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progree

(10,908 posts)
Tue Feb 4, 2014, 04:31 AM Feb 2014

Republicans resort to trickery to outfox Democrats (fake Dem websites send contributions to Repubs) [View all]

Last edited Fri Feb 7, 2014, 01:33 AM - Edit history (4)

Source: The Week

If you donate to a candidate online, pay attention to the fine print to make sure your donation goes to the candidate you want and not his or her opponent.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has launched a series of websites that look like they support a Democratic candidate for Congress, but instead direct contributions to the Republican Party instead.

The Tampa Bay Times interviews one donor who thought he was giving to Alex Sink's (D) congressional campaign. It even used the same blue and green color scheme as the candidate's official website.

But he didn't see the small print, which said, "Make a contribution today to help defeat Alex Sink and candidates like her."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/republicans-resort-trickery-outfox-democrats-172800372.html



Sorry this is 14 hours old, but I think its worth 2 hours of grace. I contributed to a Democratic senator's campaign after hearing she was facing a tough reelection, and I found whatever page I used through a Google search. So naturally I wonder where it went to -- $500 to a RepubliCON?. Later: I found the web page I used in my browser cache, and it looks OK, whew.

Here is that fake website for Alex Sink (D) mentioned in that article.
http://contribute.sinkforcongress2014.com/



Its not really "small print" that it goes to her opponent, but, it is certainly true that it is easy to miss if one isn't expecting shenanigans. I never heard of this crap before, but then I live a sheltered life.

More at the Tampa Bay Times story

The person in the story who made the contribution got the charge on his credit card reversed, but only after filling out a bunch of forms his credit card company sent him, and perhaps only because this was/is a media story.

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As for the title, "Republicans resort to trickery to outfox Democrats", I know that isn't "Late Breaking News". But the Late Breaking News forum requires we use the article title as given, though we're allowed to put some clarification in parenthesis ()'s, or at least I've seen that done many times. Its not news to me that Republicans resort to trickery, but it is very much news to me that fake websites like http://contribute.sinkforcongress2014.com/ are legal. So I felt the ()'s clarification in the title was essential.

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[font color = red]Update 2/4 1039p CT[/font]: The http://contribute.sinkforcongress2014.com/ now triggers in my Chrome browser (but not my Internet Explorer browser) with a Phishing Warning that it has been reported as a Phishing site!

[font color = red]Update 2/6 1131p CT[/font]: Bad news! Now my Chrome browser has no problem with the above URL.
42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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People need to hear about it every time this happens. Thank you. n/t Judi Lynn Feb 2014 #1
I have considered sending $5.00 Sherman A1 Feb 2014 #2
as long as you're sending them $5.00, send them a gift too! magical thyme Feb 2014 #16
+1 Sherman A1 Feb 2014 #23
This is how Republicans operate... Cheat, lie and steal ... yuiyoshida Feb 2014 #3
They are an organized crime syndicate for the plutocrats. Once people realize that, they'll decide freshwest Mar 2014 #42
Actually, if this is deceptive, and in the "fine print", I wonder if this isn't fraud, and if they lostincalifornia Feb 2014 #4
It is deceptive for sure, but I guess, unfortunately, that's OK these days progree Feb 2014 #5
Go BitDefender!! JusticeForAll Feb 2014 #34
Cool. Maybe we've found the new Official DU Security Software. Does it also work on these? : progree Feb 2014 #35
Sorry I did not check back earlier....none of these worked :( JusticeForAll Feb 2014 #36
Thanks much for the info. Update: the Repugs changed the Sink and Sinema websites progree Feb 2014 #37
Yeah, ya' think? nikto Feb 2014 #9
Fake Republican Websites Shaft Would-Be Dem Donors NancyDL Feb 2014 #6
"Fake Republican Websites Shaft Would-Be Dem Donors" - Great title, wish I could use it progree Feb 2014 #8
THE PROPER RESPONSE... nikto Feb 2014 #7
No, actually that is a bad idea davidpdx Feb 2014 #11
Thank you, there is a shifting mentality around here as well... Demenace Feb 2014 #21
I'm with Frank... nikto Feb 2014 #32
They'll do anything for their cause. Dispicable !! cntrygrl Feb 2014 #10
Republicon Occultism. As usual. They hide the truth. Berlum Feb 2014 #12
the republican way barbtries Feb 2014 #13
Cheating is all those people know...... groundloop Feb 2014 #14
proper response: state election commissions anasv Feb 2014 #15
How is this not illegal? blondie58 Feb 2014 #17
The Republicans are doing it, that's how. RC Feb 2014 #18
Lying is their forte jsr Feb 2014 #19
We need a permanent Special Prosecutor to monitor the republicans. Kingofalldems Feb 2014 #20
This confirms the party's "snake in the grass" image SmittynMo Feb 2014 #22
Good to see the GOP has pride when taking donations. mackerel Feb 2014 #24
Juanita Jean is calling out the GOP for this deceptive tactic Gothmog Feb 2014 #25
Thanks for the Pic. Here's more pics -- Ann Kirkpatrick for Congress, and Alex Sink for Congress progree Feb 2014 #29
Why isn't this prosecutable as outright fraud? n/t Still Sensible Feb 2014 #26
The GOP is willing to give money back and so there is no case Gothmog Feb 2014 #27
k&r for exposure. n/t Laelth Feb 2014 #28
OUTFOX ? RAM49 Feb 2014 #30
Chrome browser now reports contribute.sinkforcongress2014.com was reported as a phishing site! progree Feb 2014 #31
Darn - Chrome browser no longer has a problem with contribute.sinkforcongress2014.com/ progree Feb 2014 #33
These websites are illegal Gothmog Feb 2014 #38
The GOP/NRCC is worried and have changed the donations page for these fraudulent websites Gothmog Feb 2014 #39
CREW is filing an ethics complaint against the Repug using one of these fake websites Gothmog Mar 2014 #40
Thanks much for keeping us informed on new developments. (kick) n/t progree Mar 2014 #41
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