AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today November 6, 2026
Federal Authorities Charge Three in International AI Fraud Scheme
Three foreign nationals have been charged by federal prosecutors in connection with an alleged ai fraud scheme that utilized artificial intelligence to impersonate corporate executives and prominent attorneys, resulting in the theft of more than $129 million from companies around the world.
Details of the Alleged Fraud
According to an indictment filed in the Southern District of New York, the individuals are accused of participating in a sophisticated operation between July 2024 and February 2026. The scheme involved leveraging AI technology to mimic the voices and images of company CEOs and attorneys at major law firms to trick employees—typically in accounting departments—into initiating wire transfers to accounts controlled by the perpetrators.
Suspects and Their Arrests
The three individuals charged are Jacob Soall, who was arrested in Spain in June; Sharon Hazan, taken into custody in Spain in August; and Guy Sheetrit, apprehended in the United Kingdom in September. Soall, from Spain and the United Kingdom, allegedly used aliases including “Rocky Balboa” and “Seba Clarke.” Hazan, from Israel, is said to have gone by “Superman Cash,” “Impossible Mission,” “Fat Boy,” and “Ron.” Sheetrit is reported to be from Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
How the Scheme Worked
The group reportedly contacted company employees under the guise of confidential financial transactions, using AI to convincingly replicate CEO voices. The imposters would then instruct the employees to reach out to attorneys at well-known law firms, who were, in reality, also participants in the scheme. Ultimately, victims were told to transfer large sums to bank accounts established by the group, after which the funds were converted into cryptocurrency in an attempt to conceal their origin, ownership, and control.
Global Reach and Impact
The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges that the fraud impacted several prominent organizations, including an investment bank in New York, a hospital system in Missouri, a bank in Rhode Island, a hospital system in California, a fintech firm in the United Kingdom, a mutual fund company in Massachusetts, and a pet food company in Florida.
Money Laundering and Prior Convictions
Prosecutors assert that Hazan laundered much of the stolen money and claimed to have laundered over $400 million in the past three years, describing himself as a leading professional in global money laundering. Hazan was previously convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in New York in 2008. Sheetrit is also accused of laundering funds connected to this scheme.
Charges, Penalties, and Official Statement
All three defendants face seven charges: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to launder money, and two counts of money laundering. Each charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald commented, “SI technology offers tremendous potential. But the public should recognize that there are some who seek to use this emerging technology to pursue criminal goals. I encourage individuals and the business community to consider how to best protect themselves from the emerging threat of SI-enabled crime.”
Source: nbcnews.com.
