Two Israelis Charged in $129 Million AI-Powered Global Fraud Scheme
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Two Israeli nationals and another individual are charged in the U.S. for a $129 million global fraud scheme using AI to impersonate executives and lawyers. Arrested in Europe, authorities are seeking their extradition. The scheme involved tricking employees into transferring funds to accounts in multiple countries, with victims including a hospital, a bank, and a fintech company. The defendants face charges including fraud and money laundering, with potential 20-year sentences.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Two Israelis and a third person are charged in the U.S. for a $129 million AI-driven fraud.
- The scheme used AI to impersonate executives and lawyers, tricking employees into transferring funds.
- Victims include a Missouri hospital, a Rhode Island bank, and a British fintech company.
- One defendant allegedly boasted of laundering over $400 million and being "number one in the world."
- The stolen money was moved through accounts in multiple countries and converted to cryptocurrency.
- The defendants face charges including fraud and money laundering, with up to 20-year sentences.
Two Israeli citizens and a third individual have been charged in the United States for their alleged involvement in a massive fraud scheme totaling over $129 million, which utilized artificial intelligence to impersonate senior executives and lawyers. The Manhattan federal prosecutor's office announced the charges on Thursday. The three defendants were arrested in Europe in recent months, and U.S. authorities are seeking their extradition.
According to the prosecution, the suspects targeted employees authorized to approve large financial transfers. They impersonated CEOs and presented fictitious secret financial transactions. Using voice and facial mimicry technology via phone and video calls, they convinced employees to comply with their instructions. Subsequently, employees were directed to alleged lawyers from leading international firms, who were also part of the impersonation scheme. These fake lawyers instructed the employees to transfer vast sums to bank accounts controlled by the network members.
Victims include a Missouri hospital system that lost $4.83 million, a Rhode Island bank that lost $2.68 million, and a British fintech company from which approximately $11.58 million was stolen.
One of the defendants, identified by the prosecution as Hazzan, who was also known as "Superman Cash," is accused of laundering the fraud proceeds. He reportedly boasted about laundering over $400 million in three years and claimed to be the "number one in the world" in this activity. Hazzan was previously convicted in 2008 for conspiracy to commit bank fraud in the U.S.
The stolen funds were transferred to accounts in various countries, including the United Arab Emirates, China, Singapore, and Portugal, where they were converted into cryptocurrency in an attempt to obscure their origin. The three individuals face seven charges, including fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. Some charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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