The beginning of the end for Democratic scam PACs?

This week, a series of reports and filings once again brought to the fore Democrats’ concerns about one of the party’s growing problems: the proliferation of so-called “scam PACs” - shell organizations run by consultants, usually in DC, that line their own pockets by deploying large-scale, small-dollar fundraising campaigns that many consider unethical or outside of what’s the industry standard. Often operating under generic names like “Democratic Victory,” “Elect Democrats” or “Stop MAGA PAC!” intended to look legitimate and fly under the radar, these efforts collectively bring in tens of millions of dollars in any given year from thousands of unwitting grassroots Democratic donors. 

Even if you haven’t received one of their text messages or email blasts yourself, you’re probably familiar with some of the tactics used by these alleged scam PACs - such as promising that donations will be “matched” by anonymous benefactors at rates as high as 1000 percent, despite the fact that no such matches or benefactors actually exist. In other instances, solicitations warn that a donor’s party membership card may be expiring and urge immediate contributions to retain affiliation. More commonly, donors are tricked into thinking that their money is funding a candidate or campaign, but in reality, the group the funds are going to has no affiliation whatsoever. Critics say these methods, while legally permissible, target less internet-savvy individuals and divert resources away from legitimate political efforts, posing an ongoing challenge for Democratic operatives seeking to actually build sustainable grassroots fundraising programs. 

For years, these groups have proliferated on the Left, and their spammy and scammy tactics have often been dismissed as annoying but effective. This month, that’s beginning to change, and there are signs that the era of the scam PAC may be coming to an end… 

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