VoteTheWill.org (Informed Electorate) is apparently one of the URLs used by a certain PAC (Political Action Committee) to raise funds for whatever cause, through a robo-calling network.
While everyone who has ever come into contact with these people says the operation is a scam, it cannot really be called that in the sense that it apparently does not deceive people into handing over cash.
There is obviously a money-raising pitch involved, but it is more along the lines of begging for a donation, rather than promising something too-good-to-be-true for it in return.
Whatever the case, let us set it straight from the get-go that the wisdom of the masses has delivered its verdict on this operation and according to it, this is definitely a scam.
What exactly are we dealing with here though?
VoteTheWill.org is a website that does not really tell us anything at all.
It masquerades as some sort of an organization doing political surveys to keep the US electorate informed.
That is their sales angle and that is what they stick to through the website, as well as in the phone calls that they make.
The truth is though that the operation is indeed a PAC and it collects funds for an undisclosed political entity/cause.
Exactly what kind of entity/cause this is, is anyone’s guess at this point.
What is clear however is that the people behind this scam are keen on not disclosing any details in this regard.
The About Us page of the website only delivers some generic blurb about why the organization does what it does. Nothing of essence is delivered there in any shape or form regarding its background.
The address where Informed Electorate is “located” is PO Box 30040
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0040 – and that says a lot about their “legitimacy” as well.
The phone number provided is 1-888-823-7806, but we absolutely DO NOT encourage you to call under any circumstances.
Taking a peek at the Whois information of the domain yields a few more generous – yet probably still unimportant – bits of information. Apparently, the domain was registered by a certain Brett Payne, who supposedly lives at 871 Milestone Drive, Smithfield, UT.
Scamadviser have given an abysmal score to the operation, and while they say the site claims to be based in the US, there is no way of telling, as its real location is hidden.
What is the MO of Informed Electorate?
The operator simply contacts people by phone. That’s how it all starts.
The phone numbers are collected through their website (where would-be victims are given the possibility to register for polling themselves) or who knows where…
The first call is kept simple and people are usually presented with a very straightforward question, to get things going and to build up some level of “trust.”
Those who ask uncomfortable questions during this stage, are eventually disconnected.
The Informed Electorate system never answers any of those questions.
The robot-system handling the calling is probably set to attempt to steer the conversation back to its starting point, whenever something unexpected like that occurs, though some people have reported human interlocutors, so that may not always be the case.
Once the victim agrees to answer more of these seemingly innocent questions, the pestering begins.
The service begins to place calls daily.
Initially, slightly more intricate questions are asked, then, contributions are solicited.
This is where people usually realize they’re being duped, but – if the contribution reports made available by the operation to Utah authorities are any indication – scores agree to contribute between $5 and $60, to a cause/destination they know nothing about.
During the fund-soliciting stage of the campaign, the operation often employs high-pressure sales tactics.
Is Informed Electorate a registered operation?
Yes, it is.
It is apparently a PAC registered in Utah and some of its Contribution Reports are indeed available for viewing online.
In a nutshell, what these people do is legal, but that does not make it right.
The incessant pestering, the soliciting of funds and the whole MO (which misleads people into thinking they’re supporting an organization whose sole activity is the polling of the US public), reeks of scam.
Whom does Informed Electorate support with the funds collected off this scheme?
Nobody really seems to know that.
People discuss the scam and provide details on it through various channels (among them Facebook) and some speculate that it may be the fundraising branch of a far-right organization, but no one can produce any relevant proof in this regard.
Handing out credit card information to a bunch as shady as this one is obviously not a good idea, so steer clear of them and cut them off as soon as possible if they happen to call you.
Bottom line
Votethewill.org is a front for a Utah-based PAC which collects money in support of an unknown political entity.
Informed Electorate, the company behind it all, masquerades as a polling agency, but it ends up using high-pressure tactics to demand donations.
No one is willing to step forth as the entity behind Informed Electorate.
Over time, the operators used a number of different URLs to run their “service”, such as TheInformedElectorate.com, InformedElectoratePac.com and InformedElectorate.com, among others.
