-641-1600. Consumers should also call the FBI Field Office in Minnesota which can be reached at 651-291-7100. Citizens may also call the Consumer Assistance line at the Minnesota Attorney General's Office at 651-296-3353. Ady Shoreview - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ady Wickstrom office: (651) 224-5445 LWVMN Webmaster home: (651) 780-5245 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] / [EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.lwvmn.org _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
