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

According to a newly unsealed indictment by the US Department of Justice, the men – Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan, and Guy Sheetrit – used AI technology to alter and impersonate the voices and images of executives and attorneys at various companies. Soall and Hazan were arrested in Spain over the summer, while Sheetrit was arrested in the United Kingdom in September. The alleged fraud took place between 2024 and 2026.

Global Theft Operation

The men allegedly acted as corporate executives, targeting employees and claiming they needed help with sensitive financial transactions. They then instructed employees to contact lawyers at a large international law firm, where the men would impersonate attorneys and have employees wire large amounts of money. The scheme ultimately stole more than $129m from companies worldwide, including nearly $5m from a Missouri hospital system, $2.7m from a Rhode Island bank, and $5m from a Florida pet food company.

The stolen funds were directed to bank accounts across multiple countries including the United States, Spain, Portugal, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Austria, Slovakia, and China. After wiring, the money was converted into cryptocurrency to conceal its source, with the funds distributed among the conspirators. Soall and Hazan operated under aliases including "Seba Clarke," "Rocky Balboa," "Superman Cash," "Fat Boy," and "Ron."

Official Response

Jamie McDonald, a US attorney, emphasized that while artificial intelligence has great potential, the public must recognize some may exploit it for criminal purposes. "The alleged scheme orchestrated by Soall, Hazan, and Sheetrit demonstrates how the use of advanced technology can be exploited to commit large-scale fraud," said James C Barnacle Jr, the FBI assistant director in charge. "As criminals continue to weaponize emerging technologies, the FBI remains committed to rapidly adapting our capabilities to identify, investigate, and disrupt those who seek to harm New Yorkers and businesses operating in our communities."

The men have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, various counts of money-laundering conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. The case highlights growing concerns about AI-enabled fraud and the challenges law enforcement faces in addressing technologically sophisticated crimes.