All incidents
Scammers use AI deepfake to steal $25M from engineering firm Arup
Summary
In early 2024, scammers employed AI‑generated deepfake video and audio to impersonate the chief financial officer of British engineering firm Arup. The fraudsters convinced an employee to transfer roughly HK$200 million (about US$25 million) to five Hong Kong bank accounts. Hong Kong police identified the scheme after the employee reported the transfers, and Arup notified authorities. Experts warned that generative AI is lowering the barrier for sophisticated financial fraud and urged CFOs to adopt stricter verification controls.
Who Was Affected
Age
Adult
Gender
Unknown
Sources
25The $25 Million Deepfake: Why Your Video Calls Can No Longer Be Trusted - Security Boulevard
Google News — deepfake fraud financial·Mar 26, 2026
Deepfake scams have robbed companies of millions. Experts warn it could get worse - CNBC
Agent Ingest — Google News RSS·May 27, 2024
Multi-million pound deepfake fraud reveals the danger posed to businesses by new AI technology - stewartslaw.com
May 23, 2024
Deepfake fraud costs engineering giant Arup £20m - Computing UK
May 20, 2024
Arup falls victim to £20m deepfake video scam - The Architects’ Journal
May 20, 2024
How an engineering giant lost millions of dollar to CFO's deepfake - The Times of India
May 18, 2024
British engineering giant Arup revealed as $37 million deepfake scam victim - 9News
Google News — deepfake fraud financial·May 18, 2024
UK firm Arup was victim of HK$200 million deepfake scam that duped Hong Kong staff - South China Morning Post
May 17, 2024
British engineering giant Arup revealed as $25 million deepfake scam victim - CNN
May 17, 2024
UK engineering firm Arup falls victim to £20m deepfake scam - The Guardian
Google News — AI voice clone scam·May 17, 2024
Scammers siphon $25M from engineering firm Arup via AI deepfake ‘CFO’ - CFO Dive
May 17, 2024
A deepfake ‘CFO’ tricked the British design firm behind the Sydney Opera House in $25 million fraud - Fortune
May 17, 2024
Arup revealed as victim of $25 million deepfake scam involving fake video call CFO
May 17, 2024
Scammers siphon $25M from engineering firm Arup via AI deepfake 'CFO'
May 17, 2024
British engineering giant Arup revealed as $25 million deepfake scam victim - WRAL
Google News — deepfake fraud financial·May 16, 2024
Hong Kong: $26 million stolen thanks to a deepfake - incyber news
Mar 13, 2024
Hong Kong Video Deepfake Scam Nets HK$200 Million, Fraud Involved Simulation of Multiple Video Conference Participants - CPO Magazine
Feb 12, 2024
Commentary: A US$25 million Hong Kong deepfake scam shows new AI risks in video calls - CNA
Feb 7, 2024
The dawn of a new era in scams: Employee transfers $25 million as instructed by the company's chief financial officer in a deepfake video conference call - Bitdefender
Feb 7, 2024
Biggest Deepfake Fraud? Fake Zoom Meeting, CFO Cloned, $25 Million Stolen - NDTV
Feb 6, 2024
Multinational loses HK$200 million to deepfake video conference scam, Hong Kong police say - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Feb 5, 2024
Finance Employee Defrauded for $25M by Deepfake CFO - CFO.com
Feb 5, 2024
Deepfake scammer walks off with $25 million in first-of-its-kind AI heist - Ars Technica
Feb 5, 2024
Fraudsters use deepfake technology to trick employee into paying millions - The Independent
Feb 5, 2024
Beware: Multi-National Company Loses HK$200 Million in Elaborate Deepfake Scam - Maginative
Feb 4, 2024