AI-Driven Phishing Scam Impersonating Government Officials

Cyber criminals are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to craft convincing phishing scams aimed at stealing your personal information. In this scheme, victims receive text messages or voice calls from individuals falsely claiming to be senior officials of the United States government. These actors use AI to generate messages that sound authentic and personable, aiming to establish trust.

Despite their convincing tone, these communications are entirely fabricated. The impersonator will often suggest moving the conversation to a different messaging platform. They’ll then send a link—allegedly to the new app—which is in fact malicious. Clicking this link can expose your device and data to compromise.

Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to a phishing scam:

• Be cautious of unsolicited contact: If someone you don’t know quickly attempts to build rapport, especially via text or voice, treat it with skepticism.
• Avoid clicking unknown links: Links from unfamiliar contacts may lead to malware, phishing pages, or fake sites designed to capture your sensitive data.
• Stay alert globally: Although this scam is currently based in the United States, similar impersonation tactics could be used worldwide. Always verify the identity of anyone claiming to represent a government agency, regardless of how trustworthy they may seem.