FBI warns of AI deepfakes and election scams ahead of US midterms

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a warning regarding a significant increase in election-related scams and disinformation campaigns targeting Americans ahead of the November midterm elections. According to a report by TechRadar, fraudsters are actively preparing to exploit the political climate to steal financial data and personal information from citizens.

These criminal operations are leveraging artificial intelligence to generate highly convincing deepfakes and imagery, making the scams more difficult for victims to identify. Thousands of malicious websites have already been identified as preparing to launch during the election season. These sites include phishing portals, fake donation pages, and cloned profiles designed to mimic legitimate political entities.

Emerging Scam Tactics

One novel approach involves fake campaign investment pool schemes that promise investors higher returns if a specific candidate wins the election. This tactic mirrors previous scams involving stocks and cryptocurrencies but applies them directly to political outcomes. Victims are asked to contribute money to these pools, which are entirely fraudulent.

Fraudsters are also creating fake political action committees to solicit donations. Instead of funding legitimate political activities, the money collected through these fake PACs is retained by the scammers. Additionally, counterfeit websites are selling political merchandise featuring candidate names and logos. These goods are never delivered to the purchasers, resulting in direct financial loss for the victims.

Voter Targeting and Foreign Influence

Beyond financial fraud, scammers are targeting the voter registration process through mass text message campaigns. These messages falsely claim that recipients have not registered to vote and that the deadline is approaching rapidly. This sense of urgency pressures individuals to visit fake registration websites where they unknowingly surrender sensitive personal information.

This initial data theft can lead to further phishing attempts and identity theft. The FBI advisory highlights that these domestic scams are occurring alongside international efforts to disrupt the election. Foreign adversaries from Iran, Russia, and China are actively launching disinformation and misinformation campaigns. These efforts aim to polarize voters across the political spectrum and undermine confidence in the electoral process.

What should you do?

Security professionals and the general public should remain vigilant against unsolicited communications regarding voter registration or political donations. Verify the legitimacy of any website requesting financial information or personal data before interacting with it. Be skeptical of messages creating a false sense of urgency about election deadlines.

What to do and how to stay safe: FBI

• Verify the authenticity of any website requesting voter registration details or political donations by checking official government sources.
• Scrutinize unsolicited text messages claiming you are not registered to vote, as these are often phishing attempts to harvest personal data.
• Avoid investing in campaign pools that promise financial returns based on election outcomes, as these are likely fraudulent schemes.
• Monitor official channels for updates on disinformation campaigns from foreign actors to better recognize and report suspicious content.

Step-by-step guide: Social Engineering Warning Signs and How to Respond

General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

What types of scams is the FBI warning about before the midterms?

The FBI warns about AI deepfakes, fake campaign investment pools, fraudulent PAC donations, fake merchandise sites, and voter registration phishing texts.

Are foreign countries involved in these election scams?

Yes, Iran, Russia, and China are launching disinformation and misinformation campaigns aimed at polarizing US voters.

How do scammers use urgency to trick victims?

Scammers send mass texts claiming the voter registration deadline is closing soon to push victims to visit fake websites and hand over sensitive information.