Election scams can turn a donation request, merchandise offer or registration message into a demand for money or personal information. The FBI issued an October 15, 2026 warning about these schemes ahead of the U.S. midterm election.
What the FBI Warning Covers
The notice updates a 2024 warning. It describes supposed campaign investment pools promising payouts, impersonated fundraising committees, political merchandise that never arrives, and fraudulent registration pages. It also warns that AI-generated voices and images can make impersonation convincing. The notice does not identify a particular campaign, scam domain or unique victim total.
How to Check a Political Donation Request
Before donating, write down the exact organization named, who will receive the money and what the solicitation says the funds support. Compare those details with a website you locate independently. Ask for clarification if the recipient at checkout differs from the organization you intended to support.
Use the FEC’s campaign-finance database to research federal candidates, committees and their filings. A record helps you compare identities and financial disclosures. It does not authenticate the particular email, text or payment link in front of you. For a state or local committee, consult the relevant official state or local campaign-finance authority.
Registration or a particular expense category, by itself, is not proof of honesty or fraud. Consider what the solicitation actually promises, whether the identity matches and whether the payment destination can be independently confirmed.
How to Check a Political Merchandise Seller
A seller may be an official campaign store, an independent retailer or an impersonator. Establish which it claims to be. If it claims official affiliation, reach the store through the campaign’s independently verified website.
- Record the seller’s exact domain and business name before checkout.
- Read the delivery estimate, return terms and contact route.
- Keep the item description, order confirmation and promised delivery date.
- Compare the payment recipient with the seller identified on the order.
A delayed parcel or an ordinary purchase disagreement does not alone establish fraud. Keep records that distinguish what was promised from what actually happened.
A Text Says You Are Not Registered: Where Should You Check?
Open Vote.gov independently and select your state or territory to find the appropriate official registration resources. Check status, deadlines and procedures through the relevant election office. This guide does not provide a nationwide registration deadline; rules and available methods vary.
A legitimate official registration process can require identifying information. The key is establishing that you reached the correct official system before entering it. A text’s claim about your registration is not a substitute for checking your own record.
If You Already Paid or Shared Information
Save the original message, exact destination URL, receipt and payment details privately. Contact your bank, card issuer or payment service promptly through its official channels and explain what happened. Ask about the options for that transaction; recovery is not guaranteed. The FTC’s recovery guide explains steps by payment method and type of information exposed.
Report suspected internet-enabled fraud through IC3. A complaint report is not a refund application. Do not post account numbers, identity documents or private voter information in public comments.
Election Scam FAQs
Is every unsolicited political text a scam?
No. Evaluate the sender and request independently. Do not treat an unfamiliar message, a campaign name or a committee registration as a complete authenticity check.
Does FEC registration prove a donation link is genuine?
No. Use the record to research the named federal committee, then separately confirm who sent the request and where the money will go.
Can a campaign donation earn a guaranteed return?
A campaign donation is not a profit-making investment. A promised payout tied to a candidate winning is a serious warning sign.
Should I use a link in a registration-warning text?
Use Vote.gov and your official state or local election office independently to check the claim before entering personal information.
Does this warning accuse OurBallot or a named campaign?
No. The October 15 notice identifies general scam patterns; it does not name OurBallot or a particular campaign as an operator.
Sources and Editorial Review
Sources reviewed October 16, 2026. Primary warning: FBI/IC3 alert I-101526-3-PSA, October 15, 2026. Verification resources: FEC, Vote.gov and FTC, linked above. Next editorial review: October 23, 2026, or sooner after a material official update.
ThinkItsAScam.com is an independent consumer-information publisher, not an election authority, campaign or government agency. This article supports message verification and does not advocate for any candidate or political party.
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