Italian Police Freeze Cash from AI-Voice Scam Targeting Business Leaders
Italian authorities have successfully located and frozen nearly one million euros (US$1.04 million) that was transferred to a foreign bank account by a prominent businessman who was deceived by an artificial intelligence scam, officials announced on Wednesday.
The fraudsters employed AI technology to imitate the voice of Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, placing calls that falsely claimed to require urgent financial aid for the release of kidnapped Italian journalists in the Middle East.
Among those targeted were renowned business personalities in Italy, such as fashion icon Giorgio Armani and Prada co-founder Patrizio Bertelli, as revealed by prosecutors in Milan earlier this week. However, it was reported that only Massimo Moratti, the former owner of Inter Milan football club, had complied by sending the requested funds.
Initially, authorities expressed doubts about the possibility of recovering the misappropriated funds. Nevertheless, they disclosed on Wednesday that the money had been traced to a Dutch account.
Expressing his satisfaction, Crosetto stated, "I'm very pleased that the money fraudulently taken from an entrepreneur, using my falsified voice and name, has been traced to a Dutch account and completely frozen." He commended the efforts of the magistrates and law enforcement agencies involved.
Moratti, who had transferred two payments amounting to almost one million euros under the false impression that he would be reimbursed by the Bank of Italy, has not yet commented on the recent developments.
Following his realisation of being a victim of deception, Moratti lodged a legal complaint last week. He shared with Italian daily La Repubblica, "It all seemed real. They were good. It could happen to anyone."
The elaborate scam entailed imposters posing as officials from the defence ministry, placing calls that appeared to originate from government offices in Rome. Subsequently, the callers handed the phone to an individual claiming to be Crosetto, who solicited funds, citing that the government could not be directly involved in the transactions.
The defence minister confirmed that AI technology was utilised to effectively replicate his voice, adding a layer of authenticity to the fraudulent scheme.
Italian police freeze nearly one million euros wired to a foreign account in an AI-voice scam targeting business leaders.
Prominent figures like Giorgio Armani and Patrizio Bertelli were among those deceived by the scam.
Only Massimo Moratti, former owner of Inter Milan, was reported to have sent the requested funds.
Source: REUTERS