What happened

Scammers used AI to clone Guido Crosetto’s voice and that of his staff, contacting prominent Italian entrepreneurs — including Giorgio Armani, Massimo Moratti, and Patrizio Bertelli — under the pretense of raising funds to secure the release of Italian journalists allegedly held hostage in the Middle East. 

The fraudsters spoofed phone numbers to appear as if calls were coming from official government lines, further increasing the scheme’s credibility. 

At least one victim, former Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti, was duped into transferring approximately one million euros to a Hong Kong bank account, believing the Bank of Italy would reimburse him. 

Authorities managed to recover the stolen funds, but the incident exposed high-profile individuals to significant financial and reputational risk.

Why it happened

The scam’s success relied on recent real-world events — specifically, the high-profile detention and release of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Iran — which lent urgency and plausibility to the ransom narrative. 

The use of advanced AI voice-cloning technology made the impersonation highly convincing, while spoofed communications created a false sense of authenticity.

The attackers exploited both technological vulnerabilities and the trust networks among Italy’s elite. 

Among the victims were fashion designer Giorgio Armani, former Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti, and members of the Beretta and Menarini families. 

The criminals directed the victims to transfer the funds to a Hong Kong bank account.