What election scams is the FBI warning about?
The short answer
The warning: on 15 October 2026 the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) warned about midterm scams. Scammers use candidates' names, images, logos and slogans to take donations, sell goods that never arrive, or steal personal data IC3 (15 Oct 2026).
Before you give: look the committee up on FEC.gov. IC3 notes that "Campaign donations are not an investment and will not increase in value nor be returned" IC3 (15 Oct 2026).
A text says you're not registered? Don't tap the link. Check at vote.gov IC3 (15 Oct 2026).
An "official" demands payment by phone or video? It's a scam. IC3 says officials "will never request payment via prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, or courier" IC3 (17 Sep 2026).
The four midterm scams in IC3's 15 October 2026 warning, and the check for each.
| Scam | How it works | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| ScamPAC | You think you are giving to a real Political Action Committee (PAC, a group that raises money for candidates or causes) or campaign. The scammers have no link to it and keep the money IC3 (15 Oct 2026). | Search the exact name on FEC.gov and read its filings IC3 (15 Oct 2026). |
| Campaign "investment pool" | A promised "guaranteed return" on donations, said to pay out after the candidate wins. You are urged to recruit others IC3 (15 Oct 2026). | No such product exists: donations are not investments IC3 (15 Oct 2026). |
| Political merchandise | A seller takes payment for campaign goods and never ships them IC3 (15 Oct 2026). | Read reviews and complaints about the seller first IC3 (15 Oct 2026). Check the shop's domain age with our website checker. |
| "Not registered" text or email | Says you are not registered to vote in your state, and links to a fake registration page that collects personal details IC3 (15 Oct 2026). | Check your status at vote.gov, not through the link IC3 (15 Oct 2026). |
AI makes the fakes more convincing. IC3 says scammers use AI tools "to generate highly realistic voices, images, and written messages" that pose as candidates, campaigns, government bodies and trusted contacts IC3 (15 Oct 2026). A familiar voice or face is no longer proof.
The same day, the FBI issued two related alerts. One covers election crimes that voters should know about FBI via IC3 (15 Oct 2026). The other covers threats to election workers IC3 home page (checked 16 Oct 2026). This guide covers the scams and how to check and report them.
How do I check a PAC or campaign before donating?
Use the Federal Election Commission's committee search. FEC.gov lists registered committees with their committee ID, treasurer, type and registration date FEC.gov (checked 16 Oct 2026). You can filter by committee type, including PACs and Super PACs, and by registration date FEC.gov (checked 16 Oct 2026).
- Search the exact name from the email, text or website at FEC.gov. Lookalike names are common, so compare spelling carefully.
- Read the money, not the slogan. IC3 says that "if a PAC or SuperPAC reports high expenses for fundraising, consulting, compliance, or other administrative costs it may be a scam" IC3 (15 Oct 2026).
- Match the contact details. Make sure the phone number, email and website in an unsolicited message really belong to the group it names IC3 (15 Oct 2026).
- Check the donation site. Paste the domain into our Website Legit Checker. A donation page on a domain registered last week deserves a second look.
If someone promises a return, stop. IC3 is plain about it: "Campaign donations are not an investment and will not increase in value nor be returned" IC3 (15 Oct 2026). Any "pool" that says otherwise is the investment-pool scam.
Is a “you’re not registered to vote” text real?
Treat it as a scam until you check. IC3 describes texts and emails that say you are not registered in your state and link to a fake state registration page. The page harvests your personal information IC3 (15 Oct 2026).
Check your status yourself. Go to vote.gov by typing the address. Choose your state or territory to register, update your details or check your status vote.gov (checked 16 Oct 2026). The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) calls vote.gov "a trusted source for accurate, official voting information" EAC (checked 16 Oct 2026).
Find your own election office. The EAC keeps a directory, "Find Your State or Local Election Office", EAC (checked 16 Oct 2026). It links every state and territory to its election office EAC state directory (checked 16 Oct 2026). The EAC notes that "Each state and territory administers elections differently" EAC state directory (checked 16 Oct 2026). Your state or local office has the final word on your registration.
