AI Voice-Clone Scam Defrauds Fideuram of 39 Million Euros

ilfattoquotidiano.it (Italian) — September 25, 2026 at 10:01 PM UTC

An AI voice-cloning scam defrauded Fideuram-Intesa of 39 million euros, with a Milan judge detailing how the former president was deceived by a fake Carlo Messina on WhatsApp; the total could have reached 95 million before recovery efforts. The fraud began when Paolo Molesini received a WhatsApp message from someone impersonating Intesa San Paolo CEO Carlo Messina, using realistic AI-cloned voice and familiar language. The fake CEO directed him to complete a secret acquisition through a fake lawyer, leading to 95 million euros in wire transfers between February 23 and 25 before the bank detected the scheme. An Israeli computer expert is under investigation for aggravated fraud, while Milan prosecutors are examining similar scams targeting other banks, including a 24-million-euro case against Banca Ifis and a smaller 2-million-euro fraud. Funds were traced across Portugal, Spain, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bahrain, with some already recovered.

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