Three men charged in $129 million AI impersonation scheme
Three men accused of using AI to impersonate executives and steal over $129 million from corporations.
A group of artificial intelligence robots working on computers (Mohamed Nohassi/Unsplash via Courthouse News)
Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York unsealed an indictment on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, charging three men with using artificial intelligence to impersonate corporate executives and attorneys to facilitate large-scale financial fraud.
The defendants, identified as Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan, and Guy Sheetrit, are accused of stealing more than $129 million between 2024 and 2026. According to the indictment, the group targeted high-level corporate employees authorized to execute significant wire transfers by convincing them to participate in confidential transactions, such as corporate acquisitions.
To carry out the scheme, the defendants allegedly used AI technology to mimic the voices and, in some instances, the images of CEOs during video or voice calls. Prosecutors stated that the group would often connect victims with a co-conspirator posing as an attorney from a major law firm to further legitimize the requests.
The investigation revealed that the trio targeted at least seven high-profile corporate executives globally. Among the documented incidents, the group allegedly obtained more than $11.5 million from a single fintech company based in the United Kingdom.
Jamie McDonald, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, stated that the defendants abused advanced technology to deceive corporate employees. The case against Soall, Hazan, and Sheetrit is currently proceeding in the Southern District of New York.