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Three men charged in US with using AI to impersonate CEOs and steal millions
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Three foreign nationals were charged with using AI to impersonate CEOs and attorneys to steal over $129 million. Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan, and Guy Sheetrit were arrested in Spain and the UK. The alleged fraud ran from 2024 to 2026.
The men allegedly used AI to alter voices and images of executives and lawyers. They posed as executives and told employees to contact a large international law firm. They then impersonated lawyers to convince employees to wire large payments.
The scheme stole more than $129 million from companies worldwide. Victims included a Missouri hospital ($5m), a Rhode Island bank ($2.7m), and a California hospital ($3m). Others were a Massachusetts mutual fund ($4.6m), a Florida pet food company ($5m), and a UK tech company ($11m).
The stolen funds were wired to bank accounts in the US, Spain, Portugal, Greece, UAE, Singapore, Austria, Slovakia, and China. The men converted the money into cryptocurrency to conceal its source and ownership, DOJ said. Soall used aliases including "Seba Clarke" and "Rocky Balboa"; Hazan went by "Superman Cash," "Fat Boy," and "Ron."
US Attorney Jamie McDonald said AI has great potential but warned some may use it for criminal goals. He said the scheme shows how advanced technology can be exploited for large-scale fraud. The case highlights concerns over AI-enabled crime.
FBI Assistant Director James C Barnacle Jr. said criminals continue to weaponize emerging technologies. He said the FBI remains committed to rapidly adapting capabilities to identify, investigate, and disrupt such actors. The charges underscore the need for vigilance as AI tools spread.
The men face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money-laundering conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. The case is being prosecuted in the Southern District of New York. It signals a new front in cyber-enabled fraud.
