Thousands of businesses worldwide AI media incident
A global fraud operation used AI-generated voices and stolen lawyer identities to trick employees into authorizing approximately 129 million dollars in.
- Reported date
- Nov 8, 2026
- Target
- thousands of businesses worldwide
The exact incident date was not established. This entry is dated by its source report.
A sophisticated fraud operation targeted thousands of businesses worldwide between July 2024 and February 2026, utilizing AI-generated deepfakes and stolen professional identities to facilitate approximately $129 million in fraudulent wire transfers. Federal prosecutors have charged three individuals with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering in connection with the scheme.
What happened
The conspirators identified accounting employees with wire transfer authority and initiated contact via electronic signature services, posing as CEOs to discuss confidential corporate acquisitions. To build credibility, the attackers utilized AI technology to reproduce the voices and, in some instances, the images of these executives. Once the employee accepted the CEO's identity, they were directed to a second impersonator posing as an attorney from a major international law firm.
By appropriating the identities of real lawyers working in European offices, the attackers created a layer of independent verification. The "attorney" would reinforce the need for strict confidentiality, often using a handwritten script titled "Lawyer Call" to discourage employees from consulting with colleagues. This multi-layered social engineering approach exploited the employees' recognition of familiar figures rather than attempting to bypass biometric security systems.
While the total losses reached $129 million, some attempts were thwarted. In October 2024, a New York investment bank successfully blocked a $2.85 million transfer after the back office intervened. Other organizations were less successful, with prosecutors identifying six specific thefts totaling approximately $32 million from companies including a British fintech firm, a Florida pet food company, and a Missouri hospital system. The stolen funds were routed through international bank accounts before being converted into cryptocurrency to obscure their origins. The three defendants, Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan, and Guy Sheetrit, were arrested overseas and are currently awaiting extradition.