AI Scam Impersonates Rubio To Contact Foreign, US Officials/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ An impostor used AI to mimic Secretary of State Marco Rubio, attempting to contact foreign ministers, a U.S. senator, and a governor. The State Department has alerted embassies worldwide amid rising AI-driven impersonation threats. Investigations continue into similar scams targeting top officials.
AI Rubio Impersonation Quick Looks
- Impostor uses AI to mimic Marco Rubio
- Scam targeted foreign ministers, senator, and governor
- State Department issues warnings to embassies worldwide
- FBI confirms rising AI-driven voice and text scams
- No direct cyber breach but security risks remain
- Previous AI scam impersonated Trump’s chief of staff
- Threat highlights growing use of AI in fraud
Deep Look
AI Impostor Mimics Secretary Of State Rubio To Contact U.S. And Foreign Officials, Sparks State Department Warning
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. State Department has issued a global warning after discovering that an impostor used artificial intelligence to pose as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an attempt to contact foreign ministers, a U.S. senator, and a state governor.
The scam came to light through a cable sent on July 3 to all American embassies and consulates, advising diplomats to stay vigilant. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the cable, which indicated that the fraudulent messages were sent via text, Signal, and voicemail.
Although the targets of the scam were not publicly identified, senior officials confirmed that at least three foreign ministers and two U.S. officials were approached by the impostor. One official described the attempt as “not very sophisticated,” while another said the department found it “prudent” to alert staff and foreign partners, given rising threats from actors exploiting artificial intelligence for deception.
AI Deepfake Voices Fuel Scams
“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 warned.
The incident underscores a growing trend flagged by the FBI earlier this year, when the bureau issued a public service announcement about “malicious text and voice messaging campaigns.” In these scams, bad actors use AI-generated voices to impersonate senior U.S. government officials, attempting to deceive other officials or people connected to the targets.
The technology allows fraudsters to replicate a public figure’s voice with alarming accuracy, raising significant concerns for both cybersecurity and international diplomacy.
Not The First High-Level AI Scam
Rubio is now the second high-profile official from the Trump administration targeted by an AI-driven impersonation scheme. Just months ago, reports surfaced that someone impersonating Susie Wiles, President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, contacted elected officials, business executives, and other prominent figures. The Wall Street Journal reported in May that the fake Wiles voice may have been AI-generated, and the fraudster even accessed contacts from Wiles’ personal cellphone.
Those who received calls heard a voice closely resembling Wiles, although the phone numbers used were not hers. The incident remains under investigation.
Heightened Cybersecurity Precautions
As technology advances, government officials worldwide are grappling with how to protect sensitive communications from increasingly sophisticated impersonation tactics. While the Rubio impostor’s attempts were unsuccessful, the incident has heightened concerns about AI’s potential to disrupt diplomatic channels and spread misinformation.
Officials are now emphasizing stronger verification measures and cautioning both government employees and private citizens to scrutinize unexpected calls, texts, or voice messages, even if they sound convincingly authentic.
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