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FBI Charges Three in $129 Million AI Impersonation Scam

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FBI Charges Three in $129 Million AI Impersonation Scam

The FBI accused three people of orchestrating a long-running $129 million artificial intelligence-powered impersonation scam, according to a Thursday (Nov. 5) press release from the Department of Justice.

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Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit were charged with multiple counts of wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft, the release said.

The trio and their co-conspirators allegedly used AI to impersonate the voices and images of corporate executives at several companies, as well as attorneys at “major law firms” to dupe employees into sending large payments to accounts the conspirators controlled, according to the release.

“The alleged scheme orchestrated by Soall, Hazan and Sheetrit demonstrates how the use of advanced technology can be exploited to commit large-scale fraud,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. said in the release. “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 scheme allegedly involved the three defendants and their co-conspirators pretending to be the CEO of the targeted companies, according to the release. They would contact employees, saying they needed their help with a confidential financial transaction, using AI to mimic the CEO’s image and/or voice.

They would allegedly tell the employee to contact attorneys at large international law firms, then impersonate the lawyer when the employee got in touch, the release said.


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