Hackers are using AI-made voice messages to impersonate senior US officials, FBI warns
The hackers, who the FBI did not identify, have since April sent text and voice message to targets, including federal and state officials, to try to cultivate a rapport with them, the bureau's public advisory said.
The FBI is concerned about the potential ripple effect: Access to government or personal accounts could be used to target other government officials or their associates and contacts, it warned. The hackers could use the information they steal to 'to impersonate contacts to elicit information or funds,' the FBI said.
It's unclear what the end goal of the hacking effort is or who is behind it. CNN has requested comment from an FBI spokesperson.
Cheap and ubiquitous AI tools have made it far easier for scammers and spies to impersonate the friends, relatives and colleagues of just about anyone. And once they have hacked into an email or social media account, they can effectively take over the target's identity.
During the 2024 US presidential election, Russian operatives pumped out AI-generated videos on social media to target American voters with false information about voter fraud, according to US intelligence agencies.
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The Hill
35 minutes ago
- The Hill
GOP rep says he believes Epstein files were destroyed
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said Wednesday he believes a so-called 'client list' associated with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein once existed but was 'destroyed' by the Biden administration. 'I think the files existed at one time,' Burchett said in an interview on NewsNation's 'On Balance' with host Leland Vittert. 'I think they were destroyed in the previous administration.' The Justice Department (DOJ) released a memo earlier this week concluding that Epstein did not keep such a list that was allegedly used to blackmail high-profile individuals — contradicting conspiracy theories circulating for years that suggested otherwise. The memo also concluded that the convicted sex offender died in his New York City jail cell in 2019 by suicide, refuting other claims that he died under suspicious circumstances. Burchett pushed back on suggestions by former Trump adviser Elon Musk and other media influencers that the president was among the individuals whose names were included in the files associated with Epstein. 'I think if they'd ever had anything on Trump, it would have been out day one under the Biden administration,' the Tennessee Republican said. 'I think there's some very prominent people. There's Hollywood people,' he added. 'I mean, I think there's world leaders too. And would it have caused economic disruption around the globe? maybe. But I don't really care. I want to bury those dirtbags.' Asked why Attorney General Pam Bondi would not simply say that the evidence has been destroyed, Burchett said, 'She doesn't have any proof of it.' 'I'm just telling you what I think. I've been around this town enough,' the lawmaker continued. 'I think she got over her skis pretty much saying all this stuff, the files are on my desk, I'm going to release it, and then she releases stuff that I knew.' 'I think they all got out there, got a little excited, and I don't think they exist,' he added, referring to the files. The interview comes amid backlash from segments of the right-wing media ecosphere following the release of the DOJ memo. Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, in particular, have come under scrutiny from prominent voices in the MAGA movement who have questioned whether the government is covering up salacious information surrounding Epstein. Patel and Bongino are among those who had pushed such ideas before joining the government. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier this week that DOJ's conclusion is the result of an 'exhaustive review of all of the files related to Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and his death.' She noted there was some material the Trump administration did not release due to its graphic nature. Epstein was federally charged in 2019 on allegations that he led a sex trafficking operation involving underage girls from 2002 to 2005. He died in prison a month later, before the case could go to trial. He had earlier pleaded guilty to separate sexual misconduct charges.
