Three men charged in US over AI impersonation scheme worth $129m
Prosecutors say the men used cloned voices and images to trick employees into wiring money, with victims spread across the United States and the UK.
Key points
- Three men face US charges over an AI-enabled fraud scheme
- Prosecutors say the scheme stole more than $129m from companies worldwide
- Two suspects were arrested in Spain and one in the United Kingdom
- Stolen funds were allegedly moved through accounts abroad and converted into cryptocurrency
- The men face conspiracy, money-laundering and identity theft charges
Three foreign nationals have been charged in the United States over an alleged scheme that used artificial intelligence to impersonate senior executives and lawyers. According to The Guardian, the indictment was newly unsealed by the US Department of Justice, and prosecutors say the group took more than $129m from companies around the world.
The three suspects are named as Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit. Soall and Hazan were arrested in Spain during the summer, while Sheetrit was detained in the United Kingdom in September. The alleged fraud is said to have run from 2024 to 2026.
How the alleged scheme worked
Prosecutors allege the men used AI tools to copy the voices and images of company bosses and attorneys. They then contacted employees and claimed that sensitive financial deals needed their urgent help.
Staff were told to contact lawyers at a large international law firm. The men then posed as those lawyers and asked the employees to transfer large sums of money. Once the funds arrived, the suspects allegedly converted them into cryptocurrency to hide where the money came from and who controlled it. The Justice Department says the proceeds were then shared among the men and their associates.
Victims and where the money went
The alleged losses were spread across several sectors and regions. Prosecutors say a Missouri hospital system lost nearly $5m, while a California hospital system lost about $3m. A Rhode Island bank is said to have lost about $2.7m, and a Massachusetts mutual fund about $4.6m. A Florida pet food company allegedly lost roughly $5m, and a UK technology company more than $11m.
Victims were told to send payments to bank accounts in many countries. These included the United States, Spain, Portugal, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Austria, Slovakia and China.
Aliases and charges
Court documents, as described in the report, say Soall and Hazan used several aliases. Soall allegedly went by names including “Seba Clarke” and “Rocky Balboa”. Hazan allegedly used names such as “Superman Cash”, “Fat Boy” and “Ron”.
The men face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, several counts of money-laundering conspiracy and aggravated identity theft.
Official response
US attorney Jamie McDonald said artificial intelligence offers real benefits but that the public should know some people may try to use it for crime. James C Barnacle Jr, assistant director in charge at the FBI, said criminals were increasingly using new technology and that the agency was adapting its methods to find and stop them.
The charges are allegations at this stage. The men are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
Frequently asked questions
Who has been charged in the AI impersonation case?
Three foreign nationals, Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit, have been charged in the United States. According to The Guardian, Soall and Hazan were arrested in Spain and Sheetrit in the United Kingdom.
How much money was allegedly stolen?
The Guardian reports that the US Department of Justice says more than $129m was taken from companies worldwide. An earlier figure in the indictment was described as over $100m.
What charges do the men face?
They face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money-laundering conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Sources
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
