Randy Fines says Iran tried to target him in phishing attack
Florida Republican Rep. Randy Fine says he was targeted by an Iranian phishing operation that pretended to be a Newsmax interview request in an attempt to access his google account. He told the Washington Examiner that Capitol Police later informed him a state actor, identified as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, tried to hack his phone. Fine’s staff received an email from someone posing as Newsmax; the links didn’t work, and the incident was reported to the FBI Cyber Task Force.He said the attack appears aimed at his outspoken support for Israel and his Jewish identity (he wears a Kippah), suggesting it was intended to obtain his geolocation. He noted that the attackers failed to access any information he knows of, and he mainly uses Google only for search and Maps. the report ties the incident to broader U.S.-iran tensions following a Trump-era strike on iran.
Randy Fine says he was victim of Iran phishing attack disguised as TV interview
Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) claimed he was targeted by Iran in a phishing attack disguised as an interview request in an effort to access his personal Google account.
Fine said the phishing attack was an effort from an Iranian state actor pretending to be Newsmax, requesting an interview.
“A group that we thought was Newsmax reached out, set up an interview, we attempted to do the interview, and it didn’t work out,” Fine said to the Washington Examiner.
He went on to say he was later contacted by U.S. Capitol Police, who informed him that “a state actor” tried to hack his phone. Fine later found out he was targeted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Fine said his staff had received an email from someone purporting to be Newsmax. As the staffer interacted with the email, they realized “the links didn’t work.” Upon reporting the incident to Capitol Police, Fine was put in contact with the FBI Cyber Task Force on the phishing attack.
The Florida Republican said he was likely targeted because of his religion and outspoken advocacy for the U.S.-Israel relationship and vociferous opposition to Iran.
“I’m a very outspoken Jewish member of Congress,” Fine told the Washington Examiner. “I’m very visibly Jewish. I’m the first member of Congress in American history to wear a Kippah, and I’ve been very clear and very outspoken about the risks of Muslim terror emanating from Iran, so I think given how outspoken I am on the issue and who I am as a person, it makes me a target.”
Fine said that the phishing attack is very “definitely disconcerting to know that Muslim terrorists attempted to access my cell phone, conceivably trying to gain access to my geolocation.” Fine said Iran failed to access any information that he was aware of.
Fine said they tried to get into his personal Google, but he doesn’t “live on Google” other than for the search engine and Google Maps.
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The alleged incident comes just over a month after President Donald Trump executed the first strike on Iran, which has since led to a war. Fine has been supportive of the president’s operation in Iran, as he is a staunch supporter of Israel.
The Washington Examiner reached out to USCP for comment.
Hailey Bullis contributed to this article.
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