The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned US voters about artificial intelligence (AI) election scams that impersonate campaigns and steal money or personal information.
An October 15 alert describes schemes involving fake registration pages, fraudulent donation requests and political merchandise that never arrives.
Criminals use candidates’ names, photographs, logos and slogans to make their approaches look credible. AI tools also help scammers produce realistic voices, images and written messages, the bureau warns.
These impersonations can make fraudulent requests harder to recognise. In one scheme, voters receive texts or emails claiming they have not registered in their state. Links then direct them to fake registration pages designed to collect identifying information.
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Other fraudsters promise returns from supposed campaign investment pools if a candidate wins. Meanwhile, fake donation appeals divert money from people who believe they are supporting a political committee.
- Check registration through the official Vote.gov service rather than links in unexpected messages.
- Avoid sharing personal information with unknown callers or responding to unfamiliar links.
- Review committee registration and financial filings through the Federal Election Commission.
- Independently verify that a caller or sender represents the organisation they claim.
- Research sellers before buying campaign merchandise.
However, registration alone does not establish that a political action committee is trustworthy. The bureau cautions that some scam committees may appear registered.
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People can report AI election scams to a local FBI field office or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Reports should include contact details, payment information and an account of the interaction.
