The FBI has issued a stark warning about the growing threat of “vishing” scams—fraudulent schemes that use AI-generated voice technology to impersonate trusted individuals—in its latest public service alert.
While these scams can target anyone, the FBI emphasized that current and former U.S. government officials and their contacts are increasingly in the crosshairs of malicious actors attempting to deceive and extract sensitive information.
“Do not assume a message claiming to be from a senior U.S. official is authentic,” the bureau cautioned in its May advisory, urging individuals to verify unfamiliar communications via trusted channels before responding.
Recent incidents suggest the threat is escalating. On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that an imposter mimicked the voice and writing style of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also acting as National Security Adviser under President Donald Trump. The AI-generated messages were sent via encrypted messaging app Signal to three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress, according to a State Department cable dated July 3.
Officials believe the impersonator’s aim was to manipulate recipients into handing over access to accounts or confidential information. The State Department declined to comment on the targeted individuals or the content of the messages but confirmed an investigation is underway.
This is not the first time high-ranking Trump administration officials have been targeted. In May, The Wall Street Journal revealed that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles had also been impersonated using AI tools. The fake messages reportedly reached prominent Republican lawmakers and business leaders. Though the messages did not originate from her personal phone number, recipients said the voice was nearly indistinguishable from Wiles’s own—fueling concerns over the use of AI to create convincing deepfakes.
President Trump dismissed the concerns lightly at the time, remarking, “Nobody can impersonate Susie. There’s only one Susie.” However, cyber experts and former officials are taking the issue seriously.
“This is the new world we live in,” said David Axelrod, former senior adviser to President Obama. “We’d better figure out how to defend against it.”
Experts have warned that these tactics pose a real threat to democratic institutions. Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, noted that top officials must rely on secure communication platforms to avoid falling victim to scams. “Scams like this are inevitable,” he wrote on X.
In response, the FBI urged the public to remain vigilant, especially if contacted unexpectedly by someone claiming authority. The bureau advised people to confirm the caller’s identity using known contact details and to report suspicious activity to local field offices or through the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
Security firms have also released tips to spot AI voice fraud. These include listening for flat or unnatural speech, unexplained background noises, and pressure tactics demanding immediate action or sensitive data like Social Security numbers.
As generative AI technology becomes more sophisticated, authorities and cyber experts stress the urgent need for digital literacy and enhanced security protocols to mitigate the growing threat of vishing.