Midterm election scams pose as candidates, PACs and election offices, FBI warns

With Election Day on November 3, the FBI says scammers are using candidates' names, logos and AI-made voices to take money and personal details.

In this brief: 3 sections 2 min read

- Investment pool: a guaranteed return if a candidate wins, plus pressure to recruit friends
- Fake PAC: a committee that looks real but keeps the money
- Fake merch: political goods paid for and never shipped
- Registration texts: a claim you're not registered, linking to a fake state page that harvests personal data
- Unexpected calls, texts, emails or surveys asking for personal information
- Any promise that a donation will grow or be refunded: donations are not investments
- AI voices or videos that sound like a candidate or someone you trust
- Sellers with few reviews, or contact details not tied to the real group
- Don't click links or share personal details. Check your registration only at vote.gov or your state election office. Look up a PAC's registration and spending on the FEC website before giving, and check sellers' reviews. Report scams to your local FBI field office or ic3.gov.

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