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Three indicted in $129 million AI impersonation fraud scheme
Three individuals, Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan, and Guy Sheetrit, have been indicted in a U.S. federal court for an elaborate fraud scheme that allegedly used artificial intelligence to steal approximately $129 million from companies worldwide.
The defendants reportedly used AI voice-cloning and deepfake technology to impersonate corporate executives and attorneys. According to court documents, the group targeted accounting departments by sending emails that appeared to be from CEOs requesting assistance with confidential financial transactions. They then used AI to mimic the voices and images of these executives during phone or video calls to authorize large wire transfers.
Victims included hospital systems in Missouri and California, a bank in Rhode Island, a financial technology company in the United Kingdom, a mutual fund company in Massachusetts, and a pet food company in Florida. The stolen funds were allegedly laundered by converting them into cryptocurrency.
The suspects, who hail from Spain, the UK, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates, were arrested between June and September. They face charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering, with potential sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison.
Entities
FBI · Guy Sheetrit · Jacob Soall · Sharon Hazan · U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York · U.S. Department of Justice · U.S. District Court in New York
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 9 SOURCES] The defendants were arrested between June and September. edmonton.citynews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · www.kob.com · www.cbsnews.com · nypost.com · +4 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] Sharon Hazan was convicted in a New York court in 2008 of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. edmonton.citynews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · www.kob.com · www.cbsnews.com · nypost.com · +2 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] The defendants are from Spain, the UK, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates. edmonton.citynews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · www.kob.com · www.cbsnews.com · nypost.com · +2 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] The group targeted thousands of companies globally over a period of more than a year and a half. edmonton.citynews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · www.kob.com · www.cbsnews.com · nypost.com · +2 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] Victims included hospital systems in Missouri and California, a bank in Rhode Island, and a financial technology company in the United Kingdom. edmonton.citynews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · www.kob.com · www.cbsnews.com · nypost.com · +3 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] The scheme resulted in the theft of approximately $129 million. edmonton.citynews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · www.kob.com · www.cbsnews.com · nypost.com · +5 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] The defendants allegedly used artificial intelligence to impersonate corporate executives and attorneys. edmonton.citynews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · www.kob.com · www.cbsnews.com · nypost.com · +5 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan, and Guy Sheetrit were indicted on charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. edmonton.citynews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · www.kob.com · www.cbsnews.com · nypost.com · +4 more