Authorities probe scheme to impersonate White House chief of staff Susie Wiles
Federal authorities are currently investigating a scheme to impersonate White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The White House is taking this matter seriously and continues to investigate the cybersecurity breach.
Various individuals, including senators, governors, American business executives, and others, have reported receiving texts and calls from someone claiming to be Wiles. The FBI has indicated that they do not believe another country is involved in this impersonation scheme.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the seriousness of threats against the president and his staff, stating that safeguarding the administration officials’ ability to securely communicate is a top priority. Wiles has informed associates that her phone contacts were hacked, although it was her personal device and not a government-issued phone.
Some individuals who received calls from the impostor noted that the voice sounded like Wiles, leading government officials to suspect that artificial intelligence may have been used to mimic her voice. Additionally, some individuals received text messages requesting official tasks, such as developing a list of potential pardons by President Trump, or even requesting a cash transfer.
It became apparent to some recipients that these messages were not legitimate when the impostor asked questions that Wiles would have known the answers to, or when the communication style was too formal compared to Wiles’ usual manner of speaking. The calls and texts did not originate from Wiles’ actual phone number.
The investigation into this impersonation scheme is ongoing, and the FBI, as well as other federal authorities, are working to ensure the cybersecurity of White House staff. It is crucial to remain vigilant against such attempts to deceive and impersonate high-ranking officials.
