Voter Registration Scams
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Voter registration scams use fake websites, calls, and texts to steal personal information for identity theft, contributing to the $618 million lost to government impersonation scams in 2023 (FTC).
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How It Works
1
Scammers contact you unexpectedly via phone call, text message, or email. The message falsely claims there is a problem with your voter registration, that you are not registered, or offers a simple way to register online.
2
The message pressures you to act immediately by clicking a link to a fraudulent website that looks like an official state election or county clerk page. By phone, the scammer may offer to register you directly, which is a process no state allows.
3
The fake website or the scammer on the phone asks for sensitive personal information, such as your full name, date of birth, driver's license number, or Social Security number. This information is not required to check your registration status and is used to commit identity theft.
Red Flags
- You receive an unsolicited call, text, or email about your voter registration status.
- The person or message asks for your full Social Security number, driver's license number, or financial information.
- You are offered the ability to register or vote by phone, text, or email, which is not possible in any U.S. state.
- The website URL does not end in .gov, the official domain for U.S. government websites.
- The message contains spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, or creates a false sense of urgency.
- You are asked to pay a fee to register to vote; voter registration is always free.
- A caller offers a prize or gift card for completing a voter survey and then asks for financial information to cover 'taxes' or 'shipping'.
What to Do If Targeted
- Do not click on links in unsolicited texts or emails about your voter registration.
- Never provide personal or financial information to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly about your voter status.
- Hang up on unsolicited calls offering to register you to vote. You cannot register to vote by phone.
- Independently verify your voter registration status by visiting official government websites, such as vote.gov.
- If you want to register, do so directly through your official state or local election office's .gov website.
- If you believe you have shared personal information with a scammer, visit identitytheft.gov to get a recovery plan.
How to Report It
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission if you encounter a registration scam or lose money.
- FBI IC3 — Report fraudulent websites and online scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- Local Election Officials — Inform your state or local election office about the scam attempt to help them warn other residents.
- FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
- AARP Fraud Helpline — Call 877-908-3360 for free support from trained fraud specialists. Available to anyone, not just AARP members.
Key Statistics
- Consumers reported losing $618 million to government impersonation scams in 2023, an increase from $497 million in 2022. — FTC 2024
- The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 17,367 complaints about government impersonation scams in 2024, with reported losses exceeding $405 million. — FBI IC3 2024 Internet Crime Report
- In 2023, the FTC received nearly 160,000 reports of government impersonation scams. — FTC 2024
- The median loss for victims who paid cash to government impersonation scammers in the first quarter of 2024 was $14,740. — FTC 2024
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Frequently Asked Questions
No. In all 50 states, you can only register to vote online through official government websites, by mail, or in person at a local election office. Anyone who offers to register you by phone, text, or email is a scammer.
Scammers steal your personal data like your name, date of birth, and Social Security number to commit identity theft. They can use this information to open new credit accounts, file fraudulent tax returns, or apply for benefits in your name.
Yes, it is always free to register to vote in the United States. Any request for payment or a credit card number to complete a voter registration form is a scam. Legitimate election officials will never ask for financial information.
The safest way to check your registration status is to go directly to your official state or local election website. You can find your state's official website through the U.S. government portal at vote.gov. Do not use links sent in unsolicited messages to check your status.
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