FAKE BOSS. REAL MONEY.

The real news

The story, straight

You recognize your boss's voice. That does not prove your boss is calling.

AI can mimic a voice, letting someone sound familiar while giving instructions that aren't.

NBC News reports that prosecutors charged 3 men over a scheme allegedly responsible for stealing more than $129 million.

According to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, impersonators mimicked company bosses, requested confidential transactions and directed employees to supposed lawyers. Those lawyers were impersonators too, prosecutors say.

The fake lawyer then supplied instructions for a wire transfer: money sent electronically between bank accounts. A second voice can sound like a second check.

But if both callers belong to the same scheme, it's a sock puppet checking its other hand.

NBC reports that an alleged impersonator used a script titled "Lawyer Call". Apparently even counterfeit management comes with paperwork.

The defendants are presumed innocent. Charges are accusations, not convictions.

The useful lesson: verify payment requests through a separate, trusted route. Call a number already saved in company records, not one supplied by the caller.

Follow established payment checks even when the voice sounds familiar.

I'd prefer a cloned boss who approves holidays. Somehow the imaginary manager still wants a bank transfer.

Repost this before your laptop requests a company card.

Thanks for supporting Lil'meme. Your support is appreciated.