A troubling cyber security breach has hit the highest echelons of the U.S. government, as people pretending to be White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles have been impersonated. There have been reports of governors, senators, and powerful business leaders receiving strange communication from a person pretending to be Wiles who made threatening phone calls and text messages.
The impressionist is said to have used advanced methods, including possibly using artificial intelligence to replicate Wiles’s voice. That has set off an inquiry by U.S. agencies, led by the F.B.I.
Key points of the situation:
Impersonation:
- The con artist reached out to prominent figures from governors to senators to executives.
- There are reports that the impersonator employed artificial intelligence to sound like Susie Wiles.
- The impostor has made requests that were suspicious, such as cash transfers, and a list of people for presidential pardons.
Investigation:
- The FBI is now investigating the efforts at impersonation.
- The White House has made the cybersecurity risk reduction a priority.
Trump’s Response:
- Even President Donald Trump has taken note, saying “no one can impersonate Susie Wiles.
- Trump has also said that Susie Wiles is an “amazing woman” and “she’ll handle it.”
Cybersecurity Concerns:
- This is an example of the increasing menace of AI channeled fraud against statesmen.
- Such impersonation attempts are not new, and the F.B.I. has previously warned the public about them.
- The worry is that the impersonator had access to contacts listed in Susie Wiles personal cell phone.
The investigation continues, and cops are trying to figure out how pervasive the breach was and who’s responsible. This case exemplifies how sophisticated cyber threats have become and the need to remain vigilant in protecting personal information.
