FBI: Any Campaign Donation That ‘Pays You Back’ Is a Scam
The FBI warns of midterm scams promising guaranteed returns on campaign donations, fake PACs that keep the money, merchandise that never ships and fake voter-registration pages.
Scammers are using the 2026 midterms to pitch political donations that pay you back, and the FBI wants voters to know there’s no such thing. In an Oct. 15 public service announcement, the FBI describes a “campaign investment pool” scam. Victims are promised a guaranteed return on a contribution once their candidate wins, plus a bigger cut for recruiting friends. MoneyWise highlighted the warning this week.
The FBI lists three other schemes. “ScamPACs” pose as a political action committee or candidate committee and keep the donations. Fake stores sell campaign merchandise that never ships. Texts and emails claim you aren’t registered to vote and send you to a fake state registration page that collects your personal details. The FBI says scammers are using candidates’ names, photos and slogans, and AI-generated voices, images and messages, to make all of this look real.
What it means for you
A political donation isn’t an investment. It doesn’t grow, and you don’t get it back, whoever wins. Any pitch that promises a return, or pays you more for bringing in other donors, is a scam, and the recruiting part makes it a pyramid. A real campaign doesn’t need you to act today, and a real election office won’t text you a link to “fix” your registration.
Do this now
- Before giving to a PAC or committee, look it up at fec.gov. Be wary of any group whose filings show most of the money going to “consulting” or administrative costs.
- Donate only through a campaign’s official website, typed in yourself, not through a link in a text, email or social media message.
- Check your voter registration directly at vote.gov, never through a link someone sent you.
- If you’ve been targeted, report it to ic3.gov with the sender’s name, phone numbers, websites and how you paid.