Unfortunately, there are always new and creepy ways criminals are inventing to scam our constituents. This time of year, due to the upcoming elections, they are focusing their efforts via unsolicited emails or calls “confirming” constituent’s voter registration eligibility. These phone calls or emails request Social Security numbers or financial information claiming to register you to vote or to confirm your registration. What they are actually doing is taking the information you submit and using it to commit identity theft.

Groups and organizations that conduct lawful voter registration drives will most commonly meet with you face-to-face or provide you with a voter registration form that you can fill out yourself. Financial information is never requested on the form nor relevant to the voter registration process. Concerning identification numbers, only your Kansas driver’s license number or nondriver’s identification card number is requested. These numbers are only used for administrative purposes and will not be disclosed to the public. If you do not have either one, only the last four digits of your Social Security number are required for identification purposes.

If you get an unsolicited phone call or email from someone who claims to need your Social Security number or other personal or financial information to register you to vote, file a complaint with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division online at http://www.ksag.org/content/page/id/98 or call 1-800-432-2310.