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Technology

Three charged in alleged AI impersonation scheme that stole $129 million

An indictment alleges three defendants used AI voice and image mimicry to deceive employees at thousands of companies, with arrests in Spain and the UK.

Published Nov 6, 2026 · 17:51 UTC5 reports

The short version

  • Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit are charged in New York over an alleged AI impersonation scheme.[ABC News]
  • Prosecutors allege the scheme ran from July 2024 to February 2026 and targeted thousands of companies worldwide, including hospital systems and banks.[NBC News · ABC News]
  • Prosecutors allege stolen funds were converted into cryptocurrency to conceal their origin and distributed among participants.[NBC News · ABC News]
  • The allegations remain unproven, and the case now moves through the federal court process.[ABC News]

Key facts

  • Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit were charged in an indictment filed in a U.S. District Court in New York.[NBC News · ABC News]
  • Prosecutors allege the scheme ran from July 2024 to February 2026 and targeted thousands of companies worldwide.[NBC News · ABC News]
  • Soall and Sheetrit were arrested between June and September, with Soall and Hazan arrested in Spain and Sheetrit in the United Kingdom.[NBC News · ABC News]
  • Prosecutors say Soall impersonated U.K. attorneys using a handwritten script titled Lawyer Call.[NBC News · ABC News]
  • Named victims in court documents included hospital systems in Missouri and California, a Rhode Island bank, a Massachusetts mutual fund, a Florida pet food company and a UK financial technology company.[ABC News]
  • Prosecutors allege stolen funds were converted into cryptocurrency to conceal their source and distributed among participants.[NBC News · ABC News]
  • Hazan was convicted in 2008 in New York of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.[NBC News · ABC News]

What remains uncertain

  • The charges are allegations in an indictment, and the reporting does not establish the defendants' guilt.[NBC News · ABC News]
  • Lawyers for Soall and Sheetrit did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and it was unclear whether Hazan had an attorney.[ABC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.