In the U.S., an incident involving the use of artificial intelligence is under investigation, during which a perpetrator impersonated Secretary of State Marco Rubio and attempted to contact high-ranking officials from other countries via the Signal messenger.
This is reported by Finway
Fake Account and Attempts to Obtain Information
According to a memo from the State Department dated July 3, 2025, an unknown individual created a fake profile on Signal using an email address that mimicked the official one — [email protected]. The impersonator contacted at least five individuals, including foreign ministers from other nations, a governor, and a member of the U.S. Congress.
The perpetrator left two voice messages and sent a text invitation to another recipient for a conversation. Marco Rubio himself has not publicly commented on the incident. The State Department emphasized the need to strengthen cybersecurity and implement additional measures to prevent similar frauds in the future.
Security Threat and Warning for Officials
It is known that the content of the messages sent by the fraudster has not been disclosed. Currently, there is no confirmation that the perpetrator was able to access any classified information. The memo states that “this incident does not pose an immediate threat to national security.”
American officials familiar with the case told the Associated Press that the manipulation attempts were unsuccessful and not technically complex.
At the same time, authorities warn that information shared during such contacts could be used if the interlocutors are compromised. Officials and citizens are urged to be more cautious regarding potential fraud schemes that utilize modern technology and artificial intelligence.
This case is yet another example of the use of AI for disinformation. Recall that in 2024, a similar technology was used in a fake call impersonating U.S. President Joe Biden, during which voters were urged not to participate in the primaries in New Hampshire — this was seen as an attempt to influence the voting process.
Recently, there has been an increase in attacks using deepfake technology aimed at asset theft or misleading public and private individuals. For instance, a partner at the investment fund Hypersphere previously lost assets from six wallets after a fake Zoom call.