If your phone has been buzzing nonstop with campaign texts lately, you're not alone. And somewhere in that flood of donation requests and get-out-the-vote reminders, scammers are doing their best to blend in. On October 15, 2026, the FBI put out a public service announcement warning that fraudsters are borrowing real candidates' names, photos, logos, and slogans to collect fake donations, sell campaign gear that never ships, and steal people's personal information.
What makes these scams tricky is that they don't feel like scams. They feel like the same political messages you've been getting for months. They ask you to support someone you believe in, or they warn you about a problem with your vote, and they count on you caring enough to act quickly.
Why They're Harder to Spot Now
For years, one of the easiest ways to catch a scam was the writing. Strange phrasing, misspelled names, and logos that looked a little off were all good signs something wasn't right. But that is now becoming less reliable. The FBI says scammers are now using artificial intelligence to create realistic voices, images, and messages that impersonate candidates, campaigns, government offices, and even people you know personally.
So a voicemail that sounds exactly like a candidate you recognize, or an email that looks just like the ones the campaign really sends, isn't proof of anything on its own. That's not a reason to distrust everything. It just means the safest habit is to check things through a source you find yourself, rather than trusting the message that landed in front of you.
The Four Scams the FBI Is Warning About
1. The "Campaign Investment Pool"
This scam starts with an offer that sounds almost too good to pass up. You put money into a pool supporting a candidate, and once they win, everyone who contributed gets paid back with a return. Sometimes you're encouraged to bring in friends and family to grow your share.
It's a clever pitch because it combines two things people care about, a candidate they like and a chance to come out ahead. But there's no such thing as a political donation that pays you back. As the FBI states in their PSA, campaign donations "are not an investment and will not increase in value nor be returned." If anyone tells you otherwise, you can stop the conversation there.
2. Fake Political Action Committees
Political action committees, or PACs, are groups that raise money to support candidates and causes, and there are thousands of them. Scammers take advantage of that by setting up groups that look and sound like real PACs, sometimes with official-sounding names that echo a real campaign. You think you're supporting a cause you care about, but the money goes straight to the people running the scheme. The FBI has even noted that some of these "ScamPACs" can appear to be officially registered, which is part of what makes them convincing.
3. Campaign Merchandise That Never Shows Up
Hats, T-shirts, yard signs, and bumper stickers are a big part of election season, and that makes them an easy hook. Scammers set up online stores or run social media ads offering campaign gear, often at appealing prices. You place an order, pay, and then nothing ever arrives. It's the same "non-delivery" scam people run around the holidays, just disguised differently.
4. The "You're Not Registered to Vote" Text
Of the four, this one may be the most unsettling, because it plays on the worry of losing your vote right before an election. A text or email says there's a problem with your registration, or that you aren't registered at all, and gives you a link to fix it. The link leads to a page made to look like your state's official voter site.
However, the page may be fake. Whatever information you enter there, whether it's your name, address, date of birth, or Social Security number, goes directly to scammers. The FBI says that information can be used for identity theft and to target you with more scams down the road.
What These Scams Have in Common
Look closely, and the same few patterns show up again and again. There's usually a sense of urgency, whether it's a deadline to give, a limited supply of merchandise, or a voter registration problem that needs fixing today. There's often a request for something sensitive, like your Social Security number or bank details, through a text or email. And there's frequently a promise that doesn't make sense once you slow down, like a donation that will earn you money.
These scams work because elections bring out strong feelings. You want your candidate to win. You want your voice to count. You don't want to miss a deadline that matters. Scammers know that when emotions run high, people tend to act first and ask questions later. Whenever a message pushes you to hurry, that's your cue to do the opposite.
How to Check Before You Give, Buy, or Click
The good news is that a few simple habits go a long way. If you get a message about your voter registration, don't use the link. Instead, go to vote.gov yourself, or call your local election office using a number you look up on your own. It only takes a couple of minutes, and you'll know for sure where you stand.
If you'd like to donate, the safest path is to go directly to the candidate's official website rather than clicking a link someone sent you. For PACs and other political committees, you can look up the group on the Federal Election Commission's website before giving. The FBI suggests paying attention to how a group spends its money, too. A committee that reports unusually high spending on fundraising, consulting, or administrative costs may not be what it claims to be.
And if a campaign store catches your eye, take a moment to research the seller first. A quick search for the company's name along with words like "complaint" or "scam," or a look at reviews on BBB.org, can save you from paying for something that never comes.
Above all, remember that you never owe a stranger your personal information, no matter how official or familiar their message looks.
If You Think You've Been Targeted
If you've already sent money or shared information, try not to panic. It happens to a lot of people, and there are clear steps you can take. If you gave out bank or card details, call your bank right away using the number on the back of your card or on your statement, so they can watch for fraud or block the payment if it's not too late. If you entered personal information on a fake voter registration page, keep a close eye on your accounts, and consider placing a fraud alert or freezing your credit with the three credit bureaus.
It's also worth reporting what happened. You can file a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov or contact your local FBI field office. If the scam came by text, you can forward the message to 7726 (which spells "SPAM") to let your wireless carrier know.
Carefull keeps an eye on your accounts for unusual charges and transactions, so if a "donation" or purchase doesn't look right, you and your family can catch it early. Get started with Carefull today.