Fox News
39 minutes ago
- Fox News
Massachusetts bill would force ICE agents to unmask
A new bill in Massachusetts aims to require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other federal immigration enforcement officers to unmask. The legislative proposal was introduced Wednesday by Democratic state Rep. James Hawkins. It calls for a new section to the Massachusetts Penal Code that states, "A law enforcement officer shall not wear any mask or personal disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties, except for medical grade masks that are surgical or N95 respirators designed to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases and masks designed to protect against exposure to smoke or toxins during a state of emergency." "A violation of this section shall be punishable as a misdemeanor," the bill, which was co-sponsored by another 10 Democratic state representatives, said. It says the intent of the legislature is to enact legislation "to require law enforcement officers to include their name or badge number on their uniforms," as well as to enact legislation to "ensure that Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team officers can utilize gear necessary to protect their faces from physical harm while they perform their SWAT responsibilities." ICE acting director Todd Lyons defended mask-wearing by his agents during a May press conference announcing an operation had resulted in nearly 1,500 arrests across Massachusetts. "I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line, because people don't like what immigration enforcement is," Lyons during a press conference in Boston. "Is that the issue here that we're upset about, the masks? Or is anyone upset about the fact that ICE officers' families were labeled terrorists?" During an operation in Los Angeles weeks prior, Lyons said, ICE agents were "doxed" – having their personal information publicized – and people took photos of agents' names and faces and posted them online "with death threats to their families and to themselves." Most of those arrested in the Massachusetts operation had "significant criminality in the U.S. or abroad" and agents targeted "the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested neighborhoods of Massachusetts," officials said. "If sanctuary cities would change their policies and turn these violent criminal aliens over to us, into our custody, instead of releasing them to the public, we would not have to go out to the communities and do this," Lyons added. "Boston's my hometown, and it really shocks me that officials all over Massachusetts would rather release sex offenders, fentanyl dealers, drug dealers, human traffickers and child rapists back into the neighborhoods." Hawkins cited the March arrest of Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk by masked Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents outside of her home in Somerville, Mass. ICE accused the 30-year-old Turkish national of supporting Hamas, and DHS later confirmed her student visa had been revoked. She was subsequently transported to ICE detention centers in New Hampshire, Vermont and Louisiana, until a judge approved her release and return to Massachusetts in May. The bill is only the latest of a series of legislative proposals brought by Democrats seeking to unmask ICE agents. U.S. Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif., introduced the "Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement" or VISIBLE Act this week. 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Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures stall as Nvidia milestone, Trump tariffs vie for focus
US stock futures traded broadly flat on Thursday, putting a Nvidia-fueled (NVDA) rally on pause as Wall Street weighed Delta's (DAL) upbeat earnings amid fresh tariff threats from President Trump. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) inched down 0.1%, while S&P 500 futures (ES=F) were little changed. Contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) were also steady on the heels of a winning day for the major gauges. Markets are regrouping after Trump's latest salvos on tariffs, which have done little to sap the ebullient mood that has pervaded for more than two months. After Wednesday's market close, Trump issued his most stringent threat yet, threatening Brazil with rates of 50% on its imports. Before the bell, Delta (DAL) kicked off second-quarter earnings season with its report, in high focus after the airline pulled its guidance last quarter due to Trump's trade moves. Its profit and revenue narrowly beat Wall Street expectations, and its shares jumped 12%. At the same time, and carrier restored its earnings outlook, citing "greater clarity" as trade deals get done. Market focus remains on potential trade pacts with bigger US trading partners, such as the EU, India, and Canada. While Trump has said a pact with India is close, the odds have narrowed after he warned of an extra 10% tariff on BRICS members. Read more: The latest on Trump's tariffs Amping up the pressure for deals, Trump has sent 22 letters to the heads of countries this week. Each