I fell for it. After about the 3rd call (they were calling once a month) they started soliciting and I did it by credit card. I thought it was a one time deal. They would call occasionally, but only with one question and never any follow up info. Then I decided to check out their site and it really angered me because everything was right leaning. Then the next time I went to check my bank records I found they were taking a donation every month. I called and cancelled that card and then I started receiving letters wanting “my pledge”. They still call and I ignore. They send letters and I recycle. Live and learn the hard way I guess.
I think it’s likely that it is a front for an alt-right group. I’ve mistakenly answered questions over time, and like others here, a couple months ago they started asking for donations. Today’s question was MUCH more skewed than previous ones, asking about the newest SCOTUS appointee, and calling him the VERY honorable and respected . . . blah blah, with THEIR emphasis on the VERY honorable & VERY respected . . . Also today – for the first time – they provided the poll results from their last call. Based on the results of a survey of WELL OVER 5 million, 44% said they would re-elect trump if the election was held “today”, while 41% said they would not; 15% were unsure. If those numbers ARE accurate, then I’m scared. Very scared.
Got the same call. I also believe this is a front for a Trump-backed PAC (can’t call it alt-right anymore because unfortunately they’ve already taken over the Republican Party). Answered option 2 — that I do not support the nominee because he supports absolute prosecutorial immunity for a president. I’m hoping I don’t get called again since I didn’t give them the answer they wanted.
They’ve been calling me monthly, only once a month, for about a year. Always a computer. Started trying to solicit a donation a few months ago. Nothing more to report, except that with a claimed five million subscribers you’d think they’d be having a little political impact or public profile.
Like you, I got two or three calls where I was asked questions. On the last call, they got down to asking for a donation. I NEVER DONATE OVER THE PHONE. The caller was persistant and kept trying to talk me into giving information I will not give out on the phone. They sent a letter requesting I honor a pledge which I did not give.I smell a scam.
Informed Electorate PAC
P.O. Box 30040
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0040
votethewill.org
These people have been calling my house daily for over 5 months. Apparently, my elderly mother agreed to answer a few questions the first time they called. They now ask for her. I never answered the calls until a few weeks ago, to tell them to stop calling 2-3X EVERY day for months. I told them my mother did not want to speak to them, and to stop calling. Obviously, that did not work. Today, I tried blocking the number, so we will see. I tried complaining to the FTC, but since they call themselves political, they offer no recourse. Can’t someone make them stop?
I receive one call monthly, am asked a relevant political question and given the results of the previous month’s question. No solicitation and not unlike other polling calls.
Third call today – 813-295-2840, 617-581-0895,646-813-2670, so different number every time, and today is the first call asking for donations to “educate” us all to be informed voters. This guy made a couple of comments about “problems in the White House,” and “problems in government,” and how we’d all be better informed for just $25. lol I asked who sponsored the group, and he said “just a concerned citizen, but we have several people who support it,” or words to that effect. I told him if he wasn’t going to give me any information about it, no money would be given. He kept insisting, and I hung up.
I answered their questions on the first couple calls, thinking it was an actual survey. Today they asked for money, and I told them to get F off. They’re taking advantage of the current political divide and that’s BS
Definitely a sucker approach, they got me but no cash given. These people definitely know how to work the system… after one survey call, the pestering is starting. I refused, demanded something in the mail. Agreed to send it, then asked for an email address to follow up… once they had it, they wanted to email the “pledge letter.” I refused to “play the game” so they say they will mail the letter. I’m betting they won’t, but will start hounding me for the pledge I “agreed” to… (had to have an amount to send the letter). According to the website the caller gave me, they’ve only completed 3 surveys and those are not reported the way the caller described. The sad thing is, if an organization was actually doing what they claim to be doing, I’d probably support it. But this is, as described, really a just barely legal attempt to get donations for someone or something else.
Have been called 3x, never asked for $$$. Questions are similar or same as InformedElectorate. However, I believe one is answering to a computer and not a live person. First call was by a live person and when I asked deeper questions, she hung up w/o answering.