It’s been reported that Barack Obama’s re-election campaign is knowingly accepting donations from non-U.S. citizens, and PJ Media can confirm that it’s not only possible, but very easy, for foreign citizens to make contributions. I’ve been able to donate $25 to the Obama campaign in three separate transactions, despite being a lifelong British citizen resident in the UK. What’s more, two of my donations were processed despite the Obama campaign noting that I had provided a non-U.S. address, and despite my failure to provide proof of American citizenship when asked to do so.
I first tried to donate on October 6, via the donation page at BarackObama.com, the president’s official re-election campaign website. I entered my name, and my UK street address and city, as I figured that at a minimum I would need to supply these in order for my bank to process the transaction. I also supplied my email address.
However, in order to progress to the next screen I had to provide a U.S. state, postcode, and phone number. I have relatives in Massachusetts, so I chose MA from the list and entered my relatives’ postcode and a variation on their phone number, with the last four numbers changed so the state and area codes would be correct.
I then entered my debit card number (this is a card that draws on my checking account, as distinct from a credit card) and expiration date, but I was not asked to enter the three-digit CVV (card-verification value) number on the back of the card; I had seen reports that the Obama campaign had disabled the requirement to supply this number.
I clicked “donate,” and despite my intention to test the system, I was a little surprised to see that my donation was, initially at least, accepted – I figured it was still possible that the discrepancies in the address would show up. I received an acknowledgement of my donation from the Obama campaign via email, although the email did add that the donation was “subject to review.” I then made a second donation, for $5, so that I could take a screen grab of the page you see below.
As a control, I then tried to make a donation to the Romney campaign, entering the same information. This time, I was asked for the three-digit CVV number, and when I clicked “donate” I was immediately informed that the address I had entered did not match the address on file for the card.
I wasn’t entirely surprised when, on October 9, I received an email from the “compliance” department at the Obama campaign. The email said that, because I’d supplied a foreign address, I would need to supply a copy of the photo page from my U.S. passport in order to comply with Federal Election Commission regulations. I don’t have a U.S. passport of course, so I didn’t respond to the email. (Oddly, the email also said I needed to supply the passport page “even though you provided a passport number when donating online”; I hadn’t supplied a passport number when I donated, or been asked to supply one.)
I got the same email regarding the $5 donation, and I assumed that was the end of the line for my attempted donations. However, because the email didn’t say anything about my details not matching the card, and only asked me to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, I thought I’d have another go at donating. This time I provided an entirely false Massachusetts address, listing the main street of the town where my relatives live in case this was checked against the zip code, and a random house number. Again, the donation was accepted by the website, and I received the same thank-you email stating that the donation was “subject to review.”
I waited a few days, but this time I heard nothing from the Obama campaign’s “compliance” people. I thought that perhaps, as I hadn’t responded to their request for proof of identity for the first two donations, another donation from the same card would automatically be rejected. I then went on a trip for a few days. I checked my email, and while I received general fundraising emails from the Obama campaign, there was no further news on my donations.
However, when I checked my bank account online last week, I found that all three donations had been processed by my bank…
I was surprised that the third donation had been accepted, given that I’d supplied an address entirely unrelated to my bank details. But I was even more surprised to discover that the first two donations had been processed; after all, the campaign had detected that I’d supplied an overseas address, and I’d failed to supply proof of U.S. citizenship when requested to do so.
The flaw in the system appears to be the fact that the Obama website does not require you to enter the CVV number for your card. I don’t know about the U.S., but in the UK this would be highly unusual. In fact, I don’t recall ever being able to make a purchase with a debit or credit card, on the internet or over the phone, without supplying the CVV number.
At best, the Obama campaign is neglecting to implement the necessary procedures to ensure that donations from non-U.S. citizens are not accepted. At worst – and given that I was unable to donate to the Romney campaign, this seems the more likely scenario – the Obama campaign is deliberately failing to implement basic security measures in order to collect donations from foreign citizens.
PJ Media will be contacting the Obama campaign to ask for an explanation, and the Federal Election Commission to inform them of our findings. We’ll report back when we get responses from them.
Well done!
Thank you from New York!
