Peter Mandelson, Britain's ambassador to the U.S. in 2025, was reportedly targeted by a hoaxer impersonating Susie Wiles, a top aide to former President Donald Trump. The incident occurred a year before current Prime Minister Andy Burnham also exchanged messages with an individual posing as Wiles.
The hoaxer allegedly contacted Lord Mandelson via text message, requesting a meeting. When the British embassy in Washington attempted to arrange a date with Wiles' office, they were informed her phone had been hacked, according to a source cited by The Telegraph.
It is unclear if the same individual or phone number was used in both the Mandelson and Burnham incidents. The reported approach to Mandelson predates Burnham's exchanges with the imposter, which began before he became Prime Minister and continued after taking office on July 20 of this year.
Burnham has downplayed the incident, characterizing the exchange as "minimal" and "of zero consequence." He stated that he reported the situation promptly and that "the correct action has been taken here and in the U.S." He also suggested that David Lammy, the former foreign secretary who served alongside Mandelson, may have passed the impersonator's number to him.
Susie Wiles, described by Trump as the "Ice Maiden," has previously been a target. In May of last year, an impersonator used her hacked personal phone contacts to message other U.S. officials, reportedly employing AI to mimic her voice in calls with prominent Republicans. Additionally, in 2024, a cyber espionage unit associated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards infiltrated her emails shortly before the U.S. election, threatening to release information.
The White House has stated that the incident involving Burnham was unrelated to any hacking of Wiles' devices, and Trump referred to the situation as a "miscommunication."
