Pennsylvania Voters Flood With Political Scam Texts

The FBI warns that scammers are using candidates' names, slogans and pictures to target voters ahead of Election Day.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections

Pennsylvania Voters Flood With Political Scam Texts

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Are political calls and texts making you less likely to vote?

Voters across Pennsylvania are receiving political text messages and automated calls asking for donations or promoting different candidates. The FBI is warning the public that scammers are exploiting candidates' names, slogans and pictures to target voters.

Why it matters

Scammers are using artificial intelligence tools to generate fake calls and messages that may look or sound real, making it harder for voters to distinguish legitimate campaign outreach from fraud. The warning comes two days before Election Day, when voters are most actively engaging with political messaging.

Elizabeth Terry reports deleting at least 30 to 40 political messages daily, while Mercy's husband receives automated calls multiple times throughout the day. The source does not quantify how many of these messages are fraudulent versus legitimate campaign outreach.

The players

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

The FBI is the principal federal domestic intelligence and law enforcement agency of the United States, and it issued this public warning about election-related scam messaging.

The details

The FBI says scammers are using candidates' names, slogans and pictures, along with artificial intelligence tools, to generate fake phone calls and messages. The agency advises voters to be cautious with unsolicited calls, texts, emails and surveys, and to avoid clicking unfamiliar links or sharing personal information with unknown people.

Nov. 3: Voters across Pennsylvania plan to cast ballots on Election Day.

Seasonal Patterns

Unsolicited political messaging typically intensifies in the final days before an election as campaigns and fundraisers expand outreach. The FBI's warning places this recurring seasonal surge alongside newer AI tools that make impersonation of candidates more convincing.

Voters who receive unsolicited texts or calls should avoid clicking unfamiliar links or sharing personal information with unknown senders. Treating unexpected political solicitations with caution helps protect against scams in the days before the election.

The takeaway

Verify any political message before donating or clicking links, especially messages that use candidate names or images. Contacting campaigns directly through their official websites is a safer way to confirm a donation request.