Scammers Exploit 2026 U.S. Midterm Election to Perpetrate Multiple Fraud Schemes

The FBI warns the public that scammers could exploit the 2026 US Midterm Election to perpetrate financial fraud schemes. These schemes target victims across the United States and have previously exploited state and local elections. This PSA is an update to alert number I-102924-PSA, published on 29 October 2024, titled “Scammers Exploit 2024 US General Election to Perpetrate Multiple Fraud Schemes.”

As previously reported, scammers use the names, images, logos, and slogans of candidates to fraudulently solicit campaign contributions, sell merchandise that is never delivered, or steal personally identifiable information (PII) that can be used for other fraud. Scammers also exploit artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate highly realistic voices, images, and written messages that impersonate candidates, campaigns, government entities, and trusted contacts. The realism makes these schemes harder for victims to detect and increases the likelihood of financial loss or exposure of PII. Election-related fraud schemes come in many varieties, including the schemes detailed below.

Scammers promise victims a guaranteed return on campaign contribution dollars by investing in a candidate campaign pool that supposedly pays out after the candidate wins. Victims are also encouraged to recruit others to invest in the pool to increase their share of the payout.

Political Action Committee Scheme (a.k.a. ScamPACs)

Scammers dupe victims into believing they are donating to a legitimate Political Action Committee (PAC), such as a Super PAC or candidate's campaign committee but the scammers have no affiliation with the PAC and keep the funds.

Scammers claim to sell political merchandise but do not ship the purchase when ordered. This is a classic "non-shipment scam" or "non-delivery fraud" scheme.