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At least five people have been targeted, including a US Governor and a member of Congress.
At least five people have been targeted, including a US Governor and a member of Congress.
AI Voice Scam Targets US Diplomats with Fake Rubio Persona
A con artist has reportedly used artificial intelligence to mimic the voice and writing style of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Targeted officials
The impersonation targeted both American and foreign officials in an attempt to extract sensitive information, according to US media reports confirmed by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
At Least Five High-Profile Targets Approached
An internal memo from Rubio’s office, obtained by The Washington Post, reve
ls that the scammer reached out to at least five individuals outside the department. These included three foreign diplomats, a US governor, and a sitting member of Congress.
The identity of the impersonator remains unknown.
State Department Vows to Take It Seriously
Tammy Bruce confirmed the incident and emphasized that the department is treating it with utmost seriousness.
“We are working to prevent future incidents of this kind,” Bruce said, though she declined to offer specifics. “I can’t provide further details at this time, but when action is taken, it will be clear.”
Fake Email Account Set Up in Rubio’s Name
The imposter reportedly created an email account resembling an official government address—“Marco.Rubio@state.gov”—to deceive both US and foreign political figures.
According to the State Department, the individual also posed as other officials using fraudulent email addresses.
Voice Messages and Texts Sent via Signal App
In several cases, the scammer left voicemail messages and even sent texts through Signal, a secure messaging app popular with government personnel.
The messages aimed to initiate conversations and lure recipients into deeper engagement.
Attempted Phishing to Gain Information or Account Access
A document dated July 3 indicates the impersonator’s goal was to “gain access to information or accounts.”
Authorities say the phishing attempts began in mid-June and focused heavily on messaging platforms like Signal.
Mirrors Earlier Breaches Targeting Trump-Era Officials
This latest AI-enabled scam echoes previous security breaches involving members of Donald Trump’s administration.
In one notable incident from May, a hacker accessed White House chief of staff Susie Wiles’ phone, using it to contact lawmakers and business leaders while posing as her.
FBI Involved After Senior Officials Duped
The impersonation of Wiles triggered an FBI investigation, as the intruder sent texts and made calls to high-level individuals under false pretenses.
Legal Ramifications for Federal Impersonation
Under U.S. law, impersonating a federal official to deceive or obtain favors is a serious crime, carrying a potential sentence of up to three years in prison.
Authorities have not yet disclosed whether criminal charges are pending in the Rubio case.
Signal App Again at the Center of a Scandal
Signal, the secure app at the heart of this case, was also involved in a political controversy earlier this year.
In March, a journalist was mistakenly added to a Signal group where top Trump administration officials—including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—allegedly shared classified military information.
