$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
fake voter registration website scam
Fraudulent websites mimic official voter registration portals to collect personal information including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and addresses.
“government website scam”
↑ 125.4%Key indicators
Usually targetsCitizens
Often hitsTech workers and developers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create fake voter registration websites, particularly active before elections, and promote them through social media and text messages.
2
The sites collect personal information under the guise of voter registration, including SSN, date of birth, and address.
3
Harvested information is used for identity theft while victims believe they have registered to vote.
What to do first
Register to vote only through your state's official .gov election website or vote.gov.
Related terms
bogus voter registrationelection registration phishingfake voting portalFake government website scamsWebsiteSurgingCitizensTech workers and developersRetirees and seniorsOnline shoppersUnited Statesbogus voter registrationelection registration phishing
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Amanda, 35, a citizens, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate fake government website scams situation while using Website. Scammers create fake voter registration websites, particularly active before elections, and promote them through social media and text messages.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The sites collect personal information under the guise of voter registration, including SSN, date of birth, and address.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Harvested information is used for identity theft while victims believe they have registered to vote.
The outcome
Amanda realized something was wrong when the voter registration url does not end in .gov. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Register to vote only through your state's official .gov election website or vote.gov. Amanda's experience shows why the voter registration url does not end in .gov and the site asks for your full social security number — real voter registration only requires the last four digits in most states are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- The voter registration URL does not end in .gov
- The site asks for your full Social Security number — real voter registration only requires the last four digits in most states
- The site was shared through social media or unsolicited text messages rather than official channels
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Register to vote only through your state's official .gov election website or vote.gov.
- ✓Never submit your full Social Security number on a voter registration website.
- ✓Report fake voter registration websites to the Election Assistance Commission and the FBI.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) regularly issues advisories about fake election-related websites designed to harvest personal information.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Register to vote only through your state's official .gov election website or vote.gov.
- ✓Never submit your full Social Security number on a voter registration website.
- ✓Report fake voter registration websites to the Election Assistance Commission and the FBI.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) regularly issues advisories about fake election-related websites designed to harvest personal information.
OpenScam research
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Citizens
Geographic concentration
United States
Primary channel
Website — Fake government website scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Citizens are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) regularly issues advisories about fake election-related websites designed to harvest personal information.
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fake voter registration website scam
How does the fake voter registration website scam work?+
Scammers create fake voter registration websites, particularly active before elections, and promote them through social media and text messages. The sites collect personal information under the guise of voter registration, including SSN, date of birth, and address. Harvested information is used for identity theft while victims believe they have registered to vote.
What are the warning signs of fake voter registration website scam?+
The voter registration URL does not end in .gov The site asks for your full Social Security number — real voter registration only requires the last four digits in most states The site was shared through social media or unsolicited text messages rather than official channels
What should I do if I encounter fake voter registration website scam?+
Register to vote only through your state's official .gov election website or vote.gov. Never submit your full Social Security number on a voter registration website. Report fake voter registration websites to the Election Assistance Commission and the FBI.
Who is most at risk for fake voter registration website scam?+
This scam primarily targets Citizens. It is most commonly reported in United States and typically appears on Website.
Is fake voter registration website scam getting worse?+
fake voter registration website scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Related scams
Similar scams to watch out for
Recovery fraud
↑ 17%Chargeback specialist fee scam
A recovery service promises to reverse payments through insider banking knowledge, but asks for an upfront fee and sensitive transaction data first.
What to do first
Open disputes directly with your bank or payment provider instead of paying a middleman first.
Targets
Fraud victims
Seen in
Global
Investment scams
↓ 8%Mining hosting return scam
A mining or yield-hosting company promises passive income from managed infrastructure, but the balance and payout reports are fabricated.
What to do first
Treat mining-hosting platforms as unverified until you confirm the business, facility, and payout reality independently.
Targets
Crypto holders
Seen in
Global
Online shopping scams
↑ 166%fake online store non-delivery scam
Fraudulent websites mimic legitimate retailers, collect payment for products, and never ship anything. Victims discover the store vanishes within weeks.
What to do first
Dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company immediately
Targets
Online shoppers
Seen in
Global
Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
Relevant collections