THE GEN C:\> SCAN ELECTION-SCAMS
Election scams (fake campaigns, PACs, and voter texts)
Around elections, scammers use candidates' names, photos, and slogans, plus AI-made voices, images, and messages, to ask for donations, sell campaign merchandise that never ships, pitch a "campaign investment pool" that supposedly pays out if the candidate wins, or text you that you're not registered to vote with a link to a fake sign-up page.
"ALERT: Our records show you are NOT registered to vote in Texas. Confirm your registration before the deadline: [link]"
Red flags
- A donation pitched as an investment that will pay you back or grow
- A text or email saying you're not registered, with a link to "fix" it
- A call or video from a candidate that asks you to send money right now
- Merch or donation sites you reached from an unsolicited ad or message
What to do
- Check your voter registration yourself at vote.gov, not through a link in a message.
- Campaign donations are never an investment and won't be paid back.
- Look up a PAC or campaign on the FEC website (fec.gov) before giving, and donate through a site you typed in yourself.
- Don't trust a voice or video just because it sounds like the candidate.
Where to report it
Got a message like this right now? Paste it into the free Scam Radar checker to see the red flags. It runs in your browser and never saves your message.
Know someone who'd fall for this?
Scammers count on people not talking about it. Send this guide to a parent, a friend, or the family group chat.
Related scams
Keep your family safe
Copy a ready-made prompt from the Staying safe prompts, like setting up a family code word or locking down your accounts. Want an AI helper you can trust? Try the AI Finder quiz.
Sources
Last checked: 2026-10-26. General education, not legal or financial advice. Sample messages are made up.