The impostor contacted at least five officials, including three foreign ministers, a governor and a member of the US Congress.
An impostor posing as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been contacting senior officials by sending them voice and text messages simulated using artificial intelligence.
This was reported by The Washington Post, citing an unnamed high-ranking US official and a State Department telegram that was obtained by the American newspaper.
The cable, which was sent to State Department employees, says the campaign began in mid-June, when the impostor created a Signal account using the username [email protected] to contact foreign and U.S. diplomats and politicians. The username is not Rubio's email address.
“The impostor left voice messages on Signal in at least two cases, and in one case sent a text message inviting people to chat on Signal,” the Telegram post reads.
In all, the fake Marco Rubio contacted at least five people outside the department, including three foreign ministers, a governor and a member of Congress.
US authorities do not know who is behind the fake, but believe the impostor is likely trying to manipulate key officials “in order to gain access to information or accounts.”
The State Department said it would “conduct a thorough investigation and continue to take precautions to prevent this from happening again.”
Officials declined to discuss the contents of the messages or the names of the diplomats and officials who received them.
Recall that earlier, a scandal erupted in the Trump administration with the now former national security adviser Mike Waltz, who accidentally added the editor of The Atlantic to a secret group chat in Signal where confidential operations were discussed, in particular strikes on the Houthis.
Subsequently, US President Donald Trump fired Mike Waltz from his post, appointing US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to act in his responsibilities.
