British Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged text messages with an individual impersonating White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
According to reports by Politico, the communications took place while Burnham was campaigning and continued for a brief period after he took office.
Burnham exchanged a limited number of messages with the impostor both while on course to become prime minister and shortly after assuming office. Sources briefed on the matter noted that the content of the messages was ultimately of “no significance”
The news sparked immediate security concerns as the breach prompted the British embassy in Washington to raise the issue directly with the White House.
UK officials initially harbored concerns that the real Susie Wiles’ phone or contacts might have been compromised.
The new security scare follows similar past incidents where scammers used impersonation tactics to target high-profile U.S. figures, including governors, senators, and business executives.
Following the official response, Downing Street avoided to comment on specifics, stating that they do not discuss national security matters, while the White House also declined to comment.
According to recent update, the mystery surrounding the true identity of the scammer remains unresolved.
