Law Enforcement Investigates Incident
According to a central bank spokesperson's statement to ABC News, the January incident has been referred to law enforcement.
No Sensitive Information Disclosed
The central bank spokesperson assured that the conversation was friendly and did not involve any sensitive or confidential information.
Russian State TV Broadcasts Prank Call Video
The prank call was revealed in a video broadcast on Russian state television, as reported by Bloomberg, which also first reported on the call.
Fed Questions Video Accuracy
A Fed spokesperson told ABC News that they could not confirm the accuracy of the video, as it appears to have been edited.
Fed's Aggressive Rate Hikes Amid Prank Call
The Federal Reserve has been implementing a series of aggressive rate hikes, last seen in the 1980s, to combat inflation and slow down the economy.
Pranksters' History of Targeting Foreign Leaders
Alleged pranksters Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, who support Russian President Vladimir Putin, have a history of duping foreign leaders over the phone, as reported by Bloomberg.
Security Concerns at the Fed
The prank call incident raises questions about the security measures in place at the Federal Reserve.
BREAKING: FED Chair Jerome Powell was duped in a call with Russian pranksters posing as Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
— Paryte (@Parytecom) April 27, 2023
Impact of Fed Officials' Remarks on Markets
Statements from Powell and other top central bank officials often draw attention from investors and businesses, occasionally causing stock market fluctuations.
Controversy Over Private Fed Meetings
Private meetings with Fed officials have stirred controversy in the past, with St. Louis Fed President James Bullard facing backlash for off-the-record remarks at a Citigroup event in October.
