Warning: I think this is some kind of voter scam

[Nictuku]

I received an email that said it was from the California Secretary of State "Official Communication"

I am in IT, and I know what to look for in email scams.

This is NOT an official government email address (though they are trying to make it look like it is). I did not click on the link in the body of the email, but when I hovered over it, again, it was not any kind of government link.

Email addressee: California Secretary of State <[e-mail]>

The real secretary of state would have an address that would end with @sos.ca.gov (not have it in the username ending with mailservices6.com)

Here is the content:

***********************************************************
<my name>,

You deserve a convenient and accessible voting experience.

Did your voting experience run smoothly?

What steps can we take to further improve the process?

No two voters have the same experience, so please share yours.

Please take a few minutes to participate. Click here to access the survey. Or you can use this link: https://www.research.net/r/SOS18GPOST?EMAIL=<my email address>

Your answers will be confidential and anonymous.

Thank you.
****************************************
The 'Click here' went to this site: http://m1.mail-work.com/n85rm51qVydI/qVqjeg58ub/661/7tl/<morelettersandnumbers>
I'm very suspicious of it. Am I being paranoid?

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. Not paranoid at all.

Or not needlessly so. You could go directly to the CA Secretary of State’s website to see if there’s information about it there. Otherwise, it’s a scam.

Edited to add: It’s the same type of crap I look at every day for our clients at work. So maybe I’m the paranoid one.

[brooklynite]

2. One observation...

A Survey may be carried out by a third party, even when sponsored by the Government. The link in the message is for research.net which is SurveyMonkey’s professional market research arm and connects to an election survey.

[Lefta Dissenter]

4. Sure, but

There should be a way to validate its authenticity on the government’s website. Otherwise, I would think participation will be low because of skepticism.

[brooklynite]

5. How about going to the Secretary of State website?

https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voters-disabilities/

[Lefta Dissenter]

7. That's what I suggested up above

You took my laziness and turned it into action and actually checked it out!

[brush]

3. Hmmmm? They're collecting personal info if they can get it.

You're right to be suspicious.

[brooklynite]

6. It's a legitimte survey targeted at the voting experience of people with disabilities

According to the Sec of Stte website.