Trump’s Chief of Staff Deepfaked in Phishing Scam
▼ Summary
– German authorities identified Russian national Vitaly Nikolaevich Kovalev as the alleged leader of the Trickbot ransomware gang, who remains at large in Russia.
– US Customs and Border Protection collected DNA from 133,000 migrant children and teens, storing it in a national criminal database used by law enforcement.
– WIRED uncovered links between a Swedish far-right MMA tournament and a US neo-Nazi “fight club,” amid ongoing scrutiny of the Trump administration’s migrant policies.
– The FBI is investigating a phishing campaign impersonating Trump adviser Susie Wiles, which may have used AI-generated voice calls to target high-profile Republicans.
– Experts suggest the Wiles impersonation could involve basic social engineering or data brokers, with motives ranging from political goals to financial fraud.
A sophisticated phishing scam recently targeted high-profile Republican figures by impersonating Susie Wiles, former White House Chief of Staff and a key adviser to Donald Trump. The fraudulent messages and calls, now under FBI investigation, reportedly used advanced tactics, including potential AI-generated voice cloning, to deceive victims.
According to reports, the attackers accessed Wiles’ contact list, possibly through a compromised phone, before reaching out to political leaders and business executives. While some messages appeared politically motivated, such as requests for presidential pardon recommendations, others attempted financial fraud, including a failed effort to trick a target into transferring money.
Security experts expressed concern over the breach, noting that even high-ranking officials remain vulnerable to social engineering attacks. Jake Williams, a former NSA operative and cybersecurity expert, criticized the lack of preparedness, stating that basic security training should have prevented such exploitation.
The use of deepfake technology to mimic Wiles’ voice marks a troubling escalation in phishing tactics. Though the FBI has ruled out foreign state involvement, the incident highlights how easily cybercriminals can weaponize publicly available data and emerging AI tools.
As digital impersonation grows more sophisticated, individuals in sensitive positions must adopt stronger verification measures. Multi-factor authentication, encrypted communications, and heightened skepticism toward unsolicited requests could help mitigate such threats. For now, the case serves as a stark reminder that no one, not even those closest to power, is immune to modern cyber scams.
(Source: Wired)
