This Voting Text Is a Scam: 5 Election Scams You Must Know

"You are NOT registered to vote. Tap here to fix it today." If that text lands on your phone this election season, please don't tap it. It's a trap. The FBI is warning that scammers are using election season to steal money and personal information. Ruth walks you through 5 election scams, the 2 questions that expose them, and exactly what to say back. 🔒 Worried your Social Security number or details already slipped out? The 30-Minute Credit Freeze Kit walks you step by step through freezing your credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. No jargon, just plain steps. 7 Day Money Back Refund. https://ruthcalloway.gumroad.com/l/enina ▶ Watch next: 3 Scam Words Banks Never Use    • Your Bank Will Never Say These 3 Words on ...   In this video: • The fake "you're not registered" text, and why you can't register to vote by phone, email, or text • Fake donation calls and fake PACs (ScamPACs), and how caller ID can be faked • AI voice clones that sound exactly like a candidate • Fake political polls that offer a gift card "prize" • The campaign "investment pool" that promises your money back with a profit • One small habit that helps stop scammers from copying your voice The 2-question check: Is it rushing me? Is it asking me to tap, pay, or share? CHAPTERS 0:00 The text you should never tap 1:01 Trap 1: Fake voter registration text 2:17 Trap 2: Fake donation calls and fake PACs 3:52 Trap 3: AI voice clone of a candidate 5:30 How to protect your identity 6:13 Trap 4: Fake poll with a prize 7:05 Trap 5: Campaign investment pool 7:45 Quick quiz 8:45 What to do if you already tapped or paid 9:45 Bonus: protect your voice 10:43 Recap and Ruth's Rule IF YOU THINK YOU'VE BEEN SCAMMED 1. Call your bank first, using the number on the back of your card. Ask them to stop the payment and watch your account. 2. If you shared your Social Security number or date of birth, freeze your credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It's free. 3. Report election scams to the FBI at https://www.ic3.gov or your local FBI field office (ask for the election crimes coordinator). You can also report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov 4. Tell someone you trust. Being fooled doesn't make you foolish. CHECK FOR YOURSELF Voter registration: https://vote.gov Look up a PAC: https://www.fec.gov/data/browse-data/... SOURCES FBI/IC3, Scammers Exploit 2026 U.S. Midterm Election to Perpetrate Multiple Fraud Schemes: https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA261015-3 FBI/IC3, FBI Warns Voters on Election Crimes Ahead of the November 2026 Midterm Election: https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA261015-2 FBI/CISA, Cyber Threat Actors Use a Variety of Techniques to Target Election and Campaign Officials: https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA261016 AARP, 4 Common Election Scams to Avoid This Year: https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-frau... Rhode Island Department of State voter text alert: https://coastalabc.com/news/local/rho... More from Ruth: "Grandma, It's Me." The 1 Question That Stops This Scam Cold:    • “Grandma, It’s Me.” The 1 Question That St...   Romance Scams. 4 Warning Signs You Need To Know:    • Romance Scams. 4 Warning Signs You Need To...   How to Tell If an AI Avatar Video Is Lying to You:    • How to Tell If an AI Avatar Video Is Lying...   DISCLAIMER Ruth Calloway is an AI presenter. This video is general education about scams and fraud, not legal or financial advice. This channel is nonpartisan and is not affiliated with any political party, candidate, campaign, bank, credit bureau, or government agency, including the FBI, FTC, or FEC. Walter is a made-up example based on the kinds of schemes the FBI describes. Always check voting information with your state or local election office. ABOUT THIS VIDEO Election scams and political scams surge every election season, and older adults and retirees are frequent targets. This video explains the fake voter registration text scam, voter registration phishing and smishing, fake political donation calls, scam PACs, caller ID spoofing, AI voice cloning and deepfake robocalls that impersonate candidates, fake political surveys and poll scams with gift card prizes, campaign investment pool fraud, and fake campaign merchandise. Learn how to check your voter registration safely at vote.gov, how to verify a PAC with the Federal Election Commission, how to freeze your credit to prevent identity theft, and how to report election fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the FTC. Plain-language scam protection for seniors and the families who look out for them. #ElectionScams #ScamAlert #FraudPrevention