AI scammer posing as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio targets foreign ministers, US politicians
The person used a voice generator in contacts with the ministers, a US governor and a member of Congress via the Signal messaging app.
Voicemails were left in two instances and a text message in a third instance invited the targeted person to communicate on Signal, the cable said.
The perpetrator copied a fake "@state.gov" email address on the messages as well as logos and branding used by State's Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, it said.
"The actor likely aimed to manipulate targeted individuals using AI-generated text and voice messages, with the goal of gaining access to information or accounts," the cable said.
The State Department cable, dated July 3, was sent to all diplomatic and consular posts and suggests that staff warn external partners about fake accounts and impersonations.
"There is no direct cyber threat to the department from this campaign, but information shared with a third party could be exposed if targeted individuals are compromised," it said.
Responding to an AFP request for comment, the State Department said it was aware of the incident and was "currently investigating the matter."
"The Department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously takes steps to improve the department's cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents," said a senior State Department official.
The cable referred to a second effort in April that was attributed to a Russia-linked hacker who conducted a spear phishing campaign targeting think tanks, Eastern European activists and dissidents and former State Department officials.
"The actor demonstrated extensive knowledge of the department's naming conventions and internal documentation," it said.
In that campaign, the person posed as a State Department official in messages sent to private Gmail accounts.
The State Department said industry partners attributed that campaign to a cyber actor associated with the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service.
The FBI has previously warned that since April, "malicious actors" have impersonated senior US officials to target their contacts, including current and former federal or state government officials.
"The malicious actors have sent text messages and AI-generated voice messages — techniques known as smishing and vishing, respectively — that claim to come from a senior US official in an effort to establish rapport before gaining access to personal accounts," the FBI said in May.
In May, President Donald Trump said an impersonator breached the phone of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. US senators, governors and business executives received text messages and phone calls from someone claiming to be Wiles, the Wall Street Journal reported. Reuters/AFP
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