'I was clearly targeted': Rep Randy Fine says Iran faked Newsmax interview to breach his accounts
WASHINGTON, DC: Rep Randy Fine, R-Fla, on Wednesday, April 1, said he was recently targeted in a phishing attempt that he believes was linked to Iran and disguised as a television interview request.
The alleged incident involved an email impersonating a media outlet and was flagged after irregularities were identified by his staff.
Authorities, including the US Capitol Police and the FBI, were notified and reviewed the matter. The episode comes amid heightened concerns about cyber threats tied to ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Phishing attempt disguised as a media request
Randy Fine said the incident began as what appeared to be a routine outreach for a television interview.
“A skilled impersonator created something appearing just like Newsmax to attempt to do an interview with me,” he told Fox News Digital.
According to Fine, a staff member initially engaged with the email, as is typical for media inquiries, before noticing issues with the links provided. “The links didn’t work,” he said, prompting further scrutiny.
The email domain reviewed in the correspondence differed slightly from the legitimate outlet, which raised concerns about its authenticity.
Fine said the phishing scheme appeared designed to gain access to his personal Google account.
US Capitol Police later contacted his office, indicating that the outreach could have originated from an Iranian state actor.
Fine said authorities suggested setting up a call with the FBI’s Cyber Task Force to further assess the situation. “They proactively reached out to us,” he said, adding that he subsequently reported the matter to federal investigators.
While the FBI declined to comment publicly, a source familiar with the situation said the bureau was aware of the incident and initiated an investigation. The current status of that probe has not been disclosed.
Lawmaker cites timing and broader security concerns
Fine said he believed the timing of the incident was significant, noting that it occurred shortly after US military operations involving Iran began earlier this year.
“I did not think the timing was coincidental,” he said, adding that it happened “literally the day after combat operations began.”
He also expressed concern about being specifically targeted. “I was clearly targeted. It wasn’t random,” Fine said, pointing to his public profile and political positions.
He added that while he does not believe sensitive information was compromised due to the limited use of the targeted account, the potential risks remain serious.
“The worst-case scenario is … they might be able to track my actual location,” he said, describing the situation as “very stressful."
The incident comes amid broader warnings from US officials about cyber threats linked to Iran. Earlier in March, the FBI confirmed that an Iran-linked group known as the “Handala Hack Team” breached the personal email account of FBI Director Kash Patel.
Officials said the compromised material was historical and did not include government data, but emphasized that mitigation steps were taken.
Fine also noted an increase in threats directed at him, including verbal incidents and a separate case involving an impersonator approaching his residence.
The developments underscore ongoing concerns among US authorities about the potential for cyber and security risks targeting public officials during periods of heightened international tension.
