AI voice-clone scam moved €95 million out of Italy's Fideuram bank
Fideuram chairman Paolo Molesini was deceived by a fake WhatsApp message posing as Intesa Sanpaolo CEO Carlo Messina and a follow-up call using an AI-generated voice impersonating a law firm partner. Believing the request was legitimate, Fideuram wired €95 million to accounts in China and Hong Kong before staff spotted irregularities. Authorities in Italy, Portugal and China helped recover €53 million, and Molesini has since resigned.