An investigation is underway in the U.S. regarding an incident involving the use of artificial intelligence to create a deepfake that imitated the voice of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to U.S. authorities, the perpetrator used a fake account on the Signal messenger to establish contact with foreign ministers, a governor from one of the states, and a member of the U.S. Congress.
This is reported by Business • Media
Attempted Fraud Using Deepfake
According to a memo from the State Department dated July 3, 2025, an unknown individual created a fake account named [email protected] on Signal. Using this account, they reached out to at least five individuals, including foreign ministers from other countries, one governor, and a congressman. In two instances, voice messages were left, and in another, a text invitation to converse was sent.
“Authorities fear information leaks despite failed attempts.”
Potential Risks and Government Response
At this time, the content of the messages sent from the fake account is not being disclosed. Officials emphasize that there are currently no direct signs of a threat to national security. However, in the event of compromising the interlocutors, the information shared could be exposed. The U.S. State Department is already taking measures to enhance cybersecurity and prevent similar attacks in the future.
American officials urge both government employees and citizens to remain vigilant against such fraud cases, which could lead to the leakage of personal or official information. The State Department highlighted that the manipulation attempts were not technically sophisticated and did not achieve their intended goal.
This incident serves as yet another example of the use of artificial intelligence for disinformation. Last year, a fake call impersonating President Joe Biden urged voters not to participate in the primaries in New Hampshire. At that time, authorities classified it as an attempt to disrupt voting.
It is worth noting that recently a partner of the Hypersphere fund lost assets in six cryptocurrency wallets due to a fake Zoom call, which is another example of the misuse of modern technology for fraud.