Two Israelis Charged in $129 Million Global AI-Powered Fraud Scheme
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Two Israeli men, Sharon Hazan and Guy Shitrit, along with Jacob Suele, are accused in the U.S. of a $129 million international fraud scheme using AI to impersonate executives. The defendants allegedly tricked employees into making urgent wire transfers for fake deals, with funds moved through various countries and converted to crypto. Hazan has a prior money laundering conviction, and all three were arrested in Europe and face extradition to the U.S.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Two Israelis, Sharon Hazan and Guy Shitrit, are charged in the U.S. with a $129 million AI-driven fraud.
- The defendants allegedly used AI to impersonate executives and trick employees into transferring funds.
- The scheme involved impersonating lawyers and targeting diverse organizations like hospitals and banks.
- Hazan reportedly claimed to have laundered over $400 million and is a convicted felon.
- The accused were arrested in Spain and the UK and face extradition to the U.S.
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 a massive international fraud scheme totaling over $129 million. The indictment, unsealed in New York, details how the defendants purportedly used artificial intelligence to impersonate CEOs and senior executives, instructing employees to transfer funds.
According to the U.S. prosecution, the defendants allegedly employed AI technologies to mimic the voices and faces of high-ranking managers. They then contacted employees in finance departments, demanding urgent bank transfers for supposed secret deals. To bolster the deception, they also posed as lawyers overseeing these transactions. The scheme allegedly targeted various organizations, including hospitals, a bank, a fintech company, and a trust fund.
The illicit funds were reportedly channeled through bank accounts in multiple countries, with some converted into cryptocurrency to obscure their origin and movement. One striking detail from the indictment is Hazan's alleged boasting 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 arrested 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 executives and turn seemingly legitimate payment instructions into a tool for large-scale fraud. The defendants have not yet been convicted in this case, and the allegations are currently unsubstantiated.
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