Kenneth Glad
Most of us trust familiar names at the top of our daily emails. A friendly greeting, however, can sometimes hide a quiet digital trap. In the fast-moving world of global technology, a few leading experts have just learned this lesson the hard way.
Hackers operating from China are pretending to be former United States government officials. According to a report earlier today from the cybersecurity firm Proofpoint, these attackers want to steal passwords from artificial intelligence professionals.
The group focuses tightly on the people who shape international rules and national strategy. Instead of casting a wide net, the security researchers noticed the attackers zeroed in on just a few individuals at select institutions.
Their tactics are simple but effective. Attackers send pleasant messages that suggest exciting new professional collaborations. They then guide their unsuspecting marks to fake websites designed specifically to harvest sensitive login details.
Spotting the fake
The cybercriminals frequently use the identities of respected public figures to build trust quickly. One of those chosen identities belongs to Lynne Parker. She is a former senior official who previously worked in the White House science office.
Reuters identified Alex Engler as one of the recent targets. Engler previously served at the White House and now leads a prominent technology center at the University of Pennsylvania.
He received a message that looked exactly like it came from Parker. The email invited him “to join a new AI policy project.” But something simply did not feel right.
He asked his colleagues and quickly realized it was a scam. He told Reuters the strange message “felt slightly, nebulously off” right from the start.
Gathering policy secrets
This covert operation is not about stealing raw computer code. The attackers want to gather inside political information. Proofpoint reported that the hackers specifically seek “experts working on AI regulation, export controls and national AI strategy.”
The cybersecurity firm believes this points to a deep interest in American policymaking. Since at least 2025, these digital intruders have hunted for secrets at defense groups, universities, and law firms.
Parker has confirmed to Reuters that two people received fake messages in her name this summer. She sees a very clear motive behind the digital deception.
“The United States and China are in a competition around AI,” Parker said. Trying to uncover future plans makes strategic sense to her. She said that she was completely unsurprised by the hidden campaign.
Sources: Reuters, Proofpoint