REZKO, OBAMA, AND THE NADHMI AUCHI RAILROAD LINKING CHICAGO, WASHINGTON, AND BAGHDAD (Part 2 of 3)
http://illinoispaytoplay.com/2012/10/24/rezko-obama-and-the-nadhmi-auchi-railroad-linking-chicago-washington-and-baghdad-part-2-of-3/
It is not as if this is the first time that candidates have accepted illegal donations, but The One is so brazen in his anti-American actions it is mind numbing.
Moreover, his funny money is not coming from friendly nations. To the contrary – enemies of the U.S. are donating at warp speed, and that is his intention.
Once the money trail is unraveled, this blogger is willing to bet that a preponderance of it is coming from Islamic regimes.
In any case, thieves do what they do best; liars too – http://adinakutnicki.com/2012/10/13/the-liar-in-chief-his-many-tall-tells-end-game-purposefully-tearing-the-u-s-from-its-constitutional-roots-commentary-by-adina-kutnicki/, and The One is all of the above, plus a rabid anti-American too!
They are smart enough to realize it can be done openly and in a manner easily exposed, and cynical enough to know the only mechanism for accountability, the MSM, will ignore the story until after the election. Then at worst they might be required to pay a small fine and maybe refund some money to some of the contributors who can be found. Not a bad trade if it leads to a second term. Ethics appears nowhere in the calculus.
These are not campaign donations from enemies of the US, but a down payment for US national security secrets that the one has promised to deliver.
As a UK-born citizent and also resident there I can remember when, in a UK parliamentary election, a candidate was limited in what he/she could spend on their campaign – not to mention the compulsory deposit, then £150(forfeitable if a candidate didn’t get at least 12.5% of the popular vote). The deposit was increased after a case where a large number of men doing their National Service used it as a means of trying to buy their way out of the Armed Forces.
As for being funded by foreign nationals, I haven’t gone over all the relevant UK electoral law, but I would be surprised if there was no provision to combat the possible corruption that can’t fail to result from such.
“PJ Media will be contacting the Obama campaign to ask for an explanation, and the Federal Election Commission to inform them of our findings. We’ll report back when we get responses from them.”
Don’t expect a response from either Obama for America or the FEC until at least November 7.
I never ceases to amaze me when I see someone express surprise when a lawless thug acts likes a lawless thug. Why would anyone be surprised by what this guy does anymore? He’s proven repeatedly that he thinks laws are for the little people, not him.
Please remember, your complaint is about “process”‘ not “substance”. The people don’t care about “process”.
Did you receive your Obama bumper stickers?
The Obama campaign played this kind of game in 2008, too. People who looked into the issue then found, from what I recall reading, that the companies that handle web credit card transactions enable validation by default–you have to explicitly ask and pay more to have it turned off. So it’s deliberate.
(BTW, if you want to buy knick-knacks from the Obama campaign, they *do* validate for that.)
^^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^
From the man at the top to “entitlement” crew at the bottom, to the org’s they hire for their dirty work, all cheats, liars, frauds, and traitors. 12 more weeks is all they “should” get, and even those they do not deserve. After that, “good riddance to bad rubbish”, is all I have to say!
Go President Romney!
“The flaw in the system appears to be the fact that the Obama website does not require you to enter the CVV number for your card. I don’t know about the U.S., but in the UK this would be highly unusual. In fact, I don’t recall ever being able to make a purchase with a debit or credit card, on the internet or over the phone, without supplying the CVV number.”
It would be unusual here in the states. Every Internet purchase I make requires me to enter a CVV number. I don’t ever recall doing otherwise.
But given the people we are dealing with in this case, I’m not surprised this is happening. Barack and Michelle have to finance their retirement somehow!
not requiring a CVV code pots everyone with a credit card at risk. it goes way beyond just cheating.
Democrats cheat and the media covers for them.
From the Federal Election Commission Website:
“As noted earlier, the Act prohibits knowingly soliciting, accepting or receiving contributions or donations from foreign nationals. In this context, “knowingly” means that a person:
Has actual knowledge that the funds solicited, accepted, or received are from a foreign national;
Is aware of facts that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the funds solicited, accepted, or received are likely to be from a foreign national;
Is aware of facts that would lead a reasonable person to inquire whether the source of the funds solicited, accepted or received is a foreign national.
