Associated Incidents
A sophisticated digital scam has targeted Italian business leaders, including designer Giorgio Armani and Prada chairman Patrizio Bertelli. The scammers used artificial intelligence to clone the voice of Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, asking for financial help to free journalists kidnapped in the Middle East. Other influential businessmen were also among the victims.
A sophisticated scam backed by artificial intelligence
The scam took place through phone calls in which Minister Crosetto’s voice was recorded using artificial intelligence technology, tricking victims into transferring large sums of money.
In one such call, the scammers asked for help in freeing kidnapped journalists, and the victims were convinced that the money would later be reimbursed by the Bank of Italy. One of the targeted businessmen fell for the scammers and transferred 1 million euros to a bank account in Hong Kong.
Minister Crosetto was later contacted by other people who had fallen victim to the same scam, and the case was made public to prevent other victims, reports The Guardian.
The scam was extremely well-planned, and the initial victims were influential businessmen from various sectors, including sports, pharmaceuticals and commerce.
Victims of the scam: big names in business and fashion
Among those targeted are also business figures, such as Massimo Moratti, the former owner of the Inter Milan club, and a member of the Beretta family, the renowned firearms manufacturer.
Giorgio Armani was also targeted by the scam, after its employees were contacted by scammers who used technology to clone Minister Crosetto's voice. Other victims include Lucia Aleotti, from the family that runs Menarini, and Diego Della Valle, the owner of Tod's.
Another example is that of Lucia Aleotti, who told how an attentive personal assistant managed to detect the attempted fraud before the company was affected. She stressed that the company's employees had encountered fraud attempts in the past, but none so sophisticated.
A dangerous technology used by professional scammers
Minister Crosetto stressed that the scam is a clear example of how advanced technology can be used to manipulate people.
He said that in this case, the scammers managed to target influential Italian businessmen who, upon a minister's appeal, were willing to help financially, believing they were contributing to a national cause.
Crosetto described the scammers as "professionals" with both the necessary technology and the skills to identify valuable targets. The incident highlighted the dangers of modern technology and the risks associated with using artificial intelligence in a malicious way.
In an ever-expanding digital age, such scams are a wake-up call about the vulnerabilities of the financial system and how technology can be exploited to deceive even the most experienced businessmen.