Security News > 2023 > July > Buying Campaign Contributions as a Hack

The first Republican primary debate has a popularity threshold to determine who gets to appear: 40,000 individual contributors.

A long-shot contender at the bottom of recent polls, Mr. Burgum is offering $20 gift cards to the first 50,000 people who donate at least $1 to his campaign.

One lucky donor, as his campaign advertised on Facebook, will have the chance to win a Yeti Tundra 45 cooler that typically costs more than $300-just for donating at least $1. It's actually a pretty good idea.

He could have spent the money on direct mail, or personalized social media ads, or television ads.

Instead, he buys gift cards at maybe two-thirds of face value, and resells them.

Plus, many contributors probably give him more than $1, and he got a lot of publicity over this.

News URL

https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2023/07/buying-campaign-contributions-as-a-hack.html