Three men arrested in US for allegedly defrauding global entities using AI voice and video impersonation

The U.S. Department of Justice announced charges against three foreign men—Jakub Sol, Shalom Hazan, and Guy Shetlett—who are accused of orchestrating a massive fraud scheme exceeding $129 million. The scheme allegedly involved using artificial intelligence to mimic the voices and images of corporate executives and lawyers to trick employees into transferring large sums of money. The alleged fraud, which spanned from 2024 to 2026, began when the suspects impersonated company leaders to prompt employees to handle sensitive financial transactions, subsequently directing them to contact lawyers from major international firms. The funds were directed to bank accounts across the US and Eurasia, where the criminals planned to convert the proceeds into cryptocurrency to obscure ownership. Victims included entities such as a Missouri-based hospital group that lost nearly $5 million, a Rhode Island bank that lost about $2.7 million, and a Massachusetts mutual fund company that suffered over $4.6 million. FBI Assistant Director James C. Barnaker stated that the case demonstrates how advanced technology can be misused for large-scale fraud, affirming the FBI's commitment to combating such threats. Federal Prosecutor Jamie McDonner noted the immense potential of AI while cautioning the public against its criminal exploitation.