I just got a call from the Obama campaign- said they were recording it!

[undeterred]

They were asking for money. How weird is that to say you are recording a campaign fundraising call?! I am an Obama supporter but I think that is very strange.

[Bigleaf]

1. I hope you didn't give them your credit card #.

[undeterred]

4. I didn't contribute today.

I've written a check for them in the past. I will probably never contribute to anyone over the phone.

[Bigleaf]

14. Smart move. Too many scams these days. You never know.

[MADem]

2. So if you promise the money, they can call that a contract?

Or maybe they're not sure of their fundraisers, and are checking up on them?

Different...

[Bensthename]

3. yah, sounds kinda fishy. Scammers trying to sound legitimate..

[undeterred]

5. They asked for $150. It was a Massachusetts call.

I said I was home today and willing to call voters in Indiana but they weren't interested.

[gateley]

7. It's odd they'd ask for a dollar amount. Alert his HQ. nt

[Maine-ah]

37. no it's not odd that they ask for a dollar amount.

I've gotten calls for fundraising efforts from both campaigns, and the DNC. The first line is "would you like to make a top doner contribution amount of 150 dollars?"

They will take anything they can get, they just start with a big number.

As for being recorded, I know collections companies will say this call is being recorded or monitored for training purposes. But I have never had a campaign ask that. Kind of weird.

[AllentownJake]

39. On Primary day

When all resources are set aside for GOTV...I doubt they are making fundraising calls.

[Maine-ah]

44. possibly.

but it's still not odd to ask for a dollar ammount, which is what I was talking about.

The op did the correct thing and alerted us, and the Obama campaign to a possible fraud case.

[gateley]

6. My first thought was to

cover themselves in case people complained about rude or threatening behavior by the campaign volunteer -- but I could be wrong.

But that's a legit concern if they ask for your credit card. You might want to contact his HQ. :shrug: Do you have the number on caller ID?

[undeterred]

11. Yes, I do.

Just contact the campaign through the website?

[AllentownJake]

17. Phone number

[phone]
You may want to call on this one.

[undeterred]

Thanks. I just called the number you gave me

and the person I talked to said it didn't sound right to her either. They have an office in Boston, but no phone bank in Massachusetts.

[AllentownJake]

8. Sounds like Fraud

I think you should report this to the campaign and if you have the number forward that to.

I've never heard of them doing phone solicitations or asking for specific amounts.

The fact it was done on an election day when all resources are devoted to GOTV makes it even more fishy.

[undeterred]

12. I don't know how $150 from me could help

bring Obama supporters to the polls. And since I volunteered to make calls and they said no- well that is weird too.

[anigbrowl]

26. That's shady. If you get a call you can say you'll donate through the website.

[gateley]

28. Maybe call the police, too? Or is Obama's campaign going to take steps? nt

[undeterred]

35. I called the Obama campaign and told them about it.

I'm sure they've got people who look into this sort of thing.

[Blue Diadem]

42. We were getting them in Ohio last year. I thought it was strange then.

I posted about it in a thread where someone else was also questioning about it. It was early, way before our primary. At the time we were leaning towards Edwards. I found the two calls we received really demanding and rude and at first it really turned me off to even looking at Obama after Edwards opted out.

Ours was a request for $200 first and then snarkily dropping the amount requested. The 2nd call that came months later(but still way before our primary) was a request for $150. Both were requests to be placed on a credit card.

*I found the post* Note the OP was actually told it was a telemarketer.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2178972#2179082

[AllentownJake]

45. I've donated to them since Septemeber

They have never called me. Wierd.

[Emit]

9. Quality Control, maybe?

:shrug:

[habitual]

10. well, it is weird for a campaign to do this quality control procedure

which is normally meant for businesses to ensure that the quality of the representation of their company that the phone workers are giving meets their standards.

It would be interesting for a campaign to do this, it woulda helped this guy:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x128078

who was right well pissed off about the quality of a campaigns response on several calls he made to complain about auto-calls.

