PHOTO via Mercurynews

Nebraska Election Official Warns of Fraudulent Robocall Amid Election Day Concerns

A Nebraska election official is urging residents to ignore an anonymous robocall circulating ahead of Election Day that tells recipients to "stay safe and stay home." The robocall, which has not yet been traced to a specific source, features a robotic voice instructing individuals with the message, “This is a test, stay safe and stay home.”

The robocall uses a "spoofed" phone number, meaning it displays a local area code, leading recipients to believe the call is coming from a trusted source. This deceptive tactic is commonly used by scammers to disguise their identity and gain the trust of unsuspecting individuals.

While robocalls of this nature are not unique to Election Day and have been reported as early as July, they take on added significance during elections due to concerns over voter suppression and intimidation. The timing of these calls, as well as the messaging, has raised alarms among election officials, particularly with the potential to mislead or confuse voters on a critical day.

In response to reports of similar robocalls and text messages in states like Florida and Michigan, which were allegedly aimed at suppressing voter turnout, a senior official from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) noted that such issues are not new. "These sorts of things happen every year," the official said during a background call with reporters, acknowledging that misinformation and fraudulent communications are a common issue in U.S. elections.

Election security experts stress the importance of recognizing and reporting fraudulent communications to ensure voters can make informed decisions and cast their ballots without intimidation. Voters are encouraged to rely on official sources for information about polling locations, procedures, and voting deadlines.

As Election Day approaches, election officials and cybersecurity experts are working together to combat misinformation and ensure the integrity of the voting process, reinforcing the need for vigilance in the face of potential disruptions.