The defense secretary said he “understands the threat very well” and would never release sensitive information on an uncertain line after being targeted by a suspected Russian hoax, a colleague said.
Ben Wallace had “some pretty tough questions” for his department with which he arranged the video call an imposter presenting himself as Prime Minister of UkraineJames Heappey told Sky News.
The Secretary of Defense said the exchange had been “quite colorful” because it took place on Microsoft teams that could be easily intercepted.
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The fraud took place as Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal
When the false Denys Shmyhal started asking for details about the UK military, Mr Wallace immediately became suspicious and cut it off.
The cabinet minister, himself a former soldier, went public over the attempted sting out of fear that the Kremlin was trying to distort any footage or audio material from the call.
Russia has a record for using information as a weapon to subvert or attack an enemy.
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Mr Heappey said: “I think the Secretary of State has asked some pretty tough questions from the department as to how this could happen.
“He recognizes a lot that it should not be done, but Ben is a guy who understands threat very well.”
Mr Heappey added: “He spent a long time as Minister of Security of our nation before being promoted to Secretary of State.
“He was very aware that he was on a Microsoft Teams call and therefore he would never reveal sensitive details on a platform that can be easily intercepted and listened to.
“And the call was pretty far-fetched, I think, from what Ben explained to me.
“When the call started to raise more pressing questions about our intentions militarily in the region. Ben knew very well that this was not the kind of question anyone would normally ask on teams. And so he became quite suspicious and ended the call. “
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Russia attacks city “indiscriminately”.
Interior Minister Priti Patel also revealed that she was recently targeted by a Hoax caller.
Security breaches prompted a cross-Whitehall investigation.
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Responding to the failed ruse, Mr Wallace said: “No amount of Russian disinformation, distortion and dirty tricks can distract from Russian human rights abuses and illegal invasion of Ukraine.
“And desperate attempt.”
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