Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(132,782 posts)
Wed Jul 9, 2025, 11:33 AM Jul 2025

Trump Officials Keep Getting Targeted by 'Vishing'

“If you receive a message claiming to be from a senior US official, do not assume it is authentic,” the FBI warned in May. The public service announcement was written as advice for everyone but noted that many of the targets of “malicious actors” impersonating U.S. officials are other “current or former senior US federal or state government officials and their contacts.”

While every corporate worker today is probably familiar with HR-mandated trainings to try to combat “phishing”—scams that involve deception over email—and while “smishing,” which occurs over SMS messages, has become more prevalent, the FBI warned that “malicious actors are more frequently exploiting AI-generated audio to impersonate well-known, public figures or personal relations to increase the believability of their schemes” in what is known as “vishing.”

And officials at the highest levels of government have been impersonated and targeted, according to reports.

On Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump’s Secretary of State and acting National Security Adviser, was the latest to be impersonated by an unknown individual, who used AI to mimic his voice and writing style in voice and text messages on the non-government encrypted communications app Signal to “three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a U.S. member of Congress,” according to a State Department cable sent July 3.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-officials-keep-getting-targeted-080227680.html

I'm waiting for someone to do a Nigerian prince type scan using Trump's voice. You know it would be successful.

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump Officials Keep Getting Targeted by 'Vishing' (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jul 2025 OP
"'malicious actors' impersonating U.S. officials" Dave Bowman Jul 2025 #1
What about the malicious actors who *are* US officials? Ocelot II Jul 2025 #2
If they used the secure government communications systems set up for them this would not be a problem. Midnight Writer Jul 2025 #3
Trump would be so mad if someone other than him fleeced his supporters newdeal2 Jul 2025 #4

Midnight Writer

(25,142 posts)
3. If they used the secure government communications systems set up for them this would not be a problem.
Wed Jul 9, 2025, 11:43 AM
Jul 2025

They are using non-government, insecure apps and devices because they don't want a record of their activities.

It leaves them vulnerable to deception and the entire nation less secure.

newdeal2

(4,765 posts)
4. Trump would be so mad if someone other than him fleeced his supporters
Wed Jul 9, 2025, 11:44 AM
Jul 2025

Their money is his money in his mind.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Trump Officials Keep Gett...