Fake pollsters fool US media with made-up election surveys

The polling firm, which appeared in June, had secured coverage from publications including Newsweek, the Daily Beast, and The Hill. Its surveys were also included in polling databases maintained by the New York Times and election analyst Nate Silver before the deception was uncovered.

Admission of deception

On Tuesday, after researchers at election analysis website FiftyPlusOne confronted the firm, Wedgewood admitted that almost all its surveys were fake. It described the deception as an experiment testing how easily a fictitious polling firm could gain recognition.