Impostor uses AI to impersonate Rubio and contact foreign and US officials
Share and Follow


Related video: Marco Rubio sworn in as secretary of state

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department is warning U.S. diplomats of attempts to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and possibly other officials using technology driven by artificial intelligence, according to two senior officials and a cable sent last week to all embassies and consulates.

The warning came after the department discovered that an impostor posing as Rubio had attempted to reach out to at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. senator and a governor, according to the July 3 cable, which was first reported by The Washington Post.

The recipients of the scam messages, which were sent by text, Signal and voice mail, were not identified in the cable, a copy of which was shared with The Associated Press.

One of the officials said the hoaxes had been unsuccessful and “not very sophisticated.” Nonetheless, the second official said the department deemed it “prudent” to advise all employees and foreign governments, particularly as efforts by foreign actors to compromise information security increase.

The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“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,” the cable said.

The FBI warned in a public service announcement this past spring of a “malicious text and voice messaging campaign” in which unidentified “malicious actors” have been impersonating senior U.S. government officials.

The scheme, according to the FBI, has relied on text messages and AI-generated voice messages that purport to come from a senior U.S. official and that aim to dupe other government officials as well as the victim’s associates and contacts.

It is the second high-level Trump administration official to face such AI-driven impersonation.

The government was investigating after elected officials, business executives and other prominent figures received messages from someone impersonating President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles. Text messages and phone calls went out from someone who seemed to have gained access to the contacts in Wiles’ personal cellphone, The Wall Street Journal reported in May.

Some of those who received calls heard a voice that sounded like Wiles, which may have been generated by artificial intelligence, according to the newspaper. The messages and calls were not coming from Wiles’ number, the report said.


AP writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Trump’s Flight to Davos Economic Forum Faces Unexpected Delays: Latest Updates

DAVOS – On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump is set to join…

High School Basketball Showdown: Highlights and Scores from Jan 20, 2026

CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Dive into the excitement from the Vermilion County…

Guyton Shines in Debut Start: Boosts Illini Performance with Impressive Leadership

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – The Illinois women’s basketball team is rallying as…

Kentucky Supreme Court Orders Re-evaluation of Judge’s Role in High-Profile Sheriff Murder Case

LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. (WJHL) — The Kentucky Supreme Court has remanded a…

Russia Observes US-European Rift Over Greenland with Cautious Optimism and Strategic Interest

This week, as the controversy brewed over President Donald Trump’s proposal to…

Illini Strategize to Halt Maryland’s Scorching Star Amidst Boswell Absence

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – The Illinois men’s basketball team will face a…

Data Breach Alert: DOGE Mishandles Social Security Information, Raising Privacy Concerns

The Hill reports that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has…

Rising ICE Operations in Maine: Heightened Concerns Among Immigrant Communities

PORTLAND, Maine – The Trump administration has set its sights on Maine…