Italian authorities have successfully frozen nearly €1 million (£870,000) stolen in a sophisticated scam that used artificial intelligence to mimic the voice of Italy’s Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto. The elaborate fraud targeted some of the country’s most prominent business figures, including fashion designer Giorgio Armani, Prada co-founder Patrizio Bertelli, and members of the billionaire Beretta and Menarini families.
The only known victim to transfer funds was Massimo Moratti, the former owner of Inter Milan, who was deceived into wiring nearly €1 million to a foreign bank account under the mistaken belief that he would be reimbursed by the Bank of Italy. He has since filed a legal complaint.
AI-Generated Voice Mimicked Italian Minister
The scam involved fraudsters making phone calls that appeared to originate from government offices in Rome. They posed as officials from the defence ministry and then passed the call to a voice that convincingly imitated Minister Crosetto. The imposter claimed to need urgent financial assistance to secure the release of kidnapped Italian journalists in the Middle East.
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Crosetto himself became aware of the scam when a well-known businessman contacted him last week, questioning why the minister’s secretary had asked for his mobile number. After verifying with his staff, Crosetto confirmed no such call had been made. Shortly after, he was approached by another entrepreneur who had already wired a large sum to an account belonging to a fake “General Giovanni Montalbano.” Authorities believe scammers may have used pre-recorded AI-generated messages or real-time voice-cloning technology to carry out the deception.
Business Leaders Thwart Scam
While some high-profile figures were tricked into engaging with the fraudsters, others managed to detect and avoid the scam. Lucia Aleotti, a board member of pharmaceutical giant Menarini, credited her personal assistant, Chiara, for spotting the deception. The scammers, presenting themselves as government officials, requested an urgent conversation regarding a national security matter. However, Chiara grew suspicious when they insisted that Crosetto was at NATO headquarters and left a foreign number to call back.
Aleotti recalled that her company had previously received suspicious calls, including offers to buy artwork attributed to Caravaggio and Leonardo da Vinci. “This was certainly not the most difficult scam for our assistant to recognize,” she told Corriere della Sera. Other notable targets included Diego Della Valle, the owner of luxury brand Tod’s, and Marco Tronchetti Provera, the executive vice-chair of tire manufacturer Pirelli.
Authorities Freeze Funds, Investigation Continues
Despite initial concerns that the stolen money might be impossible to retrieve, Italian officials successfully traced and froze the funds in a Dutch bank account. “I’m very pleased that the money fraudulently taken from an entrepreneur, using my falsified voice and name, has been completely frozen,” Crosetto said on X. He praised law enforcement and magistrates for their swift action.
Moratti, the only known victim to transfer money, acknowledged that the fraud was highly convincing. “It all seemed real. They were good. It could happen to anyone,” he told La Repubblica. As the investigation continues, authorities are warning the public about the increasing use of AI-generated voice scams. In another recent case, an elderly Italian woman was tricked into transferring €30,000 after receiving a call from someone she believed was her daughter, claiming to need urgent legal fees.
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Crosetto, alarmed by the rising trend, stated, “These are professional scammers with both the technology and ability to identify targets.” He urged the public to remain vigilant to prevent falling victim to similar frauds.