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State Department Alerts Embassies to AI Impersonator Posing as Rubio

The department has opened an investigation after the impersonator used AI voice and text on Signal to contact senior officials.

FILE - Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a signing ceremony for a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the State Department, June 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reacts as he testifies at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S. President Donald Trump's State Department budget request for the Department of State, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 20, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo
The impersonator made a profile on Signal with the display name Marco.Rubio@state.gov.
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Overview

  • The impersonator set up a Signal account in mid-June with the display name “Marco.Rubio@state.gov” to send AI-generated voice messages and texts.
  • At least three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor and a member of Congress received messages inviting them to communicate on Signal, according to a July 3 memo.
  • Officials believe the scheme aimed to manipulate targets to obtain sensitive information or account access.
  • A global cable has urged all diplomatic posts to report impersonation attempts and implement enhanced cybersecurity safeguards.
  • The identity of the actor remains unknown as the State Department and FBI continue their investigation of AI-driven deepfake campaigns.