From Daily Kos - Beware scam phone solicitations for"Friends of Kerry"

[Pirate Smile]

UPDATED "Friends of Kerry" SCAM
by mlk


Thu Apr 14th, 2005 at 08:21:30 PDT

Did you sign the petiton for giving uninsured kids healthcare? Well then, expect a solicitation call from "Friends of Kerry".
I just got a call from them asking me to give Kerry money. I think it is a total scam.

Update <2005-4-14 12:17:14 by mlk>:I just got off the phone with Senator Kerry's office and they have received several phone calls about this and assured me that this *DID NOT* come from the real "Friends of Kerry". The person answering the phone took my information and let me know that they are looking into this and will call me once they find out more information. If you get a call from these people DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION. They are phishing for account information. More on the flip...

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When I signed the petition, I did it in good faith, thinking it meant something. But no, it was just a way to phish for my contact information.

So this morning I get a call from "Friends of Kerry" . This very fast talking man with a lousy connection tried to get me to part with my money. He wouldn't even let me speak to either ask question s (because I didn't understand a word he said) or to say no. I finally had to shout over him to tell him that it would be a cold day in hell before I gave him money. I am not an ATM and I don't think a dime of that money will go to helping children. I donate to whomever I damn well please and one no from me should be sufficient.

So being pissed off, I called Senator Kerry's office to complain. The nice girl on the phone told me that the Senator's office had nothing to do with this. But I explained to her that Kerry must have authorized the use of his e-mail/phone list for solicitations. She directed me to call his PAC at [phone].

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/4/14/112130/617

From the comments:
"I called John Kerry's office again and they have had several calls about this. They said that this was not authorized by John Kerry and it might be a result of the Nexus Lexus security breach. I left my name and number to have someone get back to me about this and I will keep updating this diary as I get more information."

[NYCGirl]

1. Oy. NT

[blm]

2. Sounds like GOP operatives trying to taint Kerry's work with a scam.

All Dems should keep their antennae up on this one. They'll probably try to pull it with ALL the Dems pushing issues through websites and petitions.

They think that if they can cause just ONE scam to taint Dems, they might make DeLay smell better.

[FreedomAngel82]

4. I think so too

Anyway to find out who is running this group? Usually if Kerry in the past asked for money for his campaign he also did it through Email. I haven't heard anything about this group before in any of his Email (just "Kids for Kerry") and I don't see any mention on his website and they update his site pretty often.

[whometense]

9. I agree -

I got calls from the Kerry campaign all the time, but never to ask for money.

[kerrygoddess]

16. See the bottom left of the page on JohnKerry.com

"Paid for by Friends of John Kerry, Inc." - http://www.johnkerry.com/

[FreedomAngel82]

21. Ah Doy

Did the callers say "Friends of John Kerry inc" or just "Friends of John Kerry"? But I think he would've sent an Email out with the phone calls.

[whometense]

10. Sadly,

that scenario is oh-so-believable...

[abburdlen]

3. I got a call last week

Started out quite plusible asking to support Kerry's plan to provide healthcare for kids. I said sure they could add my name as someone who supports the bill. Then they asked for a donation, still seemed normal- of course they're going to *ask* for some sort of donation- but I declined to give any money at this time. The woman on the phone (and it was a terrible connection I could hardly understand a word) started with the hard sell- any donation would be great, most folks are 'pledging' $25, can't those kids count on you... it got to the point where I just hung up on her. I commented to my wife how disappointed I was with Kerry at that point. I glad to hear he had nothing to do with it.

[Pirate Smile]

5. I wonder how many people have gotten called? I'm glad the fact that

it is a scam has been discovered.

Hopefully, the word will get out about this so other people don't become "disappointed" in Kerry when he didn't have anything to do with it.

[woodsprite]

6. I got a call like that from the DNC asking for donations

for the plan to mobilize in each state. I gave $25. I hope that wasn't a scam. I did get a "receipt" from the DNC in the mail just yesterday thanking me for my donation. I'll have to go back and look at it and see if it lists the date of the donation, it might be for the previous one. I *try* to donate $25 whenever I can to them, so I would think it would be legit, but you never know. Right now, I'm pounding my forehead with my hand and saying "DUH!!!"

