Three men charged in US with using AI to impersonate CEOs and steal millions

Three men, Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan, and Guy Sheetrit, have been arrested and charged in the United States for allegedly using artificial intelligence to impersonate corporate executives and lawyers, leading to the theft of over $100 million, according to a newly unsealed indictment by the US Department of Justice. The three foreign nationals were apprehended in Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the alleged fraud taking place between 2024 and 2026.

Employing AI technology, the men allegedly impersonated the voices and images of executives and attorneys at various companies, convincing employees to send large sums of money to fraudulent accounts. They would then direct the employees to contact lawyers at prestigious international law firms, which they would subsequently impersonate, leading to the employees wiring the money.

The alleged fraud resulted in the theft of funds exceeding $129 million from companies worldwide, including hospitals in Missouri and California, a Rhode Island bank, a Massachusetts mutual fund, a Florida pet food company, and a UK tech firm. The men directed victims to wire money to accounts in multiple countries, including the United States, Spain, Portugal, Greece, the UAE, Singapore, Austria, Slovakia, and China.

After receiving the funds, the men converted them into cryptocurrency to conceal the origin and ownership of the stolen money. US Attorney Jamie McDonald emphasized the potential of AI technology but warned that some may exploit it for criminal purposes. FBI Assistant Director James C. Barnacle Jr. stated that his agency is committed to adapting to emerging technologies to combat such criminal activities.

The three men have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft.