FBI says ‘ongoing’ deepfake impersonation of U.S. gov officials dates back to 2023

CyberScoop

December 19, 2025 at 8:46 PM

Actively Exploited

Overview

The FBI has reported an ongoing issue involving deepfake technology being used to impersonate U.S. government officials. This tactic has been traced back to 2023 and involves impersonators using realistic video or audio to deceive victims. The FBI has shared details about the specific methods and talking points these impersonators utilize to lure people into scams. This situation is concerning as it undermines trust in government communications and could potentially lead to financial losses or other harms for those targeted. As deepfake technology improves, it raises significant questions about verification and security in digital communications.

Key Takeaways

Active Exploitation: This vulnerability is being actively exploited by attackers. Immediate action is recommended.
Affected Systems: U.S. government officials, victims targeted by impersonators
Action Required: Be cautious when receiving communications claiming to be from government officials, verify the identity of the sender through official channels, and report suspected deepfake incidents to authorities.
Timeline: Ongoing since 2023

Original Article Summary

The update also includes new details around the specific tactics and talking points impersonators use to ensnare victims. The post FBI says ‘ongoing’ deepfake impersonation of U.S. gov officials dates back to 2023 appeared first on CyberScoop.

Impact

U.S. government officials, victims targeted by impersonators

Exploitation Status

This vulnerability is confirmed to be actively exploited by attackers in real-world attacks. Organizations should prioritize patching or implementing workarounds immediately.

Timeline

Ongoing since 2023

Remediation

Be cautious when receiving communications claiming to be from government officials, verify the identity of the sender through official channels, and report suspected deepfake incidents to authorities.

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

Related Topics: This incident relates to Update.

Read Original Article

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