Federal prosecutors have unveiled charges against three men accused of orchestrating a high-tech fraud scheme that leveraged AI voice-cloning and deepfake technology to steal $129 million from companies across multiple countries. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the elaborate scam targeted finance employees with convincingly forged communications pretending to be from executives and attorneys.
The Masterminds Behind the Scheme
Jacob Soall, 41, Sharon Hazan, 54, and Guy Sheetrit, 42, allegedly operated the fraud ring from Spain, Israel, and the UAE before their recent arrests. Authorities claim the trio targeted accounting and finance staff at various firms, sending emails purportedly from company leadership that urged immediate wire transfers under false pretenses. The fraudsters reportedly went as far as impersonating real lawyers from top global firms to bolster credibility.
Prosecutors say the men utilized AI to clone voices and even created deepfake videos of CEOs during video calls to manipulate employees. One of their documented tactics included a handwritten script titled “Lawyer Call,” packed with legal jargon to pressure victims into compliance while discouraging them from verifying the requests with colleagues.
How the Money Vanished
Once funds were wired, the stolen money allegedly traveled through a maze of international accounts spanning Austria, China, Greece, and other countries before being converted to cryptocurrency. Court documents accuse Hazan and Sheetrit of laundering proceeds—with Hazan allegedly boasting about moving over $400 million in illicit funds in recent years. The group reportedly used colorful aliases like “Rocky Balboa” and “Superman Cash” during operations.
The Victims
The indictment lists multiple corporate victims, including a British fintech firm ($11.6 million lost), a Florida pet food company ($5 million), and a California hospital network ($3 million). In total, at least six major businesses fell prey to the scam.
A Growing AI Threat
While AI presents game-changing opportunities for business efficiency, this case underscores its dangers in the hands of malicious actors. Cybercriminals increasingly deploy synthetic media to bypass traditional security measures, forcing companies to reassess verification protocols for financial transactions. The case serves as a stark warning about the vulnerabilities amplified by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2026/11/09/prosecutors-3-crooks-used-ai-voice-cloning-scheme-to-steal-129-million-from-companies/