YORK, Pa. — Pennsylvanians who signed Elon Musk’s America PAC petition supporting free speech and the right to bear arms are beginning to receive their promised $100 checks.
However, some people are getting the checks, even though they say they never signed the petition themselves, which is raising questions about data misuse and fraud.
Jeanne Fermier, who lives in Springettsbury Township, York County, said she was surprised when she received a $100 check on Election Day from “United States of America Inc.”
"I thought, 'This is strange,' so I opened it and it's a check for $100, and the memo field says 'America PAC Petition,'" Fermier said.
The America PAC petition was launched by Musk in October. In a post on X, Musk invited registered voters in Pennsylvania to sign, promising $100 for signers and anyone who referred them.
People who signed the petition didn't have to promise they would vote for a certain candidate, or even that they would vote at all. They also weren't paid to vote. They just had to be registered to vote.
Fermier says she never signed the petition and never gave anyone permission to use her name.
Fermier is a registered voter in Pennsylvania, but she is registered as "no party affiliation." She fears someone could have gotten that information and thought, "I could sign her up for this and get the referral money."
In Pennsylvania, voter registration data—including names, addresses, registration status, and political affiliation—can be purchased for $20 from the Department of State. Fermier has filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Department of State.
She wants answers about who signed her up and why.
"I'd like to know who signed me up and ask the question, 'Why do you think it was okay to do that without my knowledge?'" she said.
FOX43 Finds Out reached out to the Pennsylvania Department of State and the Federal Election Commission about this story to ask if it was election fraud. We were told they would not be the agency involved in any investigation and that would be the Department of Justice.
We also asked the PA Attorney General's Office if they had any other similar complaints, and they would not confirm not deny anything.
Fraud, But Not Election Fraud
Michael Dimino, a law professor at Widener Commonwealth Law School, said Fermier’s case isn’t election fraud.
"It is rather just regular old fraud," Dimino explained. "The person who signed her name without her knowledge to the petition and tried to get themselves a bit of money from the PAC is committing fraud, but not so much against her—against the PAC."
Dimino clarified that paying voters to sign a petition is legal, as long as participants were already registered to vote before signing.
What Should You Do If You Receive a Check?
Dimino said anyone who receives a check but didn’t sign the petition, should not cash it.
"If you didn't sign the petition, you're not entitled to the money," he said. "But if you did sign, there’s no issue with cashing the check." Dimino also believes there could be more legal challenges against the petition, but he doesn't believe they have a case.
He believes most people who signed the petition and got the check, will be able to keep that money.
Fermier said she has no intention of cashing her check, fearing potential legal consequences.
FOX43 Finds Out did reach out to a lawyer representing the America PAC. We asked if they'd heard of any other fraud reports or if they could figure out who signed Fermier's name and address without her permission, and we never heard back.
If you have a story you want Jackie De Tore to look into, FOX43 wants to find out. Send her a message on Facebook or send an email to FOX43FindsOut@FOX43.com. You can also join the FOX43 Finds Out Facebook Page.