Fake Biden Robocalls During New Hampshire Primary Traced to Texas

CONCORD, N.H. — Fraudulent robocalls using an AI-generated impersonation of President Joe Biden to discourage voting in the New Hampshire Democratic primary last month have been traced to a Texas-based company, known as Life Corp., and an individual named Walter Monk.

The announcement by New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella began after individuals identified as likely Democratic voters started receiving the calls ahead of the state’s first-in-the-nation primary.

The contest, as previously reported in The Well News, was not sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee — which opted to have South Carolina hold its first formal contest of the 2024 election cycle — and Biden was not on the ballot in the Granite State.

However, because other candidates were on the ballot, including Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., and self-help author Marianne Williamson, supporters of the president launched a grass-roots write-in campaign on his behalf.

In the minute-long robocall, the fake Biden tells the recipients not to waste their time participating in the primary, which he dismisses as “a bunch of malarkey.”

“We know the value of voting Democratic when our votes count,” the AI-generated voice says. “It is important that you save your vote for the November election.”

Later in the call, fake Biden says, “Voting this Tuesday only enables the Republicans in their quest to elect Donald Trump again. 

“Your vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday,” he adds.

The robocalls also illegally spoofed their caller ID information to appear to come from a number belonging to a former New Hampshire Democratic Party chair. 

Formella said during a press conference earlier this week that another Texas company, Lingo Telecom, was identified as the originating voice service provider, and that it suspended services to Life Corp. as soon as it learned of his investigation.

Both companies were immediately sent cease-and-desist orders, and Formella said his office would also issue document preservation notices and subpoenas for records to both entities.

Among those assisting in the ongoing investigation is the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, a bipartisan, nationwide task force that investigates and takes legal action against those responsible for routing significant volumes of illegal robocalls.

“We are growing tired of robocalls and congressional inaction,” said South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, a member of the task force. 

“This scam provides fake voting information that threatens our election system and deserves action,” he said.

Jackley said the fake Biden call is just one example of Life Corp. allegedly using artificial intelligence to impersonate the voices of elected and other government officials to provide incorrect information about elections and voting procedures.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Enforcement Bureau has also issued a cease-and-desist letter against Lingo Telecom, which was identified to have originated a portion of these calls for Life Corp., demanding that it immediately stop supporting illegal robocall traffic on its networks. 

Formella said his office is continuing to investigate potential election law violations, Consumer Protection Act violations, and Telephone Consumer Protection Act violations related to the fake Biden calls.

Among the unknowns is just how many calls were made. A call monitoring service known as Nomorobo has estimated that  between 5,000 and 25,000 calls were made in the final days before the election. 

Formella’s office said its election law unit is also aware of media reports that the recorded message was likely made using software from ElevenLabs. 

At this time, however, the unit is continuing to investigate and has not confirmed whether that reporting is accurate.

Formella is also continuing to investigate whether Life Corp. worked with or at the direction of any other persons or entities.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue