The FBI warned this week that scammers are using 2026 midterm election branding to sell fake investment pools, bogus political action committees, and merchandise that never ships.

Schemes the IC3 is tracking

In an October 15 public service alert, the Internet Crime Complaint Center said fraudsters copy candidate names, logos, and slogans to solicit money through social media, text messages, and spoofed websites. Some pitches promise guaranteed returns if a slate of candidates wins; others pose as Super PACs that keep nearly every dollar for “consulting.”

Non-delivery scams are also circulating. Consumers report paying for hats, flags, or signs promoted in sponsored posts, then receiving nothing while their card data is stored for later misuse.

Another variant sends texts claiming you are not registered in your state and urging you to click a link. The pages mimic official portals to harvest Social Security fragments, driver’s license numbers, and birth dates—data sets useful for identity theft and follow-on fraud.

State election offices do not charge a fee to register, and they rarely initiate contact through unsolicited links. If you need to check status, use vote.gov or your secretary of state’s .gov address typed directly into the browser.

How to verify a PAC or campaign page

Legitimate committees file reports with the Federal Election Commission. Search the committee name on fec.gov and read how much went to fundraising vendors versus actual campaign spending. A PAC that spends 90 cents of every dollar on telemarketing is a red flag even when the filing is real.

Candidate committees list official donation URLs on their verified social accounts. Treat any wire-transfer or cryptocurrency request as fraudulent; federal campaigns still rely on card and bank payments through disclosed processors.

What to do if you already paid

Call your bank or card issuer immediately to dispute unauthorized charges. Report the incident at ic3.gov with screenshots, phone numbers, and wallet addresses. Local FBI field offices can take referrals when large sums moved through wire transfers.

If you entered personal data on a fake registration site, visit identitytheft.gov for a recovery plan and consider freezing your credit files at the three major bureaus.

AI-generated pitches add a new wrinkle

The FBI noted that cheap generative tools now produce realistic candidate audio and video clips asking for “urgent” donations. Hang up on robocalls that pressure you to decide in minutes, and never read a one-time code to a caller claiming to be a campaign volunteer.

Real fundraisers may follow up by email, but they will not threaten arrest for refusing to donate. When in doubt, open the campaign site yourself rather than clicking attachments.

Midterm season makes emotional sharing easy. Pause before forwarding a donation page in a group chat: confirm the domain, check FEC filings, and remember that contributing is optional. Spreading a fraudulent link can expose your contacts to the same drain on their wallets.