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https://www.productionai.institute/graph/events/evt-aiid-147

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Production AI Institute public record · AI Incident Database: Reported AI-Cloned Voice Used to Deceive Hong Kong Bank Manager in Purported $35 Million Fraud Scheme · observed 2025-05-03
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AI Incident Database: Reported AI-Cloned Voice Used to Deceive Hong Kong Bank Manager in Purported $35 Million Fraud Scheme

In January 2020, a Hong Kong-based bank manager for a Japanese company reportedly authorized $35 million in transfers after receiving a call from someone whose voice matched the company director's. According to Emirati investigators, scammers used AI-based voice cloning to impersonate the executive. The fraud allegedly involved at least 17 individuals and reportedly led to global fund transfers that triggered a UAE investigation. U.S. authorities were reportedly later asked …

AI Incident Database · Incident 147

Operator lens (high): inspect D2 (output validation), D7 (tool permissions).

Confidence
82%
Sources
3
Entities
9
Detected
detected 441d ago

Event summary

In January 2020, a Hong Kong-based bank manager for a Japanese company reportedly authorized $35 million in transfers after receiving a call from someone whose voice matched the company director's. According to Emirati investigators, scammers used AI-based voice cloning to impersonate the executive. The fraud allegedly involved at least 17 individuals and reportedly led to global fund transfers that triggered a UAE investigation. U.S. authorities were reportedly later asked …

D2D7

Linked entities

  • deepfake-technology-developers

    organisation | 70%

  • synthetic-audio-generation-technology-developers

    organisation | 70%

  • unknown-transnational-fraud-ring

    organisation | 70%

  • cybercriminals

    organisation | 70%

  • scammers

    organisation | 70%

  • unnamed-japanese-firm

    organisation | 70%

  • unnamed-hong-kong-based-branch-manager-of-unnamed-japanese-firm

    organisation | 70%

  • general-public-of-the-united-arab-emirates

    organisation | 70%

  • centennial-bank

    organisation | 70%

Related graph edges

EdgeTypeConfidence
ent-aiid-deepfake-technology-developers to ent-psf-d2maps to60%
ent-aiid-deepfake-technology-developers to ent-psf-d2maps to60%
ent-aiid-deepfake-technology-developers to ent-psf-d2maps to60%
ent-aiid-deepfake-technology-developers to ent-psf-d6maps to60%
ent-aiid-deepfake-technology-developers to ent-psf-d6maps to60%
ent-aiid-deepfake-technology-developers to ent-psf-d6maps to60%
ent-aiid-deepfake-technology-developers to ent-psf-d7maps to60%
ent-aiid-deepfake-technology-developers to ent-psf-d7maps to60%
ent-aiid-deepfake-technology-developers to ent-psf-d7maps to60%
ent-aiid-deepfake-technology-developers to ent-psf-d1maps to60%
ent-aiid-deepfake-technology-developers to ent-psf-d1maps to60%
ent-aiid-deepfake-technology-developers to ent-psf-d1maps to60%

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Event dates

  • Happened 15 Jan 2020

  • Detected 3 May 2025

Sources

  • AI Incident Database - Incident 147

    secondary | checked 9 July 2026

    Open source
  • Bank Robbers Steal $35 Million by Deepfaking Boss's Voice

    secondary | checked 21 Nov 2021

    Open source
  • Fraudsters Cloned Company Director’s Voice In $35 Million Bank Heist, Police Find

    secondary | checked 21 Nov 2021

    Open source
Cite this record

"AI Incident Database: Reported AI-Cloned Voice Used to Deceive Hong Kong Bank Manager in Purported $35 Million Fraud Scheme." https://www.productionai.institute/graph/events/evt-aiid-147 (observed 2020-01-15; retrieved 2026-07-18). PAI.

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