Our text-scam guide shows how to check a link and set up your phone's spam filters.
Are scammers posing as officials on video calls?
Yes, and the losses are large. IC3 says it "received nearly 61,000 complaints of law enforcement or government impersonation scams" between January 2025 and July 2026. Losses topped $1.6 billion IC3 (17 Sep 2026). IC3 lists this alert as related to its midterm-scam warning IC3 (15 Oct 2026).
Government and police impersonation complaints to IC3, January 2025 to July 2026, by pretext. Figures as published by IC3 on 17 September 2026.
| Pretext | Complaints | Reported losses |
|---|---|---|
| All law-enforcement and government impersonation | nearly 61,000 | more than $1.6 billion |
| Jury duty or missed court date | 6,833 | nearly $36 million |
| Threat to a medical licence | 3,322 | more than $37 million |
| Foreign nationals and students (extradition, cancelled passports) | 1,809 | more than $140 million |
| "Expiring" passport, driver's licence or professional licence | 496 | more than $348,000 |
Source: IC3 (17 Sep 2026). Most complaints were the "alleged crime" pretext, for which IC3 gives no separate figure.
How the call goes. Most victims are told they are linked to a crime and face arrest unless they pay IC3 (17 Sep 2026). IC3 says new technologies, including AI, "allow scammers to appear as law enforcement and government officials on video calls with victims" IC3 (17 Sep 2026). Payment is demanded by prepaid card, courier, bank wire, cryptocurrency, or cash fed into a crypto kiosk IC3 (17 Sep 2026).
The rule that beats it. Officials will not demand payment or sensitive data by phone or text IC3 (17 Sep 2026). Hang up and call the agency on a number you find yourself, never one the caller gives you IC3 (17 Sep 2026). Check that any web address ends in the agency's real .gov domain IC3 (17 Sep 2026).
The FTC sees the same pattern. People reported losing about $920 million to government impersonators in 2025, the FTC said in June 2026 FTC (15 Jun 2026).
How do I check that election information is real?
Go to official sources yourself. The FBI's voter alert gives these steps FBI via IC3 (15 Oct 2026):
- Confirm when, where and how you will vote.
- Check who produced any election information you see, and think about why they shared it.
- Confirm your polling place's date, time and location with official sources such as the EAC or USA.gov.
- Check a political committee's registration on the FEC website before you donate.
- Report false information about voting, including through social media platforms' reporting tools.
Election Day is Tuesday, 3 November 2026 FVAP (current as of May 2026). Rules on mail ballots, early voting and ID differ by state, so check your own state's page through the EAC directory EAC state directory (checked 16 Oct 2026).
Be wary of urgent messages. A text, call or post that changes your polling place or deadline at the last minute is worth checking. Knowingly giving false information about when, where or how to vote, to stop qualified voters, is a federal election crime FBI via IC3 (15 Oct 2026).
Where do I report an election scam or election crime?
Where to report, and whether the site worked when we checked on 16 October 2026.
| What happened | Where to report | Status or note |
|---|---|---|
| You lost money or data to a scam (fake PAC, pool, merchandise, fake official) | File at ic3.gov, or contact your local FBI field office IC3 (15 Oct 2026) | Form available 16 Oct IC3 home page (checked 16 Oct 2026) |
| You know of a federal election crime | Your local FBI field office, or an electronic tip at tips.fbi.gov FBI via IC3 (15 Oct 2026) | Include names, screenshots and websites FBI via IC3 (15 Oct 2026) |
| A scam text | Forward it to 7726 (SPAM) FTC (checked 16 Oct 2026) | Goes to your carrier |
| False voting information online | The platform's own reporting tools FBI via IC3 (15 Oct 2026) | Also tell your state or local election office |
| Any fraud, to the FTC | ReportFraud.ftc.gov FTC (checked 16 Oct 2026) | Shutdown notice, no form, 16 Oct ReportFraud.ftc.gov (checked 16 Oct 2026) |
What to put in an IC3 report. IC3 asks for the scammer's name or company, phone number, address, email and websites, how you paid, and how the contact began IC3 (15 Oct 2026). For crypto payments, add the wallet addresses IC3 (17 Sep 2026). Keep all records and messages IC3 (17 Sep 2026).
