Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a lawsuit against Donald Peltier of South Hadley, Massachusetts, for allegedly running fraudulent websites impersonating the Democratic and Republican parties to solicit donations.
The lawsuit claims Peltier used websites, including “democraticnationalcommittee.co,” “maf.democrat,” and “republicannationalcommittee.org,” to mislead the public into donating to fake causes.
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“Donating to a cause or candidate you believe in can be gratifying, but it’s important to be vigilant against scams,” Nessel said. “Bad actors often prey on this enthusiasm, using deceptive tactics like fraudulent websites to steal your hard-earned money. Protect yourself by researching organizations before donating, and as always, if you think you have been a victim of a scam, please reach out to my office.”
Guidelines for Considering Political Donations:
- Be Proactive: Look for causes or campaigns that resonate with your values, instead of responding to unsolicited fundraising requests.
- Don’t Rely on Names Alone: Scammers often create official-sounding names to deceive donors.
- Research Federal PACs: Legitimate PACs register with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Review their records to determine their authenticity.
- Beware of Scams Targeting Seniors: Fraudulent PACs frequently aim at elderly individuals.
- Be Cautious with Calls and Texts: Donation requests via phone or text are often used by scammers.
- Cross-Reference Information: Visit the PAC’s website, but verify its legitimacy through reputable, independent sources.
Michigan residents who suspect they’ve encountered or donated to a fraudulent PAC should report the issue to the FBI, FEC, and the Department of Attorney General.
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