Scammers used AI-cloned DI chief’s voice to seek $3.3 million

A scammer used an AI-generated copy of Danish Industry director Lars Sandahl’s voice to try to persuade an employee to transfer about $3.3 million, DR reported. The employee became suspicious, and the organization’s internal controls stopped the payment.

The call came last week to an employee at Danish Industry (DI), a business organization, in South Korea. The caller claimed the transfer related to a confidential overseas company acquisition and sounded, according to Sandahl, exactly like him.

After saying the phone connection was poor, the caller moved the conversation to WhatsApp and used a profile bearing Sandahl’s name and photograph. DI cybersecurity adviser Jeppe Engell said the messages included insider information about the matter, making the request harder to identify as fraudulent.

“What once seemed impossible is now possible”

Sandahl said he had listened to the recording of the cloned voice and found it so convincing that it could have fooled his mother. He said the caller’s threatening and pressuring manner, however, was unlike his own.

Sandahl said he had been unsure whether to speak publicly about the incident, but decided to share it so others could learn from it. “You can’t know whether it’s me speaking now, for example,” he told DR’s P1 Morgen.

DI advises companies not to make payments based solely on verbal requests. New payees and changes to account details should be approved by more than one person. Employees who have doubts should call back using a number from the company’s own directory and raise concerns with management or IT, even if the matter is said to be confidential. Attempts at fraud should be reported to police.

Sandahl said the case showed the need to take seriously new forms of threat while preserving trust in society. DI has reported the incident to police.