Voters in Raleigh have been cautioned to be vigilant after the Raleigh Police Department reported a fraudulent scheme involving an individual posing as an election canvasser. Police warned that this person has been distributing door hangers with QR codes, which misleadingly direct to a fraudulent ballot, as noted in a CBS17 article. Additionally, the suspect has been making false claims that voting can be accomplished using a smartphone.

This effort to duplicitously sway the electoral process is no light matter; such actions are considered a Class I felony. The suspect, as described by authorities, is using a dark blue Nissan sedan adorned with California tags to facilitate his activities. For those in Raleigh, coming into contact with this deceptive individual should prompt an immediate response through the hotline at 919-829-1911, as stated by a WRAL report.

In addition to the hangers and false claims, the Raleigh Police Department issued a further warning on their Facebook page, alerting residents to the fraudulent nature of the QR code which does not lead to any legitimate voting portal. With early voting coming to a close at 3 p.m. today and Election Day on the horizon for Tuesday, November 5, the Raleigh community is urged to remain alert and report any suspicious activity tied to this incident.

Local authorities have yet to release further details regarding the progress of an investigation or if any arrests have been made. Despite the disruption, officials maintain that the proper voting procedures are in place and secure for the upcoming election. Citizens are encouraged to follow the established avenues for casting their votes, and avoid any offers that suggest alternative, unverified methods of voting—particularly those that can be conducted over a phone. According to the Raleigh police, regular updates will be provided as the case develops.