2024-07-26 (disclosed), Bloomberg reported the attempt on 26 July 2024 and said it happened on a Tuesday earlier that month; the exact day was not given. · IT · Ferrari

Ferrari executive stops a deepfake CEO voice call, 2024

Unconfirmed by a primary sourceBloomberg's report rests on people familiar with the episode and Ferrari declined to comment, so no company or law enforcement source exists.

Attempt that did not succeed.

In July 2024 a Ferrari executive received WhatsApp messages, from an unfamiliar number, that appeared to come from CEO Benedetto Vigna and mentioned a big acquisition and an NDA. A follow-up call used a convincing imitation of Vigna's voice to push a confidential currency-hedge transaction. The executive noticed slight mechanical intonations and asked which book Vigna had recently recommended to him; the call ended. Bloomberg reported this from people familiar with the episode, and Ferrari declined to comment.

Timeline

1. 2024-07-01 In July 2024, on a Tuesday, an executive receives WhatsApp messages and then a call imitating the CEO's voice; a verification question ends the call.
2. 2024-07-26 Bloomberg reports the attempt and says Ferrari opened an internal investigation.

Lessons

• Verify an unusual request from a senior leader with a question only the real person could answer, or by calling back on a known number.
• Treat a new number or profile picture for a known executive as a red flag, however familiar the voice sounds.
• Brief executives that urgency plus secrecy, such as a confidential deal needing a quick transaction, is the pattern of this fraud.

Scam types: Deepfake CEO voice and messaging fraud · Techniques: Voice phishing (vishing)

Sources

1. Bloomberg (via The Spokesman-Review): Ferrari narrowly dodges deepfake scam simulating deal-hungry CEO (News report, secondary, accessed 2026-09-24)