Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have charged three people with using artificial intelligence to impersonate corporate executives and attorneys at large law firms, ABC News reported on November 5. According to the newly unsealed indictment, the defendants faked executives' voices, and sometimes their images, to persuade employees to wire money for supposedly confidential deals. Prosecutors say companies lost more than $129 million between July 2024 and February 2026. The three were arrested in Spain and the UK and await extradition. The charges, including conspiracy and money laundering, are allegations.
The alleged victims span industries. A UK financial technology company lost about $11.6 million, and two US hospital systems, a bank, a mutual fund company, and a pet food maker also appear in the indictment. Any company whose staff move money on a call or video request faces similar exposure. U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said some people "seek to use this emerging technology to pursue criminal goals."
