Two Israelis Charged in $129 Million Global AI Fraud Scheme

Two Israeli nationals, Sharon Hazan, 54, and Guy Shitrit, 42, along with a third defendant, Jacob Suele, 41, are facing charges in the United States for their alleged involvement in an international fraud scheme totaling over $129 million. The scheme reportedly utilized artificial intelligence to impersonate corporate executives and senior officials, instructing employees to transfer substantial funds.

According to the U.S. prosecution, the defendants allegedly employed AI technologies to mimic the voices and appearances of high-ranking managers. They then contacted employees in finance departments, demanding urgent bank transfers for purported secret deals. To enhance the credibility of their deception, the accused also posed as lawyers overseeing these transactions.

Victims of the alleged fraud include hospitals, a bank, a fintech company, and a trust fund. The indictment details that the illicit funds were channeled through bank accounts in various countries, with some converted into cryptocurrency in an attempt to obscure the money's origin and trail. One of the defendants, Hazan, reportedly boasted about engaging in money laundering since 1994, claiming to have laundered over $400 million in the past three years and calling himself the "number one in the world" in this field. Hazan has a prior conviction in 2008 for conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

The three defendants were apprehended in Spain and the United Kingdom between June and September, and the U.S. is seeking their extradition. This case highlights a growing threat in the age of AI: the ability to convincingly impersonate senior leadership, turning seemingly legitimate payment instructions into a tool for massive fraud.