British Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently received messages from an individual claiming to be White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, a close adviser to former President Donald Trump. The contact was identified as a phishing attempt, and Burnham quickly grew suspicious.

According to a source with knowledge of the matter, the exchange occurred via messaging platforms, though the exact timing and content remain unclear. The British embassy in Washington reportedly raised the incident with the White House, prompting a response from senior officials.

Downing Street declined to comment on national‑security matters, while a White House official emphasized that the incident was not related to a hack of Wiles’s devices. The official added that no messages of significance were exchanged before the deception was recognized.

Background on recent impersonation attempts

Phishing attempts targeting individuals connected to Susie Wiles have been reported for several months. In May 2025, U.S. law enforcement launched an investigation after an impersonator attempted to contact high‑profile contacts on Wiles’s personal phone list. At that time, Wiles indicated she believed her phone and contact list had been compromised.

Those who received the fraudulent messages, including business executives, senators and governors, expressed skepticism about their authenticity. The recent incident involving Prime Minister Burnham follows the same pattern of targeting high‑level officials and their networks.

Response and next steps

British authorities have reported the matter to the appropriate security agencies, and the White House has been informed. Both governments are monitoring the situation for any further attempts to exploit official communications.

While the immediate threat appears limited, officials underscore the importance of vigilance against phishing and impersonation schemes that seek to infiltrate diplomatic and governmental channels.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.