[Pirate Smile]

7. I did it to the DCCC also. I got a thank you letter from the DCCC and

it showed up on my credit card statement as DCCC

[LittleClarkie]

30. Or, at the least, they need a different phonebank service

At the least, if legit, the people they hired suck.

I suspect that if the callers are legit, that they are being paid by donation, and could really give a damn about children's health care.

To bad there couldn't be an activist phonebank of some kind.

If nothing else, the feedback should be given to Kerry's PAC so they know what these guys are doing.

To tell you the truth, if this isn't a "ratfuck" then I suspect the PAC farmed out the phone calls, and will need to know that the service they hired needs to either be talked to about their methods, or fired. Bad customer service at the VERY least.

[hopein08]

8. I got a call yesterday...

Here are the details...

I got a call yesterday...the connection was bad and there was
a lot of noise in the background. I didn't clearly hear who
the woman identified herself as. She had a complicated pitch
that included telling me that a donation of $110 would be one
penny for all 11 million uninsured children. When I said no
to that, she gave some pitch connected to $75, then $50, then
$25, and finally $10. I didn't give in to anything. I asked
if there was a website or something that I could use to donate
if I got the money later. She said there was no way to donate
through the website and they were trying to get all the money
by the end of the month.

[blm]

12. The "bad connection" part might be the tip-off. Maybe it prevents tracing.

.

[hopein08]

32. You're probably right...

I got the call on my cell phone and when the phone range I checked to see if it was a number I recognized. It only said "UNKNOWN". I chalked that up to Kerry's people not wanting anyone to call back. But you might be on to something...

[kerrygoddess]

11. I got a call and am certain it was legit.

I'm waiting for word back on this. It's not a scam.

[Pirate Smile]

14. But it sounds like it is not from Kerry since his Senate office said

as much.

[kerrygoddess]

15. The PAC can not coordinate with the Senate Office.

It was the same during the campaign.

Besides, it's mostly interns who answer the phones, and they are not informed on everything.

[Pirate Smile]

I just want the whole thing cleared up.

[kerrygoddess]

18. As soon as I know more I will post it. N/T

[Pirate Smile]

20. Thanks kerrygoddess.

:)

[Pirate Smile]

17. Dupe

[whometense]

19. I don't know.

I can't understand why the PAC would be asking for banking info. At the very least, that would be a hideous way to make money. I would NEVER give anyone any info over the phone.

If they won't mail you anything or give you a place to donate online, they can't be legit, IMHO.

[FreedomAngel82]

22. I agree

I don't trust anybody who asks for my private information.

[kerrygoddess]

23. Did you get called?

Did they ask for your bank info?

If not please don't perpetuate what someone else may not have been honest about.

[joanski01]

29. I got a call the other day. The lady

said the money was for Putting Kids First, or something like that. I told her I didn't have any money to give, but in the end she asked for only $10. I said OK and gave my credit card number. Please let me know how this turns out.

[cybildisobedience]

13. got a call the other night, too

The woman got an earful, but no money. Said I was donating to true progressive organizations or individuals who aren't afraid to stand and fight.
I didn't think it was a scam - I was just pissed off.

[proud patriot]

24. I got a call last week

I'm way broke , and let them know I help in
other ways .

[mmonk]

25. They called me

and I told them to send me information. They did. It is from Cambridge MA. It also has a reply from John Kerry thanking me for being a co-sponsor of the KidsFirst Act. It also says to contact us at www.johnkerry.com.

[kerrygoddess]

26. Thank you!

[mmonk]

28. you're welcome

[mmonk]

27. Also, the information says

Friends of John Kerry, not Friends of Kerry. Also it says Paid for by Friends of John Kerry, Inc..

[joanski01]

31. Thanks. That makes me feel better.

Guess I'll have to quit contributing by credit card. Then I won't have to worry.