Latest news with #state.gov
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
US Embassy in Manila to resume consular operations on July 25
The US Embassy in the Philippines announced Thursday that visa interviews and appointments for US citizens will resume on Friday, July 25, after its consular section suspended operations due to inclement weather. The embassy added that its offsite visa application center in Parañaque City will also open tomorrow, Friday, for all scheduled biometrics appointments. "Please be advised that the Embassy may still cancel consular appointments if weather conditions worsen overnight. Monitor our website and social media accounts for updates," the advisory read. "Consular clients who are unable to attend their scheduled appointments tomorrow due to travel cancellations, road closures, and other factors caused by recent weather conditions should reschedule through our official appointment process." Visa applicants may reschedule their interviews via Meanwhile, US citizens who need to reschedule Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) appointments should email ManilaCRBAappt@ with the subject line, "Request for Rescheduling of Appointment," the embassy added. Further, those who were affected by the cancellations from July 22 to 24 should follow the scheduling instructions sent through their registered emails, the embassy reminded. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
The Sun
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
AI impersonator targets US officials posing as Marco Rubio
WASHINGTON: An imposter posing as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio used AI-generated voice and text messages to contact high-level officials, including foreign ministers and a US governor, according to reports. The fraudulent communications, sent via encrypted messaging app Signal, aimed to manipulate officials for potential information access. A State Department cable revealed the imposter created a Signal account under the display name ' in mid-June. The individual left voicemails and sent texts, though the message contents remain undisclosed. The State Department confirmed awareness of the incident, stating it is under investigation to strengthen cybersecurity measures. The incident is part of two separate campaigns under scrutiny. The second involves a Russia-linked cyber actor impersonating a fictitious State Department official since April, targeting think tank scholars, activists, and journalists through phishing attempts on personal Gmail accounts. The FBI had previously warned of similar schemes, where malicious actors impersonate senior US officials via AI-generated voice messages (vishing) or texts (smishing) to gain trust and access sensitive accounts. In May, an impersonator breached White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles' contacts, prompting an FBI probe. Experts warn that AI voice cloning tools, now widely accessible, heighten risks of deepfake disinformation. Last year, a robocall mimicking President Joe Biden urged voters in New Hampshire to skip the Democratic primary, raising concerns over AI-driven election interference.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
BBB issues warning against fake passport sites ahead of summer travel
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — The Better Business Bureau is asking consumers to use extra caution when renewing passports. According to the BBB, fake renewal websites are going to great lengths to trick individuals into thinking they're on official government pages. U.S. citizens can renew their passports online with the U.S. Department of State—if you meet the requirements. (If you don't meet the requirements, you can still renew your passport by mail). The government doesn't charge a fee to fill out the form. The form is available as a free download. You only pay for the passport renewal itself. Below, are some tips from the BBB to protect passport applicants: Do your research. Before renewing your passport, look up the most recent information on the renewal process. Start by checking with the U.S. government. Remember that you should not have to pay a fee to fill out the required forms for a passport renewal – you'll only need to provide payment for the renewal itself. You can check the costs of passport fees in advance. Give yourself plenty of time when renewing your passport. Processing times for passport renewals can change often. In addition to the indicated processing times, you should also consider the time it takes for your passport to arrive at the passport agency and then be mailed back to your home address. Check to see current processing times and plan ahead. Giving yourself plenty of time may reduce your likelihood of searching for quicker options, some of which could be scams. You can expedite your passport renewal with the U.S. government for an extra fee, but it may still take several weeks. Confirm the website's URL before providing sensitive information. It can be easy to click on an impostor website without noticing. Sometimes, the sponsored ads at the top of your search results can lead to these fake sites. Don't always click on the first website you see. Remember, government websites end in .gov. Always take a closer look to be sure you're visiting the correct URL. Scammers can trick you into thinking URLs look legitimate when they aren't. Before typing in sensitive information, check that the website and link are secure. Learn more about identifying fake websites. Be wary of third-party websites. There are legitimate passport assistance services, but check with and BBB Scam Tracker first to ensure you aren't sharing your personal or financial information with a scammer. BBB offers more about ways to find secure websites and the importance of HTTPS and they offer tips on how to spot the red flags of common scams. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
