Survey: 71% of U.S. Adults Suspect an Election Donation Request to Be a Scam

Scammers have mastered the art of pretending to be people, businesses, charity organizations, and other typically trusted sources. With 2024 a U.S. presidential election year, scammers have also taken on a new persona: presidential campaigns. 

Each year, millions of Americans take out their credit cards and punch in their personal information to an online campaign donation portal or even verbally relay the same information over the phone to a stranger. While on paper this doesn’t sound like a smart financial decision, presidential campaigns do receive money, and lots of it. So, how many individuals are actually falling victim to election scams? 

We recently commissioned a survey of American credit card users to find out. The results indicate that the American electorate is aware of election scams and are willing to take necessary steps to prevent them from occurring. 

It takes a lot of money to campaign for an election — and much of it is donated by the public. Our survey indicates that 65% of respondents have donated up to $500 or more using their credit cards. Here are some of the survey’s key findings:

• 100% of people surveyed used credit cards as their primary source for financial contributions to the past two presidential campaigns.
• 75% of respondents who use credit cards for political donations said concerns about donation scams would impact their involvement in monetarily supporting an upcoming election.
• More than 65% of respondents donate up to $500 or more via their credit cards.
• 60% of participants would prefer to use a dedicated credit card solely for political donations.
• 53% of people surveyed have received suspicious follow-up requests after making a donation via their credit card.
• Only 28% of respondents have not suspected a credit card donation request was a scam

“With so much consumer spending going toward election campaigns, it remains a vital time to educate individuals about these issues, how to protect their financial position, and ensure their personal information does not end up in the hands of scammers,” said Erica Sandberg, consumer finance expert with CardRates.com.

In the spirit of discussing election scams, it was Eleanor Roosevelt who once said, “Learn from the mistakes of others.” Our survey indicates that consumers have learned from others or even their own mishappenings, as 71% of Americans surveyed said they’ve suspected an election donation request to be a scam. 

“If Americans are aware and remain vigilant of election scams, as the data shows, then our job is to educate the public on how to avoid getting involved in one,” explained Erica. 

Another 53% of people surveyed also have received suspicious follow-up requests after making a donation via their credit card, which emphasizes the importance of staying informed on ways to remain financially protected. 

Due to these suspicions, survey respondents say they have also altered their financial participation in elections. Approximately 75% of respondents who’ve donated to a political campaign with their credit cards said concerns of donation scams would impact their involvement in monetarily supporting an upcoming election. And nearly 72% of respondents also cited the current state of the economy as a reason not to donate. 

Although some Americans have used their credit cards to donate large sums of money to presidential campaigns despite fears that an election donation request could be a scam, they are willing to take necessary steps to avoid an election scam from occurring or even reoccurring.  

Sixty percent of participants said they would prefer to use a dedicated credit card solely for political donations, and nearly 88% of respondents said they would report a suspected election scam to their credit card company or bank. 

This survey shows that there is a reason for Americans to stay vigilant of any potential election scams, with many Americans receiving suspicious donation requests and follow-ups. It also reinforces the need to educate Americans on how to implement safeguards and report suspected campaign fraud to their banks and credit card companies so they are aware of the potential harm their customers face. 

One of Americans’ civic duties is to vote, and donating to an election campaign is a way for Americans to actively support their candidates. Exactly 54% of survey respondents have noted that concerns over political donation scams have discouraged them from participating in the electoral process, which includes voting. 

As we head into the final weeks of the 2024 presidential election, this survey serves as a reminder for consumers to remain cautious about potential scams related to this year’s election, as the campaign platforms are still making requests and accepting donations.  

In August 2024, we surveyed 500 American individuals about election scams and their impact on consumers’ financial decisions. The respondents ranged from ages 18 to 65+, with an average age range of 36 to 45. Participants were 50% women, 49% men, and .33% chose not to disclose.