deepfake_fraud: AI-Generated Video Call Deceives Arup Employee into Sending £20 Million to Criminals — Arup

Summary

A British engineering firm, Arup, fell victim to a deepfake scam in early 2026, in which an employee was deceived into transferring HK$200 million (£20 million or $25 million) to criminals via AI‑generated video calls mimicking senior executives. The fraud involved fake voices and images presented during a video conference call with multiple participants, leading the employee to make 15 transfers to five local bank accounts. Arup stated that its financial stability and operations were not significantly affected, and no internal systems were compromised. The Hong Kong police are investigating the case as "obtaining property by deception," with no arrests made yet. Similar deepfake scams have also targeted other high‑profile individuals, including WPP CEO Mark Read and a South Korean woman impersonated as Elon Musk.