Impostor uses AI to impersonate Rubio and fool top US officials
Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Getty Images)
The US State Department has issued a warning to diplomatic missions and government agencies about a dangerous impostor using artificial intelligence to mimic the voice of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Associated Press informs.
Officials say that just last week, the "Rubio" impersonator tried to contact at least three foreign ministers, a US senator, and a state governor. The impostor used voicemail, the Signal messenger app, and text messages to reach out.
The suspect likely uses AI technology to imitate the Secretary of State's voice. The names of the targets and further details remain undisclosed for security reasons, as the investigation continues.
"The State Department is aware of this incident and is currently monitoring and addressing the matter," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told the press.
AI-driven scams have also appeared in Ukraine. Fraudsters began extorting money by using AI-generated voice imitations of victims' relatives.
Overall, AI-enabled fraud is spreading at an unprecedented pace. Cybercrime damages involving AI could reach a record $10.5 trillion by the end of 2025. This amount is three times higher than in 2015. Additionally, AI systems require significant resources to operate, causing environmental harm.