has a similar formula, dictating the tariff rates he says will apply to their imports starting Aug. 1. Meanwhile, eyes are back on prospects for AI after the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) clinched a new record close on Wednesday, thanks in large part to a continued surge from Nvidia. The chipmaker's stock rose in premarket, set to build on the all-time high hit after Nvidia became the first public company to cross a market value of over $4 trillion. An update on weekly jobless claims due later will get attention in a week light on economic data to help set expectations for interest-rate cuts. Few Federal Reserve policymakers were open to a July start to lowering rates at their June meeting, according to minutes released on Wednesday. Circle stock (CRCL) jumped 3% in premarket trading on news that the Jack Ma-backed Ant Group Co. is reportedly considering adopting its stablecoin on the Chinese fintech company's blockchain platform. Bloomberg reported that Ant International, the company's global unit, is planning to incorporate Circle's USD coin (USDC-USD) on its blockchain platform after the asset becomes compliant in the US, according to people familiar with the matter. They did not give a timeline for when that might happen. Ant Group is also seeking to apply for stablecoin licenses; it has reportedly processed more than $1 trillion in global transactions last year, a third of which were on the blockchain. And Circle has been buoyed recently by increased optimism over the stablecoin regulatory environment. Circle stock is up over 500% since its IPO a little over a month ago. Read more here. Coffee futures (KC=F) rose on Thursday after President Trump threatened to slap a 50% tariff on Brazil, the world's largest producer. The news has shaken the industry and risks US consumers seeing a price surge. The FT reports: Read more here. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSM) revenue rose 39% last quarter, boosting expectations that AI spending remains robust. Bloomberg reports that TSMC's sales to Nvidia (NVDA) and Apple (AAPL) reached roughly $32 billion for the June quarter, above expectations. Shares of TSMC advanced 0.88% in premarket trading. More from Bloomberg: Read more here. Delta stock (DAL) soared more than 12% in premarket trading after the company's earnings topped Wall Street estimates and Delta reinstated its guidance for the year. Delta CEO Ed Bastian told Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian that progress on trade deals and the approval of the tax deal were "helpful" in removing uncertainty for the airline. Subramanian reports: Read more here. Earnings: Delta (DAL), Conagra Brands (CAG), Levi's (LEVI), WD-40 (WDFC) Economic data: Initial jobless claims (week ending July 5); Continuing claims (week ending June 28) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Nvidia's real edge isn't just its products, but its customers The early winner in the 'Dexit' war for corporate relocations: Nevada Trump threatens to impose 50% tariff on Brazil Nvidia stock set to rise after company becomes first to hit $4T Kellogg stock soars 50% on report Ferrero buyout is near Xi signals China may finally move to end deflationary price wars Tesla to hold annual shareholder meeting in November Nvidia's Huang to meet Chinese leaders while AI curbs deepen MP Materials, Pentagon team up on rare earth magnets; stock jumps Yahoo Finance's Alexis Keenan reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance UK's LaToya Harding reports: The FTSE 100 (^FTSE) hit a new all-time high on Thursday morning, while European stocks also advanced. The German Dax (^GDAXI) also touched a record, as traders shrugged off the threat of Donald Trump's escalating trade wars. The US president confirmed overnight that a 50% copper tariff will come into place on 1 August, and announced a 50% tariff on goods from Brazil. ... The Brazilian Real weakened by 2.29% against the US dollar on the back of the news, its biggest decline since 4 April, but mining stocks rallied in London, signalling that investors are not concerned about the new tariffs. ... Read more on UK and Europe markets here. Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) shares rose over 3% before the bell on Thursday after President Trump said he would impose 50% tariffs on copper. Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) stock was also up almost 4% in premarket trading following Trump's announcement that he would hit copper imports with a 50% tariff. Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (RARE) stock fell over 20% after announcing that the US FDA had granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for GTX-102 as a treatment for Angelman syndrome. Dollar Tree (DLTR) rose 2% before the bell following the news that that its board authorized a $2.5 billion share buyback plan. Some analyst calls that caught my eye this morning as the Street preps for yet another earnings season. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) HSBC analyst Ryan Mellor drops an upgrade on AMD (AMD) to Buy. Says Mellor: "Turning bullish on new product pipeline. We now believe there could be significant upside to FY26 estimated AI revenue as our revised forecast of USD15.1 billion is now 57% above consensus forecasts of USD9.6 billion driven by a higher-than-expected pricing premium of its recent MI350 series launch. We are also encouraged by its MI400 rack architecture (to be launched in 2026) but it remains too early to quantify. Hence, we now expect that upside to FY26 estimated AI revenue will lead to higher re-rating to AMD that is not fully priced in by the market despite the 14% share price rally post its AI day event (12 June). PepsiCo (PEP) JP Morgan analyst Andrea Teixeira is cautious on PepsiCo (PEP) going into its July 17 earnings report. Says Teixeira"We believe expectations are for another soft quarter for PEP as consumption trends in the U.S. deteriorated in the quarter for both PFNA and PBNA segments, while International should remain relatively solid with some puts and takes. We don't envision a substantial change to underlying guidance at this point following the cut to EPS with 1Q25 and a low enough bar for OSG, although USD softening could provide some relief to reported results. To date, PEP's initiatives to turn around the snacking business have disappointed with tracked channel trends remaining under pressure, and with more time elapsing from shelf resets and price portioning and pack size adjustments (to lower absolute price points), if the company doesn't begin to show signs of improving trends near term (i.e., getting less bad against easing comparisons) there could be a need for more meaningful investment." The maker of Nutella and Ferrero Rocher, Ferrero, is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to acquire WK Kellogg Co. (KLG) for a roughly $3 billion dollar price tag, per the WSJ. The stock soared in after-hours trading following the report, up over 50%. As of Wednesday's market close, the company had a market cap of roughly $1.5 billion. The cereal maker, behind brands like Froot Loops and Frosted Flakes, has been under pressure lately as consumers crave less breakfast food. Over the course of four weeks, ending June 29, cereal category sales fell 1.8% "in line with the trend from recent months," Stifel analyst Matthew Smith wrote in a note to clients. For WK Kellogg in particular, dollar sales were down 5.7% in that same time frame. It could get even worse when compared to the highs of the pandemic, per Smith. He said that "cereal sales had been running down -1.5% or so, we believe the volumes are likely to continue to move towards the historical decline rate." "The category is holding in and it's shifting ... we will shift with it," CEO Gary Pilnick told investors on its recent earnings call, "as consumers are looking for value, they're looking for health and wellness... No matter what the combination is, the cereal category is a tremendous destination for those consumers." WK Kellogg did not respond to a request for comment. Circle stock (CRCL) jumped 3% in premarket trading on news that the Jack Ma-backed Ant Group Co. is reportedly considering adopting its stablecoin on the Chinese fintech company's blockchain platform. Bloomberg reported that Ant International, the company's global unit, is planning to incorporate Circle's USD coin (USDC-USD) on its blockchain platform after the asset becomes compliant in the US, according to people familiar with the matter. They did not give a timeline for when that might happen. Ant Group is also seeking to apply for stablecoin licenses; it has reportedly processed more than $1 trillion in global transactions last year, a third of which were on the blockchain. And Circle has been buoyed recently by increased optimism over the stablecoin regulatory environment. Circle stock is up over 500% since its IPO a little over a month ago. Read more here. Coffee futures (KC=F) rose on Thursday after President Trump threatened to slap a 50% tariff on Brazil, the world's largest producer. The news has shaken the industry and risks US consumers seeing a price surge. The FT reports: Read more here. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSM) revenue rose 39% last quarter, boosting expectations that AI spending remains robust. Bloomberg reports that TSMC's sales to Nvidia (NVDA) and Apple (AAPL) reached roughly $32 billion for the June quarter, above expectations. Shares of TSMC advanced 0.88% in premarket trading. More from Bloomberg: Read more here. Delta stock (DAL) soared more than 12% in premarket trading after the company's earnings topped Wall Street estimates and Delta reinstated its guidance for the year. Delta CEO Ed Bastian told Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian that progress on trade deals and the approval of the tax deal were "helpful" in removing uncertainty for the airline. Subramanian reports: Read more here. Earnings: Delta (DAL), Conagra Brands (CAG), Levi's (LEVI), WD-40 (WDFC) Economic data: Initial jobless claims (week ending July 5); Continuing claims (week ending June 28) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Nvidia's real edge isn't just its products, but its customers The early winner in the 'Dexit' war for corporate relocations: