Three foreign nationals have been charged with using artificial intelligence to impersonate corporate executives and attorneys. They allegedly stole over $129 million from various companies. The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) unsealed the indictment this week. Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan, and Guy Sheetrit were arrested in Spain and the United Kingdom between June and September 2026.
Key Details
The alleged fraud took place between July 2024 and February 2026. The trio used AI to mimic the voices and images of corporate leaders. They convinced employees to wire large sums of money. They typically targeted accounting departments. The group instructed employees to contact supposed attorneys at major law firms, who were actually part of the scheme. They directed employees to transfer funds to bank accounts in several countries, including the U.S., Spain, Portugal, and China.
Background
The stolen funds included about $5 million from a Missouri hospital system, around $2.7 million from a Rhode Island bank, and over $4.6 million from a Massachusetts mutual fund. The group also stole more than $11 million from a tech company in the UK. After receiving the payments, the suspects converted the money into cryptocurrency. This was done to hide its origin and to distribute it among themselves, according to the DoJ.
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This scheme shows the growing risks linked to AI technology in financial transactions. It could affect sectors that rely on secure communications and financial integrity. Companies in finance and technology may need to improve their security measures to prevent similar frauds. Watch for further developments as the case moves through the legal system.
Based on reporting by: theguardian.com, nbcnews.com