FBI warns scammers are using midterms to steal donations and identities

The FBI says fraudsters are running fake "campaign investment pools" that promise returns if a candidate wins, fake PACs that keep your donation, and political merchandise that never ships, sometimes using AI-generated candidate voices. Another version texts you that you are not registered to vote and links to a fake registration page that collects your personal information.

What to do: Campaign donations are never an investment. Check your voter registration yourself at vote.gov instead of clicking a link in a text.

Source: FBI IC3, Oct 15

This story was part of The Fraud Briefing's Top 5 for the week of October 19, 2026. Get it in your inbox every week: subscribe here. Watch the 20-second version on YouTube at @thefraudbriefing.