The Better Business Bureau is warning Americans to be on guard for a wave of election-related scams as key races and voting activity accelerate ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026 midterm elections. The BBB said fraudsters are impersonating political campaigns, interest groups and polling firms to trick people into handing over personal information or money.
How the scams work
Scammers commonly copy the look and language of legitimate campaign emails and text messages, the BBB said. Typical ploys include requests to:
- take a quick poll or survey that asks for contact details or demographic data;
- click a link to view an urgent update or breaking information;
- make a campaign donation that is routed to a fake payment page or third-party account.
These messages may also install malware or direct victims to counterfeit websites that mirror real campaign pages. The BBB cautioned that what appears to be a legitimate donation request can be a front to collect bank account or credit-card numbers for theft.
“Scammers prey on emotion,” the BBB said.
Why they succeed
The BBB emphasized that heightened emotions and a sense of urgency around elections make people more likely to click links or act quickly. Scammers exploit that impulse, using familiar campaign formats and urgent language to lower recipients’ guard.
According to the BBB, text messaging has become a favored channel because it delivers short, attention-grabbing prompts directly to a phone. Fraudsters can spoof sender IDs or copy the style of legitimate campaign texts, making fraudulent messages appear authentic.
BBB guidance and consumer cautions
The BBB urged consumers to research any organization before giving money or personal data. It also recommended skepticism of high-pressure requests and links in unsolicited messages. The bureau said readers should treat political solicitations the same way they would other unfamiliar appeals for donations.
The BBB framed its recommendations as preventive guidance rather than legal advice. It did not provide step-by-step instructions for securing accounts; its public tips focus on verification and caution when encountering unexpected requests for money or information.
With the midterm elections days away, the BBB’s alert highlights a persistent scam vector: social-engineering attacks that rely on trust in familiar institutions. As campaigns increase outreach by email and text, consumers face a higher volume of messages and a correspondingly greater risk of encountering counterfeit solicitations.
