Federal authorities in New York have charged three people for a massive AI-driven scam that allegedly stole $129 million from global companies. Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan, and Guy Sheetrit are accused of using deepfake technology to mimic executives and lawyers to facilitate high-value wire transfers.
The $129 million global target list
The scope of the alleged fraud extends far beyond a single industry or region , hitting a diverse array of sectors across multiple continents. According to the indictment filed in U.S. District Court in New York, the victims included hospital systems in both Missouri and California, a bank located in Rhode Island, and a financial technology firm in the United Kingdom. The reach of the scam even touched a mutual fund company in Massachusetts and a pet food business in Florida.
This wide-ranging targeting suggests a highly organized operation capable of identifying vulnerabilities in various corporate structures. The defendants, who reportedly originate from Spain, the United Kingdom, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates, allegedly spent over 18 months executing these thefts. This pattern of targeting essential services like healthcare and finance highlights the growing vulnerability of even the most established institutions to high-tech deception.
The "Lawyer Call" script and deepfake tactics
To bypass standard security protocols, the group utilized sophisticated artificial intelligence to mimic the voices and images of high-ranking officials. The scheme often began with an email from a purported CEO requesting help with a confidential transaction. This was followed by phone or video calls where AI-generated deepfakes created a false sense of authority and urgency, making the fraudulent requests appear legitimate to employees.
A key component of the deception involved the impersonation of legal counsel to provide a veneer of professional legitimacy. As reported by the source,Jacob Soall specifically targeted UK-based attorneys, utilizing a handwritten script titled "Lawyer Call" to guide his fraudulent conversations. By following this script, Soall was able to mimic the professional demeanor of a lawyer, convincing victims to wire massive payments to various global bank accounts.
Converting stolen funds into cryptocurrency
Once the fraudulent transfers were completed, the defendants allegedly moved quickly to obscure the trail of the $129 million. The group reportedly converted the stolen cash into cryptocurrency, a move designed to make the assets difficult for law enforcement to trace or recover.. This layer of financial obfuscation was a critical part of their strategy to distribute the illicit proceeds among themselves and other accomplices.
The legal ramifications for these actions are severe. If convicted, each of the three defendants faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for wire fraud, in addition to a potential two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. The use of cryptocurrency to hide the movement of funds has become an increasingly common hurdle for federal investigators tracking modern financial crimes.
What remains unknown about the New York indictment
Despite the detailed allegations in the indictment, several critical pieces of information remain unverified. The case docket is currently sealed, leaving much of the specific evidence and the full extent of the investigation hidden from public view. Furthermore, defense lawyers for Soall, Hazan, and Sheetrit have not yet issued public comments regarding the charges.
It also remains unclear whether the $129 million figure represents the total amount stolen or merely the portion identified by investigators thus far.. Additionally, the prosecution has not yet confirmed if there are other unnamed accomplices involved in the international network that facilitated the money laundering and cryptocurrency conversions.
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