Nevada Trump threatens to impose 50% tariff on Brazil Nvidia stock set to rise after company becomes first to hit $4T Kellogg stock soars 50% on report Ferrero buyout is near Xi signals China may finally move to end deflationary price wars Tesla to hold annual shareholder meeting in November Nvidia's Huang to meet Chinese leaders while AI curbs deepen MP Materials, Pentagon team up on rare earth magnets; stock jumps Yahoo Finance's Alexis Keenan reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance UK's LaToya Harding reports: The FTSE 100 (^FTSE) hit a new all-time high on Thursday morning, while European stocks also advanced. The German Dax (^GDAXI) also touched a record, as traders shrugged off the threat of Donald Trump's escalating trade wars. The US president confirmed overnight that a 50% copper tariff will come into place on 1 August, and announced a 50% tariff on goods from Brazil. ... The Brazilian Real weakened by 2.29% against the US dollar on the back of the news, its biggest decline since 4 April, but mining stocks rallied in London, signalling that investors are not concerned about the new tariffs. ... Read more on UK and Europe markets here. Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) shares rose over 3% before the bell on Thursday after President Trump said he would impose 50% tariffs on copper. Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) stock was also up almost 4% in premarket trading following Trump's announcement that he would hit copper imports with a 50% tariff. Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (RARE) stock fell over 20% after announcing that the US FDA had granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for GTX-102 as a treatment for Angelman syndrome. Dollar Tree (DLTR) rose 2% before the bell following the news that that its board authorized a $2.5 billion share buyback plan. Some analyst calls that caught my eye this morning as the Street preps for yet another earnings season. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) HSBC analyst Ryan Mellor drops an upgrade on AMD (AMD) to Buy. Says Mellor: "Turning bullish on new product pipeline. We now believe there could be significant upside to FY26 estimated AI revenue as our revised forecast of USD15.1 billion is now 57% above consensus forecasts of USD9.6 billion driven by a higher-than-expected pricing premium of its recent MI350 series launch. We are also encouraged by its MI400 rack architecture (to be launched in 2026) but it remains too early to quantify. Hence, we now expect that upside to FY26 estimated AI revenue will lead to higher re-rating to AMD that is not fully priced in by the market despite the 14% share price rally post its AI day event (12 June). PepsiCo (PEP) JP Morgan analyst Andrea Teixeira is cautious on PepsiCo (PEP) going into its July 17 earnings report. Says Teixeira"We believe expectations are for another soft quarter for PEP as consumption trends in the U.S. deteriorated in the quarter for both PFNA and PBNA segments, while International should remain relatively solid with some puts and takes. We don't envision a substantial change to underlying guidance at this point following the cut to EPS with 1Q25 and a low enough bar for OSG, although USD softening could provide some relief to reported results. To date, PEP's initiatives to turn around the snacking business have disappointed with tracked channel trends remaining under pressure, and with more time elapsing from shelf resets and price portioning and pack size adjustments (to lower absolute price points), if the company doesn't begin to show signs of improving trends near term (i.e., getting less bad against easing comparisons) there could be a need for more meaningful investment." The maker of Nutella and Ferrero Rocher, Ferrero, is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to acquire WK Kellogg Co. (KLG) for a roughly $3 billion dollar price tag, per the WSJ. The stock soared in after-hours trading following the report, up over 50%. As of Wednesday's market close, the company had a market cap of roughly $1.5 billion. The cereal maker, behind brands like Froot Loops and Frosted Flakes, has been under pressure lately as consumers crave less breakfast food. Over the course of four weeks, ending June 29, cereal category sales fell 1.8% "in line with the trend from recent months," Stifel analyst Matthew Smith wrote in a note to clients. For WK Kellogg in particular, dollar sales were down 5.7% in that same time frame. It could get even worse when compared to the highs of the pandemic, per Smith. He said that "cereal sales had been running down -1.5% or so, we believe the volumes are likely to continue to move towards the historical decline rate." "The category is holding in and it's shifting ... we will shift with it," CEO Gary Pilnick told investors on its recent earnings call, "as consumers are looking for value, they're looking for health and wellness... No matter what the combination is, the cereal category is a tremendous destination for those consumers." WK Kellogg did not respond to a request for comment. 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