FBI warns of torrent of scams and deepfakes ahead of US midterm elections

Date:
Mon, 19 Oct 2026 16:10:00 +0000

Description:
AI deepfakes and financial fraud campaigns are already showing up ahead of
the US midterm elections in November.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Hackers and fraudsters are already gearing up to steal data and financial information in the run up to the US midterm elections AI generated imagery and deepfakes are part of
highly convincing scams Phishing campaigns designed to prey on voter registration are also likely to pop up As the US midterms rapidly approach, the FBI is once again warning Americans about the flood of election-related scam campaigns coming their way.

Thousands of websites have already been spotted getting ready to spool up
for election season, with phishing sites, fake donation portals, and Doppelganger clones also emerging as November draws closer. Finances and personal data are both at risk, the FBI has warned, with many campaigns leveraging new AI technologies to make scams even more convincing. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Scammers leveraging AI and deepfakes One of the ways scammers are taking advantage of the elections is
by launching campaign investment pool schemes. These campaigns ask victims to pay into a campaign pool that promises to pay more money than the victims invested if the candidate wins.

Similar scams have been spotted surrounding investment in stocks and cryptocurrencies, but campaign investments are a novel new approach. You may like FBI claims fake cop scams are costing victims billions here's what to look out for NordVPN warns AI is making scams more personal and devastating than ever '$3.7B lost to deepfakes' Why social media is the perfect
launchpad for AI fraud

Fake political action committee (PAC) scams have also been popping up, requesting donations to help fund campaigns, but rather than any of the money going towards furthering the candidates political aims, the money is instead kept by the scammers.

Political merchandise is also being abused by scammers. Fake websites advertise clothing and trinkets bearing political logos and candidates names, but never arrive once they are purchased. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me
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Election phishing on the rise Outside of what the FBI has warned against in its advisory, there are a number of other common scams that are targeting Americans looking to exercise their right to vote.

Scammers are sending out text messages en masse stating that the recipient
has not yet registered to vote and that the deadline is closing soon.

This sense of urgency can easily push past the better judgement of those looking to participate in the midterm elections, and upon visiting a fake voter registration website the victims hand over their sensitive information. What to read next These are the AI fakes you need to warn your friends and family about Surfshark warns personal devices are a 'wide-open door' as UK Prime Minister falls for impersonation scam The era of the AI voice scam is here and we need to be ready

Subsequent phishing, scams, and even identity theft can follow.

Iran, Russia, and China are also launching disinformation and misinformation campaigns aimed at polarizing voters across the political spectrum. Similar campaigns were spotted for the 2024 Presidential election surrounding everything from US support for Ukraine, to election interference claims.

Via The Register Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/fbi-warns-of-torrent-of-scams-and-deepf akes-ahead-of-us-midterm-elections


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