Fake FTC Phone-Deactivation Calls and Midterm Election Scams — Remote Scam Watch

Full sweep conducted across all nine mandatory sources for October 13 – October 26, 2026. This edition covers two weeks because no Remote report was published on October 19. Two new qualifying patterns were confirmed, both scammers pretending to be the government. On October 22 the FTC warned about callers posing as FTC officials who threaten to shut off your phone number and then demand a "security deposit". On October 15 the FBI warned that scammers are using the November 3 midterm election to run fake voter-registration messages, fake political committees, campaign "investment pools" and merchandise that never ships. Other FTC alerts in the window (sextortion-help services, franchising) fall outside this report's eight categories. Australia's Scamwatch and Canada's Anti-Fraud Centre posted nothing new in the window.

✓ FTC Consumer Alerts — finding (Oct 22) ✓ FBI IC3 — finding (PSA, Oct 15) FCC — No new consumer alert found Report Fraud (UK, formerly Action Fraud) — Clean CAFC (Canada) — Clean Scamwatch (Australia) — Clean (latest Sep 28) AARP Fraud Watch — No new national alert found BBB Scam Tracker — Clean econsumer.gov — Clean

New Finding — High Alert

// Latest · Government Impersonation Scams · High Alert

October 26, 2026 — "Your Number Is Being Used for Scams": Fake FTC Officials Threaten to Shut Off Your Phone, Then Demand a "Security Deposit"

The FTC warned on October 22 that scammers are calling people while pretending to be FTC officials. The caller says a phone registered in your name is being used for scams in another country, may read out a fake badge number, and threatens to deactivate your phone number unless you cooperate. You are then passed to a fake "police officer" to file a report. If you hesitate, they may tell you to look up a police department's number online and call it yourself; scammers answer that call too.

Next they ask for your ID and personal details and tell you to keep everything secret. Finally they say you are under arrest for crimes linked to your number and must travel to another country, unless you pay a "security deposit". Every step is designed to make you scared, isolated and in a hurry.

// How It Plays Out

1A caller says they're from the FTC: your phone number is linked to scams abroad and will be cut off. They may read a "badge ID" or text you a photo of one.

2You're transferred to a "police officer", or told to find a police number online and call it. The person who answers is part of the scam.

3They ask for your ID and personal information and insist you tell no one.

4They claim you're under arrest and must leave the country, unless you send money as a "security deposit".

▶ How to Protect Yourself

The FTC will never call to deactivate your phone, threaten arrest, or ask you to send money. Hang up.
Don't call numbers the caller gives you or tells you to search for. If you're worried, look up the agency's official website yourself, or call your phone carrier using the number on your bill.
Never share your ID, Social Security number or bank details with someone who called you.
Anyone who tells you to keep it secret is a scammer. Talk to someone you trust before doing anything.
Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

A real government agency will never threaten to cut off your phone or ask you to pay to avoid arrest — hang up and report it.

High Alert Government Impersonation Fake FTC / Police Calls

Sources: FTC Consumer Alert — "The FTC is not calling to deactivate your phone number" (Oct 22, 2026) (mandatory source)

New Finding — High Alert

// Government Impersonation Scams · High Alert · AI-Assisted

October 26, 2026 — Midterm Election Scams: Fake "You're Not Registered" Texts, Fake Political Committees and Campaign "Investment Pools"

With the November 3 midterm election a week away, the FBI warned on October 15 that scammers are using it to steal money and personal information. Four schemes are named. Texts or emails claim you aren't registered to vote and link to a fake state registration page that collects your personal details. Fake political action committees ("ScamPACs") collect donations and keep them. Campaign "investment pools" promise a guaranteed payout if a candidate wins and ask you to recruit others. And political merchandise is sold online and never shipped.

The FBI also says scammers are using AI to create realistic voices, images and messages that impersonate candidates, campaigns, government offices and people you trust, which makes these schemes harder to spot.

// How It Plays Out

1A text says "Our records show you are not registered to vote — confirm your registration here," with a link to a page that looks like your state's site.

2The page asks for your name, address, date of birth and sometimes your Social Security number or ID — everything needed for identity theft.

3Separately, a call, text or ad from a "campaign" or "PAC" asks for a donation, offers a share of a winnings pool, or sells merchandise — sometimes using a convincing AI copy of a candidate's voice or face.

4The money goes to the scammer and the personal data is reused for further fraud.

// Why This Matters Right Now

Election-themed messages peak in the final week before voting, when people expect to hear from campaigns and are more likely to act quickly on a "registration problem".

▶ How to Protect Yourself

Check your registration only at vote.gov or your state election office's site, typed in yourself — never through a link in a text or email.
Campaign donations are not investments. Anyone promising a return or a payout if a candidate wins is running a scam.
Give only through a campaign's official website, and check PACs and committees on the FEC website (fec.gov) before donating.
Be wary of urgent calls or messages that seem to come from a candidate, even if the voice sounds real — AI can copy voices.
Report election scams to your local FBI field office or ic3.gov.

Check your voter registration only at vote.gov or your state's official site — never through a link someone sends you.

High Alert Government Impersonation Election 2026 / AI Impersonation

Sources: FBI IC3 PSA I-101526-3-PSA — "Scammers Exploit 2026 U.S. Midterm Election to Perpetrate Multiple Fraud Schemes" (Oct 15, 2026) (mandatory source) · Help Net Security (Oct 16, 2026)