11 CFR 110.20(a)(4)(i), (ii) and (iii).
Pertinent facts that may lead to inquiry by the recipient include, but are not limited to the following: A donor or contributor uses a foreign passport, provides a foreign address, makes a contribution from a foreign bank, or resides abroad. Obtaining a copy of a current and valid U.S. passport would satisfy the duty to inquire whether the funds solicited, accepted, or received are from a foreign national. 11 CFR 110.20(a)(7).”
LOL…Many of those “foreign nationals” VOTE in this country these days, let alone contribute money to the fraud’s re-election campaign. Precincts in areas with a large immigrant (legal and illegal) population base, as well as native minority population stock, report vote counts not worth the paper written on.
Really? When and where?
Every sourced and footnoted article or academic paper I’ve ever seen says that voter fraud is extremely rare in the U.S.
Here’s just one:
http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/policy_brief_on_the_truth_about_voter_fraud/
But please, let me know of other reliable information if it is available.
Thank you!
See also my page, “Donating to Presidential Campaigns”.
In the case of a purchase, what would be the purpose of the CVV?
Now I realize in the case of donations it’s important to know where the donation is coming from, but let’s say you’ve logged into Amazon. What do they care where you’re from? They want to sell widgets no matter where you’re from.
Is it possible that this is a security for the seller, preventing a buyer from … what?
The purpose is to prevent fraud. As I understand, the card processors charge more for on-line transactions that don’t ask for the CVV, because they don’t want to be stuck with false charges from Doodad Pro.
Id bet that the merchandise side of their site is handled by a third party, a fulfillment house. That would explain the verification there; the fulfillment house doesn’t want to get stuck with fraud, while for the campaign, fraudulent donations are a goal.
Your credit card number appears on bank statements and on credit slip impressions made at stores etc. But the CVV number does not. Although not perfect because someone could steal your CVV number also, there is a higher chance that the buyer has the card in his/her possession if they are able to give the CVV number.
It’s not just the CVV number they’re ignoring. They deliberately turned off basic address verification – does the address entered match the address on the account. That’s automatic with internet credit card processing. They had to make an effort to disable it, it wasn’t an accident.
I can see the campaign weaseling on the wording of the compliance request. It says they MUST ASK for a copy of the donor’s passport, but it doesn’t say they have to have it to process the donation. As Kimbly at #9 notes, this is probably not what the FEC had in mind. Technically, they may be compliant–but not in the way a “reasonable person” would assume. Sneaky, but not surprising.
Exactly the same thing was possible in 2008, and was verified 6+ months before the election. The FEC refused to investigate until after the election, and then said it wasn’t an issue now that the election was over.
And, SDN, after the ’08 election the McCain campaign had to go through a mandatory audit of their expenses because they took federal matching funds and Obama was exempt because he refused federal funds. Smart money beleives Obama received over 200 million in foreign money in ’08 – but we will never know since there was not a mandatory audit of Obama’s ’08 financing.
Pamela Geller at AtlasShrugs covered Obama’s illegal foreign contributions in ’08 and she was ignored even though she had tons of evidence to prove her allegations. And, guess what, not a damn thing is going to be done to Obama and the Dems this time around either.
OK, fine, now when are criminal charges going to be filed?
Exactly. While I’m glad this is being exposed, we already knew this illegal activity existed back in ’08. Absent of consequences, what’s the point of it being illegal? Who is enforcing this and why are they not doing so? Obama shows a willingness to flout the law when he knows he can get away with it.
Those CYA compliance emails smack of someone adhering on the cheap to the letter of the law, rather than the spirit. Does anyone know whether the FEC requires them to report this compliance activity? Can we find out how many such follow-up CYA emails were generated?
And even more importantly, what are the AMOUNTS of these contributions? If they only net out to a few hundred dollars, then they are of symbolic importance only. But what if they add up to millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars? Then they could actually change the result of the election.
As long as there isn’t a national data base for voters (notwithstanding all constitutional issues), where in real time double voting (especially in reference to absentee ballots) can be checked out, widespread double voting (re: by snowbirds in sunny States) will continue. Expect voter fraud to pick up this time around.
