Executive Summary
Election Day is November 3, and scammers are working the calendar just as hard as campaigns are. Fake voter-registration alerts, bogus polling-place changes, and “urgent” donation requests are designed to steal personal data, money, or login credentials. Because employees read texts and emails on work phones and laptops, these scams are a business security issue as well as a personal one.
This post covers the main scam types, sample messages, warning signs, and a simple response plan for your team. The guidance is non-partisan: these scams target voters of every party.
Introduction
Scammers follow the headlines, and in election season the headlines come with a built-in deadline. Election-related spam calls and texts are surging, with some 21 million calls reported in a single summer, according to research by TNS. A Check Point threat outlook found that over 4,000 “vote”-related web domains were registered in just one month this spring. Some are legitimate, but many are used for donation fraud and phishing sites disguised as voter information pages. The same report described phishing as one of the most likely operational threats of this election cycle.
The messages are also getting more convincing. Local reporting describes scam texts that impersonate election offices, with both the volume and polish of the messages increasing in recent weeks.
Quick Facts
The Four Most Common Election Scams
The “voter verification” alert. A message claims there is a problem with your registration, asks you to confirm your status, or offers a “quick way to register.” The goal is to get you to click a link, and some election officials have warned that clicking could also install malware. You cannot register by phone, email, or text. Officials in one state issued an alert about a phishing email urging recipients to click a voter-verification link.
- The fake polling-place change. Messages may claim a voter-registration error, a missing ballot, or a last-minute polling location change, then send recipients to a bogus website or payment page. These can also be used to confuse or discourage people from voting.
- The donation scam. Fake campaign or cause fundraisers ask for a quick payment by link, gift card, or wire. Criminals also use fake audio to request campaign contributions. Merchandise scams selling “campaign” hats or bumper stickers work the same way: take the payment, send nothing, keep the card details.
- The survey or “poll” scam. A caller or text offers to “record your opinion” and then asks for a birth date, Social Security number, or card number. Legitimate polls never need these.
Sample Messages (Illustrative Examples)
These are fictional examples modeled on common patterns. They are not real messages.
| Sample A – Registration alert“NOTICE: Your voter record shows an error. Verify your registration within 24 hours to avoid removal: vote-status-check[.]example/verify” |
| Sample B – Polling change“Your polling location has changed due to a scheduling conflict. Confirm your new location here: [link]. Reply YES to confirm.” |
| Sample C – Donation“Final hours! Your donation will be MATCHED 5x if you give before midnight. Tap to contribute: [link]” |
| Sample D – “I voted” check“Records show you voted in 2022 and 2024. Review your voting history before this year’s election: [link]” |
Sample D is based on the real pattern reporters have described, in which a text links to a site that supposedly shows your past voting record.
Red Flags to Look For
⚠ Key Rule
No government office, election official, or legitimate campaign will demand your Social Security number or payment by text to “keep you registered.”
What To Do If You Receive One: Step by Step
1. Don’t click, call, or reply. Replying, even to say “stop,” is not recommended for suspicious texts.
2. Take a screenshot for your records and for reporting.
3. Verify independently. Go directly to your state or county election office website, or use vote.gov, rather than any link in the message. You can also confirm notices through your county board of elections or USA.gov.
4. Report the text. Forward it to 7726 (SPAM) and file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
5. Report voter-suppression messages (false dates, locations, or eligibility claims) to the FBI’s IC3 and to your local election office.
6. If you clicked or entered information: change your passwords, turn on multi-factor authentication, watch your bank and card statements, and tell IT right away if it happened on a work device.
Why This Matters for Your Business
• Reused passwords. A password typed into a fake “verification” page may also unlock a work account.
• Malware risk. A malicious link opened on a work phone or laptop can give attackers a foothold in your network.
• Distraction. Busy election weeks, tight holiday schedules, and heavy message volume make staff less careful.
• Brand and trust. Attackers may also impersonate your company in donation or “employee giving” requests.
Protect Your Team: A Short Checklist
Federal agencies are also preparing: CISA has published an election security plan for officials protecting systems such as voter registration databases. For individuals, the best defense is to go straight to official sources.
How AvantGuard Can Help
Our Managed Services team can deploy email and web filtering, endpoint protection, and security awareness training so your staff recognize scams like these. If an incident does occur, our Data Protection and Disaster Recovery services help you recover quickly.
