TYLER, Texas (KETK) — The FBI in Dallas is warning citizens about people impersonating senior U.S. officials through text and AI-generated voice messages.
The FBI stated that participants in the scheme reach out to victims and engage in a brief conversation on a topic in which they are knowledgeable. The suspects later request to move the discussion to a secondary, encrypted messaging app.
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If somebody is contacted by someone they may know on a new platform or phone number, the FBI stated they should verify the latest contact information before moving forward.
Some further tips the FBI provided to verify whether a message is legitimate or not
- Look for subtle imperfections in images and videos
- Listen closely to the tone and word choice to distinguish between a legitimate phone call or voice message from a known contact versus an AI-generated voice
- When in doubt about the authenticity of someone wishing to communicate with you, contact your relevant security officials or the FBI for help.
The FBI also provided tips on how citizens can protect themselves from potential fraud, including:
- Never share sensitive information or an associate’s contact information with people you have only met online or over the phone
- Do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or other assets to people you do not know of have only met online or over the phone.
- Do not click on any links in an email or text message until you independently confirm the sender’s identity.
- Create a secret word or phrase with your family members to verify their identities.
More information on the scheme and further tips on how to avoid it can be found on the FBI’s website…