FBI Warns of Scammers Impersonating US Officials In Deepfake Scam Campaigns

The FBI has issued a public service announcement warning that cybercriminals are using AI-generated voice deepfakes to impersonate senior U.S. officials in phishing attacks.

Malicious actors have been using advanced synthetic voice technology to create audio messages that sound like real government officials, the law enforcement agency says. These messages are then used in targeted vishing (voice phishing) campaigns designed to gain trust, compromise accounts, and steal sensitive information or money.

“Since April 2025, malicious actors have impersonated senior US officials to target individuals, many of whom are current or former senior US federal or state government officials and their contacts,” the FBI warned.

What’s Happening?

The FBI says threat actors have been:

Impersonating current and former senior US federal and state officials
Sending AI-generated voice messages (vishing) and text messages (smishing) to individuals
Claiming urgent action is needed, such as moving the conversation to another messaging platform

Once the attacker gains the victim’s trust, they might:

Trick them into clicking on malicious links
Gain access to contact lists or sensitive documents
Impersonate the victim in additional scams targeting others

The FBI emphasized:

“If you receive a message claiming to be from a senior U.S. official, do not assume it is authentic.”

While this campaign initially targets high-ranking individuals, you don’t need to be a government official to be impersonated—or victimized. Voice cloning technology is now accessible to the public. With just a few seconds of audio, scammers can replicate someone’s voice

They are already using audio deepfakes to impersonate CEOs, influencers, and even family members, often targeting average consumers with investment scams or emergency requests

This isn't the first warning. In 2021, the FBI predicted deepfakes would become a key tool in cyber and influence operations.

How to Protect Yourself from Voice Deepfakes

Whether you're a public official or a private citizen, here’s how to defend yourself:

1. Verify before you trust

If you receive a voice message or call from someone claiming to be an important figure—don’t act on it immediately. Verify their identity using a secondary method, such as an official email or a direct phone call to a known number.

2. Never click on links sent by unknown contacts

If you're asked to "continue the conversation" on another platform, take it as a red flag.

3. Don’t share personal information over the phone

No legitimate official, company, or bank will ask for login credentials, codes, or financial info over a call or text.

4. Use identity protection and scam detection tools

Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection (DIP)

Monitor your personal data online and get alerted if it’s found in leaks or used fraudulently. DIP helps you:

See if your email, phone, or credentials have been exposed
Get real-time alerts on social media doppelgangers and data breaches
Lock down your identity before it’s misused

Bitdefender Scamio (Free AI Scam Detector)

Got a strange message, email or phone call? Send it to Scamio or ask for an analysis Scamio helps you detect scam patterns and steers you to safety. It’s free to use, whether in your browser, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or Discord.

Bitdefender Link Checker

Before clicking any link, run it through Bitdefender’s free tool to check for hidden dangers like phishing pages or malware.