PJ Media will be contacting the Obama campaign to ask for an explanation, and the Federal Election Commission to inform them of our findings. We’ll report back when we get responses from them.
This will probably be after November 6…
President Obama doesn’t give a damn about Benghazi He wants us to Bend Over –
Get Axelrodded, until the exceptionalism, of America is lost.
That exceptionalism came about because of the energy of American families — originally immigrants who came to America for Opportunity without Entitlements; Freedom without Fealty to a strong Central government.
We have avoided so far the fate of every European democracy in history which over time — with bread, circuses and promises — was turned into a Statist government of one form or another.
The United States is as its name tells us a Nation with Compound governance. That has been our saving grace. The Statist governance — strong central government, weak and impotent provinces so that theorists can play with our future is something which free men should not tolerate,
This was excellent work, great job! What this demonstrates is that Obama has left the donation door wide open for anyone to contribute at any amount. I have long believed that his election funding fraud started in his 2008 campaign. Let me explain.
Recall, that FEC regulations means that Obama does not have to report the donor identify and details of any contributor as long as it is lower that $200 for the election cycle.
There was all this talk that Obama got all this cash via small (< $200) internet donations. OK, some were legitimate but mixed in were most probably an operation(s) dedicated to funneling in huge amounts of cash to his campaign– all via small donations via credit/debit card. This could have been done from abroad or in the USA (less risky from abroad). And if done correctly, no donor name would have ever had to be reported by the Obama campaign. Heck, the "donors" could be fake. But Obama gets the money. Just think if Obama had a huge pile of cash from someone like, oh I don't know…maybe George Soros to use an off-the-wall example. How hard would it be to set up an operation to funnel the cash into the Obama campaign via this mechanism and leave no fingerprints on the effort? Answer: trivial.
So the punishment for this violation is?
Crickets
But, but, but, asking about Dear Leader’s donations …Why, that’s RACIST! Can’t expect his followers to know what a CVV number is.
Actually, I think the CVV number is to prevent someone from getting and using a large list of credit card numbers they managed to steal or buy.
This is just one more case of Obama’s contemptible disrespect for law that needs to be taken up by a non-partisan Attorney General that will put integrity above politics. It is yet another reason for fundamental change in DC that will start with a President that respects different opinions and has proven he can work with rational people from both major parties and energize the electorate into making sure that those in DC are responsible to them, not lobbyists.
AMEN” And THAT is why i will.never support them, or any other criminal entity.
China overtakes US as leading FDI destination Updated: 2012-10-25 22:28 By Li Jiabao (China Daily)
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-10/25/content_15847821.htm
We knew this in ’08. We tested it numetous times with minisvule, offshore based credit cards. Neither the Clinton nor MvCain sites would let any foreign based cards go thru, but yes indeed, aObama’s sites took them ALL, tegardless of their country of origin. Hey, just business as usual in Cabal of criminals, ya know..laws are meaningless to them, esp if it means
whacking Ameriva & her ppl.
This is like accusing the bank robber of not paying his parking ticket.
Was Obama rattled by developing donor scandal story?
http://wethepeopleusa.ning.com/profiles/blogs/was-obama-rattled-by-developing-donor-scandal-story?xg_source=activity
“Food For Thought”
Semper Fi!
Jake
Massive Voter Fraud-Again!
http://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/10/25/massive-voter-fraud-again/
“Food For Thought”
Semper Fi!
Jake
The sad part of the ObaMAO story is that after he is defeated November 6th and before he leaves for good January 20th he will grant all of his cronies pardons, yes that means Holder, and he’ll also get secret service protection for life.-not to mention all of the money he will make off of books and speaking tours (obv. his out-of-touch-with-reality followers will continue to drink the kool-aid.)
May history show him to be the communistic-lying-POS he really is.
I thought Bush was the last President to get lifetime secret service protection.
re: credit card fraud.
It’s the merchant (the campaign) that carries the risk. They are subject to penalties when the card owner complains (if they ever do).
