Fake call: Habeck falls for Russian trolls

Russian trolls specializing in disinformation lured Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) into a fake phone call. In response to a dpa request, the Federal Ministry of Economics confirmed that there had been a corresponding conversation. According to the ministry, the caller posed as a representative of the African Union in the phone call.

Security-relevant or confidential information was not part of the conversation. This was interrupted several times due to technical problems with the line, so that a coherent conversation could not take place.

According to a ministry spokesman, a four-minute recording that the two trolls published on Telegram is a compilation. Neither the overall conversation presented nor the questions asked there nor the answers attached could be confirmed, according to the ministry spokesman. In particular, the questions did not match the memories of the conversation in terms of tone, accent of the questioner, or content.

In the alleged recording, you can hear, among other things, Habeck calmly explaining in English that Ukraine should be helped to export its grain despite Russian attacks. The recording was published on the channel of the pro-Kremlin duo Vowan and Lexus. The two are known for so-called pranks from foreign politicians and other famous personalities. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel and former British Defense Minister Ben Wallace were among their victims.

Shortly after the call, the ministry said it received information from the German intelligence services. They pointed out that there had been contact made under a false identity and a resulting fake call to Habeck. The ministry then analyzed the facts and assigned them. The incident was used as an opportunity to review and tighten the existing security loops.