Is This Election Text or Call a Scam? Fake Voter, Donation, and Poll Messages

What this helps with: Spotting fake election messages, like “You’re not registered to vote” texts, fake donation requests, and fake surveys, and checking your voting information the safe way. This guide doesn’t take sides. It’s about keeping your money and personal information safe, whoever you vote for.

The short answer: Don’t tap links in election texts or emails. Check your voter registration yourself at vote.gov. Give money only through a website you look up yourself, never through a link someone sent you.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. In October 2026, the FBI warned that scammers are using this election to steal money and personal information.

Scams the FBI is warning about

1. “You’re not registered to vote.” A text or email says there’s a problem with your registration and gives you a link. The link goes to a fake state website that asks for personal information. Scammers can use it to steal your identity.
2. Fake donation requests. Scammers use a candidate’s name, photo, or logo, or pretend to be a political group (a “PAC”), and keep the money.
3. “Invest” in a campaign. They promise your donation will pay you back, with extra, after a candidate wins. The FBI says campaign donations are not investments. They never grow and are not paid back. Scammers may also ask you to sign up friends.
4. Fake merchandise. A website sells hats, shirts, or signs that never arrive. The FBI suggests checking a seller’s reviews and complaints at BBB.org first.
5. AI fakes. Scammers can use AI to make a voice, photo, or video that sounds or looks like a real candidate. See AI Scams: Voice Clones and Fake Videos.

Red flags: a surprise call, text, email, or “survey” that asks for personal details, a link to “fix” your registration, a request for your Social Security number or bank details, a promise that a donation will make you money, or pressure to act right now.

Check your voter information safely

1. Type vote.gov yourself into your web browser. Don’t use a link from a text or email.
2. Pick your state. Vote.gov sends you to your state’s official election website.
3. Check your registration there, and find where and when to vote.
4. Still not sure? Call your local or county election office. Find the number on your state’s official election website.

Want to donate? Do it safely

1. Don’t tap the link in a donation text or email.
2. Look up the candidate or group yourself. The FBI suggests checking a political group’s registration on the Federal Election Commission website, fec.gov.
3. Give through the official website you found yourself.

Too many political calls and texts?

Real campaigns can contact you too. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rules for them:

• Reply STOP to a text from a real campaign you recognize. The FCC says campaigns should honor it. This stops that one sender, not every campaign.
• Don’t reply at all to a text that looks like a scam. Forward it to 7726 (SPAM), then delete it.
• Recorded political calls must say who is calling and give a phone number.
• The National Do Not Call Registry doesn’t cover political calls and texts, so they may still come.
• AI voices: the FCC says calls that use AI-made voices must follow robocall rules. That makes many of them illegal.
• Report rule-breakers to the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints or 1-888-225-5322.

To block more spam calls, see How to Block Spam Calls and Texts.

If you already tapped a link or gave money

1. Gave a card or bank number? Call your bank or card company right away, at the number on your card.
2. Gave your Social Security number? Go to IdentityTheft.gov for a step-by-step plan.
3. Report it to the FBI at ic3.gov and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

This is not your fault. These messages are made to look real. Telling someone helps stop them.

For free, friendly help, call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET). You don’t need to be an AARP member.

Want more ways to stay safe? See How to Spot a Scam Call, Text, or Email and Is This Post Real, or Is It an Ad?

Official sources

• FBI: Scammers exploit 2026 U.S. midterm election to perpetrate multiple fraud schemes (Oct 15, 2026)
• Vote.gov: Register to vote in your state
• Federal Election Commission: fec.gov
• FCC: Political campaign robocalls and robotexts rules
• FCC: Stop unwanted robocalls and texts
• FTC: IdentityTheft.gov
• FTC: Report fraud

Last checked: Oct 25, 2026

This is general help, not personalized tech support, and not legal advice. It covers U.S. federal elections; your state’s election office has the final word on voting rules. Steady Tap doesn’t support or oppose any candidate or party.