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AI Voice Scam Costs Intesa Sanpaolo's Fideuram •36 Million
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CNBC TV18•26-09-2026, 15:27
AI Voice Scam Costs Intesa Sanpaolo's Fideuram •36 Million
- •Fraudsters used AI to impersonate Intesa Sanpaolo CEO Carlo Messina and a lawyer, stealing •95 million from Fideuram, the private banking arm of Italy's biggest lender.
- •The scam began when then-Fideuram Chairman Paolo Molesini received a WhatsApp message and a phone call with an AI-replicated voice, instructing urgent overseas transfers.
- •Molesini authorized transfers to foreign accounts, mainly in China and Hong Kong, believing the requests were genuine.
- •Fideuram detected irregularities, leading to the recovery of approximately •53 million through international cooperation, but •36 million remains missing after being converted to cryptocurrency.
- •Neither Molesini nor other Fideuram executives are under investigation, but Milan prosecutors are investigating a foreign national for computer fraud.
Key Questions Answered
Fraudsters used artificial intelligence to impersonate Intesa Sanpaolo CEO Carlo Messina via a WhatsApp message and mimicked a prominent law firm partner's voice on a phone call, tricking then-Fideuram Chairman Paolo Molesini into authorizing massive foreign fund transfers.
The scam cost Fideuram a total of €95 million. Although international authorities successfully recovered roughly €53 million, approximately €36 million remains missing after being routed through foreign accounts and converted into cryptocurrencies.
Neither Paolo Molesini nor any other Fideuram executives are under investigation. Molesini did resign from his position as chairman in March, citing personal reasons.
