Election scams: fake donation pools, scam PACs and voter registration texts
Quick answer
The FBI warns scammers are using the 2026 midterms for fraud: fake campaign 'investment pools', scam PACs, merchandise that never ships and fake voter registration alerts. Donations aren't investments. Don't click links in unexpected messages and report it at ic3.gov.
- Comes by
- Text, Email, Phone call, Website, Social media
- First reported
- Latest official alert
- (FBI IC3)
- Last updated
How it works
On October 15, 2026 the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) warned that scammers may use the midterm elections to commit financial fraud. They borrow candidates' names, images and slogans, and increasingly use AI to make realistic voices and messages that pretend to be candidates, government offices or people you trust.
The FBI describes four schemes:
- Campaign investment pool. You're promised a guaranteed return if you chip in to a campaign 'pool' that pays out when the candidate wins. You're encouraged to recruit others to raise your share.
- Scam PAC. You think you're giving to a real political action committee or campaign committee. The people collecting the money have no connection to it and keep what you send.
- Online purchase. A seller takes payment for political merchandise and never ships it.
- Voter registration. A text or email says you aren't registered to vote. The link goes to a fake state registration page that collects your personal details for identity theft.
What they want is your money or the details that unlock your identity, like your date of birth and Social Security number.
Red flags
- A guaranteed return on a political donation, or pressure to recruit other donors
- An unexpected call, text, email or survey with a link, especially about your voter registration
- A PAC whose filings show high fundraising, consulting or administrative costs for how little it does
- Contact details that don't match the campaign or organization the message claims to be from
- A merchandise seller with no reviews or complaint history
- A realistic voice or video of a candidate asking you to give or invest
Example message
Our records show you are not registered to vote in this election. Confirm your registration today at [link] to avoid being removed from the rolls. Reply STOP to opt out.
What to do
- 1
Don't click or reply
If a message says there's a problem with your registration or asks for a donation, leave the link alone. Don't give personal details to someone who contacted you first.
- 2
Check your registration yourself
Type vote.gov into your browser and follow it to your state's official site. The FBI recommends this over any link in a message.
- 3
Check a committee before you give
Look up the PAC or campaign committee and its financial filings on the Federal Election Commission (FEC) website. A PAC can be registered and still be a scam, so look at where the money goes. Remember that donations aren't investments and won't grow or be refunded.
- 4
Research a merchandise seller first
Look up the seller's reviews and complaint history on BBB.org before you pay, and pay by credit card so you can dispute a charge.
- 5
If you paid or gave details, act fast
Call your bank and say it was fraud. If you shared your Social Security number, consider a credit freeze.
- 6
Report it
File a report with IC3 or your local FBI field office. Include any names, phone numbers and websites, how you paid, and how contact began.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Political scams work best when they sound personal: your name, your state, your district. Those details are easy to buy from data brokers, and they turn up in breaches.
Serus finds where your phone number and address are listed on people-search sites and other data brokers and removes them. It also alerts you when your details show up in a breach. That won't stop every message, but it leaves scammers with less to work from. If you clicked or shared anything, our guide on what to do after a data breach covers the next steps.
Official alerts
Frequently asked
Are political donations an investment?
No. The FBI says campaign donations are not investments and won't grow or be refunded, so any promised return is a red flag.
A text says I'm not registered to vote. Is it real?
The FBI warns this is a known scheme that sends you to a fake registration page. Check your status yourself at vote.gov instead of using the link.
How do I know if a PAC is legitimate?
Look up its registration and financial filings on the FEC website. The FBI notes scam PACs can appear registered, so also check whether most of the money goes to fundraising and administrative costs.
Where do I report an election scam?
File a report at ic3.gov or contact your local FBI field office. You can also report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Sources
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