Federal prosecutors in New York have unsealed an indictment against three individuals accused of orchestrating a massive AI impersonation fraud scheme that siphoned approximately $129 million from businesses worldwide. The defendants allegedly utilized advanced artificial intelligence to mimic the voices and appearances of high-ranking corporate executives and legal counsel to deceive employees into authorizing fraudulent wire transfers.
Over a period spanning more than 18 months, the trio reportedly targeted thousands of organizations. The group, consisting of Jacob Soall, 41, Sharon Hazan, 54, and Guy Sheetrit, 42, faces multiple federal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the operation was global in scope, impacting sectors ranging from healthcare to finance.
A Sophisticated Global Operation
The indictment describes a highly organized network where the defendants operated under various aliases and colorful nicknames, such as "Rocky Balboa," "Superman Cash," and "Fat Boy." The suspects are citizens of several nations, including the United Kingdom, Israel, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates.
Law enforcement officials successfully apprehended the suspects between June and September of this year. Soall and Hazan were taken into custody in Spain, while Sheetrit was arrested in the United Kingdom. All three currently face pending extradition requests as the U.S. government seeks to bring them to trial in New York.
This case marks one of the most significant instances of $129 million AI theft involving the weaponization of deepfake technology against the private sector. FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. emphasized the growing threat of such tech-driven crimes, stating, "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."
How the AI Impersonation Scheme Worked
The mechanics of the fraud were multi-layered and relied on psychological manipulation combined with technical deception. The defendants typically followed a specific sequence to execute their heists:
- Initial Contact: The group would send emails to a target company’s accounting or finance department. These messages appeared to be from the firm's CEO or another high-level executive, requesting urgent assistance with a confidential financial matter.
- AI Voice and Video Cloning: To verify the request, the defendants arranged phone or video conferences. During these calls, they utilized AI tools to mimic the specific voice and, in some instances, the live image of the executive they were impersonating.
- Legal Verification: Once the employee was convinced of the executive's identity, they were directed to speak with a specific attorney at a major law firm.
- The "Lawyer Call": Jacob Soall primarily handled the impersonation of U.K.-based attorneys. Prosecutors discovered he used a "handwritten script titled 'Lawyer Call' that he utilized to make himself seem like a real attorney when speaking with and defrauding victims."
- The Transfer: The fake attorney would instruct the employee to wire large sums of money to various bank accounts located around the world.
Notable Victims of the Fraud
The scale of the AI voice cloning scam is evidenced by the diversity of the victims listed in court filings. The group did not limit themselves to a single industry, instead casting a wide net across several states and international borders.
Confirmed victims of the scheme include:
* Hospital systems located in Missouri and California.
* A bank based in Rhode Island.
* A mutual fund company operating in Massachusetts.
* A pet food company in Florida.
* A financial technology (fintech) firm in the United Kingdom.
After the funds were successfully wired, the defendants allegedly moved quickly to hide the paper trail. The stolen millions were converted into various forms of cryptocurrency to obscure the origin and destination of the funds before being distributed among the three defendants and other unnamed co-conspirators.
Legal Consequences and Past Criminal History
The charges leveled against the trio carry substantial prison time. A conviction for wire fraud or money laundering carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence.
This is not the first time one of the defendants has faced the U.S. legal system. Sharon Hazan was previously convicted in a New York court in 2008 for conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
As of the latest reports, legal representation for Soall and Sheetrit has not commented on the allegations, and it remains unclear if Hazan has retained an attorney. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not provided further details regarding the specific AI software used to facilitate the corporate identity theft.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money was stolen in the AI impersonation scam?
Prosecutors allege that the three defendants used artificial intelligence to steal approximately $129 million from companies worldwide over the course of roughly 18 months.
Who are the suspects charged in the $129 million theft?
The three individuals indicted are Jacob Soall, 41, Sharon Hazan, 54, and Guy Sheetrit, 42, who were arrested in Spain and the United Kingdom.
What methods did the defendants use to trick companies?
The group used AI to clone the voices and images of CEOs during video and phone calls, then used a handwritten script to impersonate lawyers who directed employees to wire money to international accounts.