[JNelson6563]

13. I think they do that to prevent fraud

Just sayin'.

Julie

[Texas Hill Country]

15. yeah, that does sound like fraud actually.

[Hutzpa]

This really does sound fishy

how many times has people made donation without being told
they are recording their message.

This should be sent to Obama campaign HQ now before it gets
too late somebody is trying to sabotage the campaign and all
roads leads to Clinton.

Why does the Obamas campaign keeps thinking that they are getting
a fair deal from the Clintons is beyond me. Why can't they fight
back or made these dirty tactics by the Clintons public.

:grr:

[AllentownJake]

19. I don't think this is Clinton's campaign

I think this is someone who is using the election to try to get people's credit card numbers.

[undeterred]

24. Yup.

[Hutzpa]

61. I would not put anything past the Clintons

these days, it does not take them a second to get
a charity group representing some kind of organization
to sabotage his donation.

This is what it has come down to, sabotaging his campaign
by using some type of robocall to deter people making
donations.

[Texas Hill Country]

22. and why do you think its the Clintons? sounds like a Nigerian Email type scam.

[AllentownJake]

25. We pounced on it

We are policing are own on that TexasHill

:-)

[Hutzpa]

57. You seem to have a lot of knowledge about this

is there something we need to know about?

:shrug:

[Hutzpa]

16. delete - double post

[undeterred]

18. Well, the caller ID said Massachusetts

and not Obama... My first thought after they said the Obama campaign was- why aren't you calling people in Indiana or North Carolina today? You usually don't fundraise the day of a primary vote.

[H2O Man]

20. They have said that

every time they call me. Not a problem.

[Apollo11]

21. How do you know it was a call from the Obama campaign?

It could be from anyone who would like to have your credit card details.

[undeterred]

23. That's what the caller said.

So I really don't know- it could have been anyone.

[madfloridian]

27. I just this minute got one asking for money, saying not to donate online...not safe.

I said what? I always donate online.

I thought it was odd.

[Aloha Spirit]

29. No way... what's going on here? Did you report it to the campaign?

[madfloridian]

31. Not yet...here's the number from caller ID

617-245-9602

[AllentownJake]

32. Mass

Area code same as the OP...sounds like a scam
[phone]
Is the campaigns number

[madfloridian]

36. Saying not to donate online....so very weird.

The whole call sounded strange.

[Aloha Spirit]

50. Question--does your name appear on FEC reports?

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/search_donor.asp

[undeterred]

53. Yes it does.

But I've only given a large enough amount for it to get there once. I just used the lookup site to check on a couple of other unidentified numbers and one was for the DLC, and the other for a Democratic marketing number.

So, its Democrats who are annoying me... too bad they don't know I only give to individual candidates whose fundraisers I go to or to Feingolds Progressive Patriots Fund. They are wasting their time.

[madfloridian]

55. Yes.

But mostly from the Dean campaign, the DNC, and DFA donations.

We give to Obama as well, but mostly smaller donations.

[Maine-ah]

40. here's what I found

http://whocalled.us/lookup/6172459602

[AllentownJake]

41. This site

Identifies who they are identifying themselves as not what their listing is and the earliest information is from today.

[undeterred]

47. According to 1 reports the identity of this caller is Direct Marketing

Thats it.

[Aloha Spirit]

52. undeterred, does your name appear on FEC reports?

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/search_donor.asp

[undeterred]

54. yes - see my above response

[donheld]

48. I googled it

whocalled.us
Calls From [phone]. 1 calls reported from this number.According to 1 reports the identity of this caller is Direct Marketing ...
whocalled.us/lookup/6172459602 - 2 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this

[Aloha Spirit]

56. This number used to be a payphone in Wakefield, MA, not sure what it is now.

[madfloridian]

67. Very strange. It was an odd call.

.

