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* Considering all the extended secrecy from the Illinois State Board of Elections, you could be forgiven for thinking that this little scandal was a whole lot worse than it actually turned out to be…
Illinois’ top elections official told board members he became the victim of an internet extortion scheme after he exchanged “flirtatious” messages and sent a picture to a person he met online.
Steven Sandvoss, who is on administrative leave until his resignation takes effect at the end of June, detailed his encounters in a letter to the State Board of Elections in which he said a threat was made to “ruin” him if he didn’t pay $3,000.
Sandvoss said he did not make any payments and the online threats stopped, according to the letter, which the Tribune obtained. […]
Sandvoss told board members that “at no time did I indicate (to the person online) that I worked” for the elections board.
Stupid? Yes. Unredeemable? Doubtful.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 8:42 am
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I’m not sure he really did anything wrong, certainly not termination. Someone contacted him and they started chatting, and when he realized something was amiss he cut the person off and reported it.
Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 8:57 am
Might depend a lot on what “a picture” means.
Comment by Quibbler Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:07 am
“Stupid? Yes. Unredeemable? Doubtful.”
But this is exactly the sort of bad judgment that prompts the feds to pull somebody’s security clearance.
I suspect that was a factor.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:08 am
Isn’t this a similar situation to what Ron Sandack resigned over?
Comment by Ice Scream Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:10 am
==Sandvoss told board members that “at no time did I indicate (to the person online) that I worked” for the elections board.==
Breakfast conversation here this morning after seeing this article: Kind of seems to be too targeted to be purely coincidental. Do we really want to believe the person he “met” online was not already well aware of his job and job title possibly via the system breach? Which of them initiated the online introduction? Worse, it raises the question whether other election officials may possibly also have been targeted by this or a similar extortion scheme and either “paid up” and/or chose to say nothing? He used poor judgement to be sure but perhaps there is more to the story than that.
Comment by Responsa Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:15 am
= and sent a picture to =
Why in the world do people still do this.
I’m not going too far out on a limb in assuming what type of picture this was, since the extortion attempts seem to have started right after the picture was sent.
Do not take pictures of your junk. Just don’t. Ever.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:15 am
TheInvisibleMan is exactly right.
Comment by Cheryl44 Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:28 am
The honeypot scheme is the golden egg of espionage.
Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:30 am
I’m sure this only scratches the surface of what the extortion was about, but I’d also imagine the board has other reasons to can Sandvoss, and this is just embarrassing for someone with security clearance to be sending inappropriate photos to someone he’s never met. But I’m more curious about why the Board thought it appropriate to keep paying him while on leave and extend this paid vacation through June. I’d like $20k for no work, maybe I should apply for that job
Comment by springfielder Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:33 am
I see nothing illegal here, just stupid. Which is a pretty good reason to let someone go. But I appreciate how he headed this off at the pass. The only really rule breaking I can see is if he was using a work computer/device instead of a personal device.
Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoodom Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:43 am
==Why in the world do people still do this.==
Great question. Every public figure should be taught the perils of getting Sandacked.
Comment by Jocko Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:02 am
=Do we really want to believe the person he “met” online was not already well aware of his job and job title possibly via the system breach?=
Not only is it possible it’s actually quite common. Most of these incidents are simply crimes of opportunity and the perpetrators cast a wide net and aren’t particularly discriminating about who they ensnare. That’s not to say that everything being said here is above board. It’s merely to point out that it is common and plausible. And TheInvisibleMan is absolutely correct.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:04 am
I’m really not seeing the reason to resign here. Online dating/chatting is a common thing…and isn’t illegal. It’s not like he went along with the extortion, unless there’s more to the story.
Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:16 am
I average about 2 e-mails a week that make it past the spam filter that are ‘I am looking for a friend/relationship’ from someone who states they are a woman under 25.
Don’t respond but we have seen multiple people involved in state government fall for this. So I am guessing others are as well.
Comment by OneMan Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:20 am
I don’t see why everyone is focusing on whether or not what he did was illegal. This man was in a position of public trust. He was getting a salary of $162,000 from the STATE OF ILLINOIS, he had high level security clearance related to election administration and cybersecurity, and he wasn’t smart enough to avoid getting catfished by some random person online. He MUST have sent something pretty inappropriate to justify the extortion attempt, and people are acting like he’s a victim - it’s clear that he was a liability for the board and for the whole state, and it’s about time the board did something to limit that liability
Comment by curious Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:27 am
===Why in the world do people still do this.===
Because every once in a while, people think with their little brain instead of their big brain.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 1:36 pm
To be fair, it’s not just those with a little brain. Among teen age girls sending pictures of their bosom appears to be the equivalent (note I have not heard recently of a woman beyond her teen years doing this but I’m sure it exists).
Comment by cermak_rd Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 1:50 pm
==But I’m more curious about why the Board thought it appropriate to keep paying him while on leave and extend this paid vacation through June.==
Because this is Illinois.
Comment by Anonanonsir Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 2:22 pm
I can instantly determine these things are scams. Someone flirting with me?, Heck, I know what I look like when I look in the mirror every morning.
Comment by ddp76 Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 3:11 pm
The letter the Tribune obtained was sent from Sandvoss to the board members that employ him with his version of events. I think we still need to hear what ISP says really happened. Still seems like some details are missing for the board to retire him.
Comment by Freaky Friday Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 3:53 pm