FBI Warns of Fake Videos Stirring Election Unrest

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned in a recent announcement that a couple of fabricated videos bearing the bureau’s seal are being shared online. The videos reportedly include unfounded allegations of arrest related to ballot fraud by groups linked to the Democratic party.

Two Fabricated Videos Alleging Ballot Fraud Being Spread Online

“The FBI is aware of two videos falsely claiming to be from the FBI relating to election security, one stating the FBI has apprehended three linked groups committing ballot fraud and a second relating to the Second Gentleman,” reads the FBI’s announcement on X. “These videos are not authentic, are not from the FBI, and the content they depict is false.”

In the first video, viewers hear an authoritative voiceover as they watch a series of images depicting individuals wearing FBI apparel. The phony video falsely states that  “three linked groups have been apprehended for rigging early voting by mail in ballots,” as CyberScoop reports.

Misquotes and Misrepresentations

The video also claims the threat actors used lists of deceased US citizens and Americans over 90 years of age for voter fraud. It further misquotes Eliot Higgins, a reputable investigative journalist from Bellingcat, known for debunking false narratives, particularly those propagated by Russian entities.

The second video reportedly involves Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband, alleging unsubstantiated connections to a major government contractor. This video is said to dismiss the investigation of Emhoff’s alleged ties as “interference in the US elections,” contributing to the controversy.

Videos Likely Produced by Russian-Sponsored ‘Doppelganger’

Clemson University’s Darren Linvill, who is also the co-director of the Media Forensics Hub, says these fabricated videos are likely products of Russian-tied Doppelganger.

Linvill believes that “high volume and low-quality content " are dead giveaways, both solid indicators of a scattershot approach to spreading misinformation.

The FBI also recently issued a broader warning about a surge of fraud schemes surrounding the US general election, including investment pool schemes, campaign merchandise scams, fake political action committees (PACs), and fake voter registration alerts.