[Mezzo]

30. I wonder if it really was the Obama camp.

seriously. I hope you didn't give them anything, and not just because I support Hillary either. :)

[undeterred]

49. No, I didn't.

For campaigns, I usually write checks and fill out all the information that the campaigns ask for. Anyone who asks for money over the phone- I tell them to mail me something.

[graycem]

33. That's definitely a scam..

they would never do that. They don't need to do that. His campaign is loaded.

[AllentownJake]

34. They send out emails

when they need money and it comes plus they just reached the 1.5 million donor mark last night.

[graycem]

43. Exactly..

I have never heard them soliciting donations by phone. Even if they did, they wouldn't be asking for private information over the phone. They would direct you to mail a check or direct you to their website.

[backscatter712]

38. The only place where I donate is the barackobama.com website.

That I know is legit.

[Aloha Spirit]

46. I left a message w/ the Boston office.

[goletian]

51. for quality assurance - nt

[Aloha Spirit]

58. I just filed a report with the FTC.

[OzarkDem]

59. I rec'd one from the Clinton campaign the other night

said the same thing, the call was being recorded.

Maybe its a new procedure to ensure they have proof in the event of accusations about push polling or voter suppression tactics.

[Aloha Spirit]

60. Hey OzarkDem, do you happen to know if your name appears in the online FEC database of

contributors?
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/search_donor.asp

If I were a scam artist, this would be my square one.
I filed an FTC complaint, will keep people updated with my findings.

If you have that phone# on caller ID still, that would help.
I'll call both campaigns tomorrow and see what they have to say about it.

Thanks!

[OzarkDem]

62. Thanks, I'll check it out

Its worth looking into. And yes, I'm in the database.

[JPZenger]

63. I Never heard of Obama doing telephone fundraising

I have never heard of the Obama campaign doing telephone fundraising. I've been on their donor lists for months and never received a fundraising phone call (unlike every other political campaign that calls).

[undeterred]

66. I have gotten a call before, but it was a while ago.

The caller ID said Obama Campaign and the man sounded like he was in a busy call center- and like he genuinely liked Obama. Also, he was telling me to donate online if I could. Not pushy.

[windbreeze]

64. Doesn't sound right....

and just what everyone wants to do...tell someone your cc # over the phone, when the call is being recorded....uh huh...NOT!! wb

[undeterred]

65. I doubt either campaign is involved in scamming people

but that doesn't mean that a person who works for a campaign or someone who has nothng at all to do with politics couldn't set up a scam to get peoples credit card information.

Its in the Obama campaign's interest to know about it and let them deal with it- if its happening to more than one person they can report it to the police right away.

[madfloridian]

68. No one with the Obama campaign would tell us not to donate online.

But to donate by phone only. So I am sure it was a scam.

[undeterred]

72. They didn't say that to me because I said

I wasn't going to donate today. But it didn't feel like a real call. I bet some people will be sucked in by it.

[casus belli]

73. I agree completely.

You should inform their campaign. It's hard to tell how many people may be taken in by this.

[bigwillq]

69. I just got one too!

The man was very nice, and said that they were looking ahead to the other primaries remaining and they were hoping I could help out.

I politely told him I wasn't interested in donating to any candidate at this time.

[stillcool]

70. There was someone in California..

that was running a fund-raising thing for Obama, but..he wasn't affiliated with the campaign. I don't recall if any of the money went to Obama or not, but it was one of those donor beware stories.

[barack the house]

71. It's a legal obligation they do it to make sure canvassers are being polite...

If a campaigner has not been courteous they will have audio evidence. They say they are recording so you are legally aware and have the option to end the call. So really, it is not meant as rude.

[casus belli]

74. that doesn't explain...

why he was told not to donate online because it was "unsafe".

[undeterred]

75. Well in this culture where we are losing the right to privacy-

where we don't know who is listening to our phone calls or reading our email- its a red flag.

[barack the house]

76. Donating online is pretty much safe from a reliable site and one that shows security lock at the

bottom.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

77. K&R

[indimuse]

78. and if you have EVER filled out info at his sites...he holds the right to SELL iT!

!!!