FBI Sounds Alarm on AI Voice Scam Impersonating  U.S. Officials

The FBI has issued a warning that cyber attackers are exploiting artificial intelligence to mimic high-ranking U.S. officials in order to compromise personal accounts of government personnel. 

The attackers are deploying both AI-generated voice messages and deceptive text messages to build trust and trick their targets.

In its announcement on Thursday, the FBI noted that these fraudulent efforts aim to infiltrate the accounts of individuals working in or formerly affiliated with federal and state governments. 

Once inside these accounts, the attackers could expand their reach, targeting other officials or individuals connected to them. The compromised access could be used to gather confidential data or to solicit money.

The agency did not disclose how widespread the campaign is or how many individuals may have been contacted. It also left unclear whether the threat actors are financially motivated hackers or if they are operating on behalf of foreign states.

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Tactics Rely on Social Engineering and Fake Platforms

According to the FBI’s public alert, these malicious actors are not launching straightforward phishing attempts. Instead, they first engage their targets in seemingly benign conversation, pretending to be well-known government figures. 

Once a connection is established, they ask the victim to continue the conversation on another communication platform. 

In some instances, this “alternate platform” is actually a fake website under the control of the hackers, designed to harvest sensitive login credentials like usernames and passwords.

This campaign reflects a broader trend in cybercrime involving the misuse of artificial intelligence. 

In a separate public notice issued in December 2024, the FBI cautioned that AI tools were being increasingly employed to craft convincing text, images, audio clips, and even videos to perpetrate fraud, blackmail, and other criminal activities.

The FBI continues to urge government officials and the public to remain vigilant and cautious when receiving unexpected messages—even those that appear to come from familiar or authoritative sources.

Learn more: Cybersecurity Certification for Ethical Hacking