Artificial Intelligence Voice Cloning Scams Target Global Corporations for Nearly $130 Million
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced charges against three foreign nationals accused of orchestrating an international fraud scheme that used artificial intelligence to steal nearly $130 million from companies between July 2024 and February 2026, abcnews.com reported. Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan, and Guy Sheetrit allegedly impersonated corporate executives and major law firm attorneys during phone and video calls to convince employees to wire large sums of money to overseas bank accounts. The newly unsealed indictment details how the trio utilized advanced voice and image-mimicking technology to deceive workers into believing unauthorized transactions were legitimate.
The operation targeted specific institutions across multiple countries, resulting in exact financial losses detailed in court documents. According to the indictment cited by abcnews.com, the scheme stole $4,829,580 from a Missouri-based hospital system, $2,684,580 from a Rhode Island bank, and $2,968,497 from a California hospital system. Additional losses included $11,578,474 from a U.K. fintech firm, $4,639,918 from a Massachusetts mutual fund company, and $5,242,747 from a Florida pet food company.
International Arrests and Extradition Proceedings for Accused Conspirators
Law enforcement agencies apprehended the three suspects across Europe in recent months, setting the stage for extradition to the United States. Hazan, 54, of Israel, was arrested in Spain in August, while 42-year-old Sheetrit, of Israel and the United Arab Emirates, was detained in the U.K. in September.
The accused face multiple federal charges including conspiracy and money laundering, which carry maximum prison sentences of up to 20 years. Court records show that Hazan brings a prior federal criminal history to the case, having been convicted in Manhattan federal court of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in 2008, abcnews.com noted. The suspects currently remain in European custody awaiting transfer to U.S. authorities.
Execution of the AI Impersonation and Wire Fraud Scheme
The conspirators used artificial intelligence to manipulate employees into executing confidential financial transfers. According to prosecutors, the defendants would initiate contact by telling target employees that a highly sensitive financial transaction required their immediate assistance, abcnews.com reported. During subsequent voice or video calls, the perpetrators deployed artificial intelligence to mimic the exact vocal cadence and visual appearance of company chief executive officers.
To reinforce the illusion, the fake executives directed employees to communicate with co-conspirators posing as attorneys at large international law firms purportedly handling the same deal. Once the victimized workers gained full confidence in the legitimacy of the transaction through these simulated legal interactions, they were instructed to wire substantial corporate funds directly to accounts controlled by members of the conspiracy, abcnews.com stated. U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said in a statement that AI technology offers tremendous potential, but the public should recognize that there are some who seek to use this emerging technology to pursue criminal goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About the AI Corporate Fraud Case
Which specific companies were targeted in the AI voice-cloning scheme?
The unsealed federal indictment identifies several corporate victims, including hospital systems in Missouri and California, a Rhode Island bank, a U.K. financial technology firm, a Massachusetts mutual fund company, and a Florida pet food corporation, abcnews.com reported.
When did the fraudulent wire transfers take place?
The conspiracy operated over a prolonged period between July 2024 and February 2026, according to federal prosecutors in Manhattan.
What prior criminal record does any of the defendants have?
Sharon Hazan was previously convicted in Manhattan federal court of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in 2008, according to DOJ records cited by abcnews.com.