In a shocking case of digital deception, someone used artificial intelligence to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The scammer contacted global leaders with a series of convincing AI-generated messages. These messages included SMS, Signal texts, and even audio recordings. The goal was to fool high-level officials using a Fake Secretary of State persona.
The U.S. State Department confirmed the incident to its diplomats. They reported that the impersonator reached out to at least three foreign ministers. A U.S. senator and a governor also received the messages. The government views this as a serious breach of trust and security.
Unlike many scams, this one used sophisticated AI tools. The impersonator didn’t just type messages—they also generated voice recordings. These recordings mimicked the tone and speech of Marco Rubio. Experts say this marks a dangerous evolution in AI misuse.
Because of the risk, the State Department alerted all U.S. embassies and consulates. Officials want diplomats to stay alert and verify unusual messages. This is the first known attempt to impersonate Rubio using artificial intelligence. The warning went out last week, according to the Washington Post.
U.S. officials have launched a formal investigation. They are trying to trace the source of the Fake Secretary of State messages. Investigators are also reviewing how the AI-generated content was created. Early reports suggest the scammer may have used public speeches to train the voice model.
This incident adds to growing concerns about AI and deepfakes. When combined with global politics, the risks multiply quickly. The government fears that others may attempt similar scams in the future.
The Fake Secretary of State hoax shows how AI can be weaponized. This case underscores the need for stronger digital safeguards. It also highlights the urgency of verifying all official communications.
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