This doesn’t have to be that hard. They have a merchant-bank – likely politically connected to the campaign (I’d wager BofA) but that shouldn’t stop the House from subpoenaing them and getting the answers to these questions. “What number and percentage of this merchant’s transactions appear to originate offshore?” and “What’s the total dollar amount of transactions that appear to originate offshore?” “How many donations from the same credit-card amount to more than $200 for a given merchant?” Note that all the credit-card fraud prevention mechanisms track patterns-of-life which includes a guess at location – which when it doesn’t make sense results in a call to the card-holder asking “were you in Majorca yesterday buying clothes?”
If the ‘pubs wanted to be nasty – they should let it be known that they would pardon any and all of the incarcerated anonymous group that used their botnets and giant database of stolen-credit cards to make $100M in fraudulent donations (no ccv, no valid address) to the dems. So with 2-3x the transaction penalties borne solely by the merchant (because of their lack of validation) they’d bankrupt the dems and unions for the next decade.
Re: BofA. (15M$ loan to dems). Reminds me that losing campaigns seldom payback their loans. So the bank is choosing to make a donation. If I were king, I’d require an election loan awarded to one candidate to be paired with an equivalent to the other. And if the requesting candidate defaults, the other gets to keep the money, too. Ditto for the wealthy loaning money to their own campaign (requiring a loan to the other).
Right, I’m prone to fantasy. Still, it makes a nice daydream.
Why isn’t the FEC doing their job and jumping all over this? Obama is committing a crime. What, they gonna wait 3 yrs to look into it? Election’s days away!
OBAMA: A president who is systematically bankrupting our country while giving away tens of billions of dollars to our enemies abroad?
If Obama loses the election, you can blame/thank the Right for bamboozling him. How is it ethical that an entire news network questions the President’s citizenship for four years to create doubt in voters while a fringe element of the far right demonizes and degrades him? Most of this is financed by the rich who want to keep their stranglehold on the flow of wealth in our country. Watch the white hands apply the Blackface to our first African-American President at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2012/10/bamboozling-obama.html
proof positive. and make no mistake abut it. we are in a struggle for the very life of our country. when, and if we get it back on track, we need to remember who tried to destroy it. these people don’t care about our laws, except to be manipulated against us by affirmativer action (uneducated) crooked judges.
if this halfwit and his czars start a shooting war with his marxist ideas, remember then who these people were that caused it to happen, so we can be sure our descendents will not need to worry about it ever again.
there is no reason to believe this will end the way everybody wants it to end. they are showing us that they will do whatever is required to win.
btw, not a lawyer, but i learned that when fraud is proven in court, the situation reverts back to a pre-fraud condition. the example used in class was to get a child to sign some papers, and once the fraud is discovered, it all reverts back to the beginning.
There’s an Obama 2012 billboard put up on the highway in Victoria IN CANADA! I wonder why that would be?
Well, since you’re wondering, that would be because American voters live, work and drive through Victoria.
So this guy provided a fraudulent address in order to make a fraudulent donation and it’s the Obama campaign’s fault?
The article ends with the campaign asking for additional verification. This is appropriate. Where is the problem?
Per the author, the Obama campaign still deposited the donations it found suspicious. (Notice that the Romney campaign did not.) Given that the Obama campaign demands the CVV for merchandise transactions, they well know what they’re doing. It’s a lying, cheating, stealing campaign from a lying, cheating, stealing party on the behalf of a candidate who has no problem with that. Perfect for each other.
Actually, nowhere in the article does it say the Obama campaign ever made the actual transaction. If you notice, only 2 days passed between his original attempt and the confirmation letter. Like any internet vendor, they can take card info and then verify the payer’s identity. This is what is happening. It’s normal.
Actually — I am wrong!
They did, I didn’t read that part.
THEY TOOK THE MONEY!
What is with your kind?
Please see my response the the more thoughtful person above. (gnubi) As for your attempt at an ad hominem, please see the rules of the thread:
3. Disagree, but avoid ad hominem attacks.
Perhaps you could be a little more kind.
Sorry! I’m wrong — they did complete the transaction!
Actually, I’m wrong. They did complete the transaction!
The author really did fraudulently donate to the Obama campaign!
Actually, I’m wrong.
The author did actually succeed in committing fraud on the Obama campaign.
I hope he doesn’t get arrested!
The problem is that both parties refuse to prosecute each other. Even if Obama losrt, the incoming AG would not prosecute. We are ruled by tyrants…