An alleged AI impersonation scheme cost companies worldwide more than $129 million, according to US prosecutors. Authorities have charged three men with using deepfakes of executives and lawyers to persuade employees to transfer corporate funds.
Fake executives requested confidential payments
The indictment names Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit, alongside unnamed co-conspirators. Prosecutors allege that the group impersonated senior executives at targeted companies, using artificial intelligence to imitate their voices and appearances during calls. The callers then sought employees’ assistance with supposedly confidential financial transactions.
Next, the alleged conspirators directed employees to contact attorneys at major international law firms. Those lawyers supposedly had responsibility for handling the transactions. However, prosecutors say members of the same group also impersonated the attorneys, reinforcing the instructions employees had received from the fake executives.
This sequence gave employees two apparent sources of authority for the payment requests. The supposed executive introduced the transaction, while the supposed lawyer supplied further instructions. According to the indictment, both roles formed part of the effort to divert company money.
Transfers reached accounts in nine countries
Prosecutors say the group instructed employees to send large payments to bank accounts under the conspirators’ control. Those accounts spanned Austria, China, Greece, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. The alleged victims included companies in the US and other countries.
After receiving the transfers, the group allegedly converted the proceeds into cryptocurrency to conceal their source. Members then distributed the funds among themselves and other participants. Prosecutors put the total losses associated with the AI impersonation scheme at more than $129 million.
The allegations describe a coordinated operation involving impersonation, payment collection and subsequent laundering. Artificial intelligence allegedly helped the callers present themselves as recognizable business figures. Meanwhile, the network of bank accounts provided destinations for the requested transfers.
Three arrests followed by extradition requests
Authorities arrested Soall in Spain on June 17, 2026, followed by Hazan in the same country on August 5. They subsequently apprehended Sheetrit in the United Kingdom on September 7. Extradition requests remained pending at the time of the report.
The defendants face charges involving wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering. According to the report, the charges could carry a combined maximum prison term of up to 104 years upon conviction. The allegations remain subject to court proceedings.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. said the case illustrates how criminals can exploit advanced technology for large-scale fraud. He added that the agency continues adapting its investigative capabilities to identify and disrupt such operations.
0 responses to “AI impersonation scheme linked to $129 million fraud”