About the FTC site. On 16 October 2026 ReportFraud.ftc.gov showed: "Due to the government shutdown, we are unable to offer this website service" ReportFraud.ftc.gov (checked 16 Oct 2026). Use IC3 until it returns.
If you already paid, stop all contact and tell your bank or card issuer IC3 (17 Sep 2026). Then report to your local police and to IC3 IC3 (17 Sep 2026).
Why is this page time-bound and non-partisan?
It covers one election season. We wrote it on 16 October 2026 from FBI, FEC, EAC and FTC sources. We will review it after the 3 November 2026 election and mark what no longer applies.
It names no candidate, party or committee. The scams above use any campaign's name, image, logo or slogan IC3 (15 Oct 2026). The checks work the same for every side. Nothing here supports or opposes anyone.
Sources
Every source was read on 16 October 2026. This page is general consumer information, not legal advice, and it endorses no candidate, party or committee.
- FBI IC3 — "Scammers Exploit 2026 U.S. Midterm Election to Perpetrate Multiple Fraud Schemes", I-101526-3-PSA (15 Oct 2026)
- FBI IC3 — "FBI Warns Voters on Election Crimes Ahead of the November 2026 Midterm Election", I-101526-2-PSA (15 Oct 2026)
- FBI IC3 — "Scammers Impersonating Law Enforcement and Government Officials in Fraud Schemes", I-091726-PSA (17 Sep 2026)
- FBI IC3 — home page, complaint link and recent PSAs list (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- Federal Election Commission — Browse committees (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- vote.gov — register, update or check your registration (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission — home page (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission — "Register and Vote in Your State" (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- Federal Voting Assistance Program — "2026 Primary Elections by state and territory" (current as of May 2026)
- FTC — "FTC Data Show People Reported Losing $3.5 Billion to Imposter Scams in 2025" (15 Jun 2026)
- FTC Consumer Advice — "How To Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages" (read 16 Oct 2026)
- FTC — ReportFraud.ftc.gov, shutdown notice (checked 16 Oct 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the FBI or IC3 ever contact people to ask for money?
No. The IC3 home page warns that IC3 will never directly contact you for information or money. Anyone claiming to be from IC3 or the FBI who asks for payment is an impersonator, so hang up and report it at ic3.gov.
Can a candidate's voice or video in a message be fake?
Yes. IC3 says scammers use AI tools to generate highly realistic voices, images and written messages that impersonate candidates, campaigns, government entities and trusted contacts. Check any request for money through the campaign's own official channels.
How do I find my state or local election office?
Use the EAC directory called Register and Vote in Your State on eac.gov, or choose your state on vote.gov. The EAC directory links each state and territory to its election office and to a local office directory. The EAC says to confirm details on the linked state sites.
Is it a crime to sell my vote or pay someone to vote?
Yes. The FBI lists vote buying among federal election crimes, and its voter alert says never to accept money or anything of value in exchange for voting for a particular candidate. Report it to your local FBI field office or at tips.fbi.gov.
What details should I include in an IC3 report?
IC3 asks for the scammer's name or company, phone number, address, email and websites, the payment method and details, and a description of how the contact began and what was asked for or given. For crypto payments, include the wallet addresses.
Why does this page not name any candidate or party?
Because the scams are not about any one side. IC3 says scammers use candidates' names, images, logos and slogans in general, and the checks on FEC.gov and vote.gov work the same for everyone. We review the page after the election.
Next step
Asked to donate today? Search the committee's exact name on FEC.gov, then paste the donation site's domain into our free Website Legit Checker before you pay.